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PRO MUSICA COLORADO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA'S SEASON OPENING CONCERT

Celebrating Women Among Men in the Classical Music World with violinist Yumi Hwang-Williams.

Boulder and Denver, Colorado—Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra (PMC) opens their Classical Evolution season with a concert that celebrates the ever-evolving addition of women in classical music, as artists, conductors, and composers.

Women Among Men, takes place on Saturday, September 22nd, 7:30 pm at Central Presbyterian Church (1660 Sherman St, Denver, CO), and on Sunday, September 23^rd, 2:00 pm at Mountain View United Methodist Church (355 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO). The concert features violinist Yumi Hwang-Williams, concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, in Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C Major.

“Yumi Hwang-Williams, concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony, is a musician of perfectly balanced intelligence and passion. This is ideal for Haydn and we look forward to our third collaboration, ” says Cynthia Katsarelis, Music Director and Conductor of PMC, and the only woman conductor of a professional orchestra in the Front Range area.

Also on the program is Bach’s Die Schätzbarkeit der weiten Erde. PMC teams up with Yumi and local favorite, soprano Amanda Balestrieri, for this gorgeous Bach aria for soprano and solo violin. The program opens with Mozart’s Serenade No. 6 for Orchestra in D major K. 239, Serenata notturna, which was written for two orchestras. A quartet of the principal strings joins the PMC smaller string orchestra, along with timpani. To round out the celebration, Polish composer and violin virtuoso Grayżna Bacewicz’s Concerto for String Orchestra (1948) provides a Neo-Classical elements and further recognition of women composers in classical music.

"She wrote this just after World War II as her work was beginning to evolve beyond neoclassicism," says Katsarelis.

Ticket prices for Classical Evolution – 2018-2019 Season: $35 General, $25 Seniors, $5 Students, $55 Supporters. Subscriptions for the three concerts save 20% off the regular prices. Groups save 15% when you purchase 10 or more Adult tickets for the performance. Tickets are available online at: www.promusicacolorado.org. For more information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call: 720-443-0565.

Concert at a Glance - Photos and Full Bios available upon request

Photos and bios of guest artists provided at: http://www.promusicacolorado.org/press-kit/

Women Among Men
Saturday, September 22, 7:30 pm – Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203

Sunday, September 23, 2:00 pm – Mountain View United Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO 80303

Yumi Hwang-Williams, violinist
Amanda Balestrieri, soprano
Cynthia Katsarelis, conductor

Program:
Wolfgang A. Mozart Serenade No. 6 for Orchestra in D major K. 239, Serenata notturna

Grażyna Bacewicz Concerto for String Orchestra

Franz Joseph Haydn Violin Concerto in C Major

Johann Sebastian Bach Die Schätzbarkeit der weiten Erde

Ticket prices to for the Classical Evolution - 2018-2019 Season: $35 General, $5 Students, $55 (supporter ticket). Subscriptions for the three concerts save 20% off the regular prices. Groups save 15% when you purchase 10 or more Adult tickets for the performance. Tickets and subscriptions are available online at: www.promusicacolorado.org. For more information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call: 720-443-0565.

About Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and Cynthia Katsarelis, Music Director and Conductor

Now in its sixth season, Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra has many of Colorado’s finest musicians, and is committed to impassioned performances of repertoire ranging from the classic to the cutting edge.

Cynthia Katsarelis has conducted with the Cincinnati Symphony, Pops and May Festival, the Greensboro (N.C.) Symphony, and many professional, college, and youth orchestras. She has assisted James Conlon, Keith Lockhart, Erich Kunzel and Michael Christie. Most recently she conducted the Colorado Music Festival’s Young People’s Concerts. Katsarelis is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, with degrees in both violin and conducting. READ MORE

About Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin

Yumi Hwang-Williams made her debut at the age of fifteen as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, six years after emigrating from South Korea. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, she is known today both for her stylish performances of the classics and her commitment to the works of present-day composers. STRINGS magazine calls her ‘a modern Prometheus’ who has ‘emerged as a fiery champion of contemporary classical music.’ Her interpretations of concertos by Tomas Adès, Aaron Jay Kernis, Michael Daugherty, and Christopher Rouse have earned critical acclaim as well as enthusiastic approval from the composers. Yumi is a frequent soloist with the Colorado Symphony… READ MORE

About Amanda Balestrieri, soprano

Born in Harrogate, England, Amanda has an illustrious performance background in London, Europe and the United States, where her singing has been described in the press as “unusually versatile,” “gorgeous,” and “absolutely divine” (Washington Post, Times Union Saratoga NY, Washington Review). She began her music studies at the age of four, and enjoyed early success as a pianist, violinist, and soprano soloist. Balestrieri received her B.A./M.A. in Modern Languages from Oxford University and studied voice in London and Milan. She sang with the Academy Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner and was a regular soloist in contemporary music with James Wood’s New London Chamber Choir… READ MORE

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Boulder High Presents an Evening of Art and Music May 5th

Additional Music Preformances on May 3, 10 & 12

Visual Arts

The Boulder High School 2011 Spring Art Show will be on display at the school Thursday, May 5, from 4:30 p.m.  – 7:00.  The public is invited to this display of drawing, painting, photography and pottery.  Boulder High School is located at 1604 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, just east of Broadway.  Admission is free.

Boulder High School’s Visual Arts Department has been recognized both locally and nationally as training students to produce a wide variety of both skillful and innovative art.  Boulder High School students won fourteen awards encompassing 42 pieces of art in the 2010 Regional Scholastic Art Awards, a state and national art competition that was established in 1923 to foster the creative development of teens across the country.  Recent shows of the students’ art have been in the Denver Art Museum (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Denver), the Boulder Public Library Teen Art Space and A Collaborative Exhibition by BVSD Art Teachers and High School Students at the Dairy.

At the BHS Art Show, there will be student artists demonstrating their art--throwing pots, drawing caricatures, and doing serious drawing as well.  They will share their enthusiasm and passion for art with budding elementary and middle-school aged artists. 

Teachers in the Visual Arts Department are Virginia Schick (Painting and Drawing), Kate Villarreal (Pottery) and David Blessing (Photography).  They can be reached at 720-561- 2216, 2316 or 2217, respectively.

Music

In addition to Visual Arts, the Boulder High School Music Department will present a concert featuring its Bands and Wind Ensembles beginning at 7 pm on May 5th in the Auditorium.  This is a great opportunity for the community to see art and hear amazing music performed by very talented students.  All are welcome to attend the concert.  Admission is free. 

As a means of encouraging 5^th Grade Instrumental Music students to continue playing, BHS will also be hosting the Elementary Orchestra and Band Festivals on May 3 & 5.  “By getting students to experience the musical culture at Boulder High we hope they are inspired to continue playing through high school and beyond” noted Dr. Katharine Mason, BHS Orchestra Director.  “This is a great opportunity for Art and Music to come together and inspire both young and older community members”, noted Tom Horst. BHS  Band Director. 

Boulder High School Music Department will feature performances by the following groups on the following dates in the BHS Auditorium.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Admission is free but donations for the BHS Music Education Scholarship fund are graciously accepted.

May 3              Elementary Orchestra Festival Concert             6:00pm            Auditorium

                       BHS Orchestra Concert                                   7:00pm            Auditorium

May 5              Student Art Show                                            4:30-7pm         BHS Library

                       Elementary Band Festival Concert                    6:00 pm           Auditorium    

                       Band Concert                                                  7:00pm            Auditorium

May 10            Jazz Band Concert                                          7:00pm            Court Yard

May 12            Choir Concert                                                  7:00pm            Court Yard

Teachers in the Boulder High Music Program are Tom Horst (Jazz), Beau Bryson (Band) Dr. Katherine Mason (Orchestra) and Su

Tom Horst (Jazz) 720-561-2227 tom.horst@bvsd.org, Beau Bryson (Band)720-561-2299 beau.bryson@bvsd.org  Dr. Katharine Mason (Orchestra) 720-561-2212 kipmason89@aol.com,  Susan Kullman (Choir) 720-561-2230 susan.kullman@bvsd.org  

Submitted by

Cathy Faughnan  cathyfaughnan@gmail.com  music

Tamah Matejka  tamah.matejka@qwest.com art

Please call for questions.  See attached photos

PRO MUSICA COLORADO and ST. MARTIN'S CHAMBER CHOIR - THE CHRISTMAS ORATORIO

Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and St. Martin's Chamber Choir collaborate
Critically acclaimed soloists for J.S.Bach's rarely performed Christmas Oratorio

Boulder, Colo.— Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and St. Martin’s Chamber Choir are excited to present two rare performances of one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s greatest masterpieces, The Christmas Oratorio. The concerts take place on December 2 at the Saint Paul Lutheran Church (1600 Grant Street, Denver) and December 3 at the First United Methodist Church (1421 Spruce Street, Boulder), both starting at 7:30 pm (pre-concert talk at 6:30 pm).

“Bach's Christmas Oratorio is as popular in Germany as Handel’s Messiah is here. It is the least heard of Bach's 4-5 great choral/orchestral masterpieces,” said Timothy Krueger, Artistic Director of St. Martin's Chamber Choir. Bach's Christmas Oratorio tells the whole Nativity Story. Although most performances only include segments of this piece, this time the Oratorio will be performed in its entirety (only repeats are cut) by two of the region's finest professional ensembles.

“It’s a work with significant virtuoso and stylistic demands of the choir, soloists, and orchestra, said Cynthia Katsarelis, Music Director and Conductor of Pro Musica Colorado. “Bach used every resource at his disposal to convey the drama of story, along with personal responses and reflections on the ‘action.’” The work features an astonishing variety of styles, sometimes combining elements of the Italian concerto (like Vivaldi) and Italian opera. The story is told from various points of view, including that of the shepherds. “The music is truly awesome, and it is especially delightful to present it in the holiday season.”

The last complete performance in this region was 18 years ago. “We are very excited about this great masterpiece and the wonderful team of collaborators,” said Katsarelis. Both of the directors will share the podium. The two ensembles are pleased to present solo singers with national reputations in the performance of the music of Bach: Amanda Balestrieri, soprano; Marjorie Bunday, alto; Jacob Sentgeorge, tenor; Robert W. Tudor, bass.

Ticket prices to The Christmas Oratorio: $35 Premium (sold out in Denver), $24 General Admission, $5 Student. Tickets are available online at: www.promusicacolorado.org, or www.StMartinsChamberChoir.org. For further information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call: 720-443-0565.