LATEST NEWS
NEWS RELEASE
Date: March 16, 2020 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony to cancel The Civil War in Missouri concert
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is cancelling its concert and related-events for The Civil War in Missouri, originally scheduled for March 28, 2020 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Due to the escalation of the coronavirus outbreak in our community and across the nation; the SSO Board, Executive Director, and Music Director along with a task force have taken the position that the Springfield Symphony must be proactive, follow the recommendations given, and protect the health of its patrons, musicians, and staff. The Springfield Symphony is exploring rescheduling The Civil War in Missouri at a later time.
Over the course of the last 10 days, the Springfield Symphony has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) both locally and nationally. The majority of orchestras around the country have either cancelled or postponed their March concerts. Most universities have decided to conduct classes online/remotely and are extending the date for students returning back to campus if even at all this semester. This includes Drury, Evangel, College of the Ozarks, and quite possibly MSU. As many are aware, this concert specifically includes a collaboration with the student choirs.
A State of Emergency was declared by Governor Parsons and a National Emergency declared by President Trump on March 13. There are two confirmed cases in Greene County, therefore it is very plausible that the area will have several more confirmed case(s) in the weeks to come. SSO concerts will resume once the organization is confident that it is safe to hold public events. The Springfield Symphony will follow updates and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with our local government to make the most informed decision possible.
For more details and updates regarding the coronavirus, visit the CDC website. Plans to reschedule The Civil War in Missouri concert, if possible, will be announced at a later date. The SSO is notifying all ticket buyers of changes via email, website and phone. Patrons who have tickets for March 28th performance will have multiple options from which to choose. Do not call the Hammons Hall Box Office. If you need to exchange your tickets, you may contact the SSO office at seasontickets@springfieldmosymphony.org or (417) 864-6683. Additionally, the SSO will continue to update the website.
The Springfield Symphony asks that all questions/requests come to the SSO office as we are best equipped to address those. The SSO offices will be closed starting March 16 at 4:30 pm, with an anticipated reopening on March 30. Staff will be working remotely. When inquiring with questions regarding the March 28th ticket donation or exchange process, please leave a phone message or send an email. Please allow for 3–5 business days for a response.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: February 12, 2020 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
Fax: 417.864.8967
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony collaborates with SPS in a moving tribute to Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony looks to the great American landscape at its classical concert; American Pictures at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 15th. The program will feature Aaron Copland’s Our Town, Dave and Chris Brubeck’s Ansel Adams: America, and Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark on Michael Torke’s Sky – Concerto for Violin. The performance will take place at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
“Our February concert entitled American Pictures is going to be an amazing evening of music and imagery of America,” Conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett explained. “On this concert we are performing two pieces that will be accompanied by a film of photographs to illustrate the music. The first is called Ansel Adams: America, written by the great jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his son, composer Chris Brubeck. Our second film is to the music of Aaron Copland’s Our Town and it will feature photographs taken and submitted by Springfield Public Schools students of people and places around Springfield. The Springfield Symphony teamed up with the Phelps Center for Gifted Education to gather these photographs. We are very excited to show this charming and heartwarming look at Springfield through the eyes of its young people.”
The Phelps Center for Gifted Education has provided gifted students a challenging and appropriate educational experience for over 40 years by identifying and addressing academic and social needs and to ensure students reach their full potential. Debbie Nesbitt, Scholars Liaison at the Phelps Center for Gifted Education, spoke more in depth about the collaboration. “When Kyle came to Dr. Lenae Lazzelle [Director of Gifted Education] and myself, he thought that this would be a wonderful project for the Symphony and the gifted program to tag team. He asked if we would like to get involved, and we put the information out to the teachers and staff at our Wings and Scholars programs. Creative arts students were so excited to submit the photos and it has been a wonderful opportunity for the students to express their town through the Symphony.”
As of the importance and impact of The Phelps Center in Springfield, Nesbitt remarked “We have a lot of students involved [with our programs] from all over the city of Springfield from varying socio-economic backgrounds, and students that have special needs but who are also gifted. I know from experience with the full-time program, the Phelps Center oversees gifted students from sixth grade and all the way to their high school graduation, and many [students] say that it has been a tremendous impact on their lives to be a part of this program.”
To learn more about this SPS collaboration and the Symphony’s American Pictures concert, join Pickett on Saturday, February 15th as delivers a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. from the stage and pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Ticket prices range from $10 - $40 and discounts are available for students and seniors. The American Pictures concert is made possible through sponsors Reliable Superstore, Bryan Properties, Mediacom, and U.S. Bank Wealth Management.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: February 6, 2020 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
Fax: 417.864.8967
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony portrays our great American landscape in American Pictures
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony looks to the great American landscape at its classical concert, American Pictures on Saturday, February 15th at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature Dave and Chris Brubeck’s Ansel Adams: America, Aaron Copland’s Our Town, and Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark on Michael Torke’s Sky – Concerto for Violin. The performance will take place at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
“Our February concert entitled American Pictures is going to be an amazing evening of music and imagery of America,” Conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett explained. “On this concert we are performing two pieces that will be accompanied by a film of photographs to illustrate the music. The first is called Ansel Adams: America, written by the great jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his son, composer Chris Brubeck. It features the magnificent works of photographer Ansel Adams. Adams’ pictures capture the beauty and majesty of the American landscape, and the music is a fitting tribute to the natural wonders of our country.”
“Our second film is to the music of Aaron Copland’s Our Town and it will feature photographs taken and submitted by Springfield Public Schools students of people and places around Springfield,” continued Pickett. “The Springfield Symphony teamed up with the Phelps Center for Gifted Education to gather these photographs. We are very excited to show this charming and heartwarming look at Springfield through the eyes of its young people. This will lead us into our final piece on the American Pictures concert. Sky, a bluegrass-inspired concerto by American composer Michael Torke, was written especially for our soloist Tessa Lark and is inspired by her Kentucky roots. Texas Public Radio describes the new concerto as if ‘it descended from the mountains only to run into Aaron Copland outside the concert hall.’ It’s a virtuosic endeavor that that is uniquely American, and the Springfield Symphony is thrilled to be one of the commissioning orchestras of this new piece.”
“Springfield Symphony audiences may remember Lark from her spectacular last appearance with the Springfield Symphony when she played the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto,” remarked Pickett. “She came back to the stage for her bows, kicked off her shoes, and brought down the house with a bluegrass encore in which she accompanied herself by thumping the back of her violin and singing along as she fiddled. Don’t miss this amazing bluegrass-inspired concerto played by the one and only Tessa Lark.”
Join Pickett at a free monthly event, Behind the Baton, at Springfield Art Museum on Thursday, February 13th (1111 E. Brookside Dr) for the opportunity to meet Pickett and featured guest artist Tessa Lark. Attendees will hear about the music that will be performed at the February 15th concert, as well as the background of the guest artist. The meet & greet begins at 5:15 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:45 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase by Mama Jean’s Natural Market.
On the evening of American Pictures, Saturday, February 15th, Pickett will deliver a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. from the stage and pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Ticket prices range from $10 - $40 and discounts are available for students and seniors. The American Pictures concert is made possible through sponsors Reliable Superstore, Bryan Properties, Mediacom, and U.S. Bank Wealth Management. Pickett is available for any interviews or questions. Please feel free to email him at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: January 24, 2020 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
Fax: 417.864.8967
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony reflects and celebrates 50 years of Young People’s Concerts
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony will perform its 50th annual Young People’s Concerts on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 for over 3,000 fourth grade students from all Springfield R-12 district schools, 50 area and rural school districts, private, parochial and home schools. In honor of the Symphony’s 50 years providing Young People’s Concerts, Springfield Symphony musician Starla Blair shared her experience of the concerts when she began performing as a high schooler in the late 1970’s.
Blair is currently the Director of the Suzuki Violin program at Evangel University and has played with the Springfield Symphony for over 40 years. “The earliest [Young People’s Concerts] I can remember was with Conductor Charles Bontrager in the late 70s,” said Blair. “Back then, we played at the Central High School auditorium and later moved to Evangel University’s chapel. The early years I remember we performed Benjamin Britten’s Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra to introduce students to various instruments and get them interested in their music programs within the public schools. The program has evolved and changed over the year with different conductors; showing how classical music can be used in various ways and tell a story.”
“We had a conductor for the concerts for a while that would show how music was used in operas and tell storylines with finger puppets,” Blair reflected. “The conductor would show a scene [for the students] through those puppets and then turn around to the orchestra and we would play an aria from Puccini’s opera. We have shown through our Young People’s Concerts how music is an integral part of telling a story to relate to the kids.”
Blair also stated “My favorite part of the Young People’s Concerts is to see kids so excited about the pieces. A lot of [the students] come out encouraged, where they start taking lessons on various instruments, and a lot of them go on to become a part of our Symphony. I think it has been really good to show these kids and see their excitement during the concerts. That is the greatest thrill of all of it.”
This year, students will experience the musical program Go Ask Google: A Musical Adventure Through the Internet, including the works of The Greatest Showman and Star Wars to Rossini's Barber of Seville Overture and Grieg's Hall of the Mountain King. Two concerts will be performed on January 28, 2020 in Springfield, MO at High Street Baptist Church. The Young People’s Concerts are sponsored by the Stanley and Elaine Ball Foundation, the Schneider Family Foundation, US Bank, and 3M Foundation. The Young People’s Concerts are one of the many arts program in Springfield associated with The Kennedy Center’s Any Given Child Initiative. For more information on the Springfield Symphony education and outreach programming, call the Symphony office at 417-864-6683.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: January 2, 2020 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony embraces Mozart in American Playlist
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony will embody Mozart works into its American Playlist season, featuring pianist Marika Bournaki at its concert A Little Night Music. This classical concert will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
“You might wonder how an evening of Mozart’s music fits into a season called American Playlist. Well,” paused Pickett, music director/conductor for the Springfield Symphony. “Mozart is EVERYWHERE! He has infiltrated every corner of American pop culture: you hear Mozart on television in advertisements for cars, Nikes, pancakes, instant coffee, iPods, cable service--even dog food. His music is captured with movies in such wide-ranging films as Batman, Alien, The Shawshank Redemption, Elvira Madigan, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and There’s Something About Mary; among countless others.”
This concert will feature guest pianist Marika Bournaki. Described as “the Celine Dion of classical” by The Huffington Post, Bournaki is at once a world-class performer, dazzling pianist, vivacious young woman and one of the freshest faces on the classical music scene. Recently featured in the award-winning documentary “I am Not a Rock Star,” the feature-length film chronicles Ms. Bournaki’s evolution as an artist from the age of 12 to 20 that has captivated audiences internationally. This pianist not only brings distinctive interpretations to favorite standards, but extends her passion for music by commissioning works from younger composers and collaborating with artists from various fields. Bournaki will be featured on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 – Elvira Madigan.
“Mozart’s music is some of the most recognizable out there in the musical landscape of our lives, and everyone, even someone who has never set foot in a concert hall or bought a classical recording, knows some Mozart,” said Pickett. “This will be an opportunity to feature some of his greatest hits which became even more famous when they were used for pop culture, and to enjoy them back in the concert hall where they originated.” Pickett will deliver a pre-concert talk from the stage at 6:30 p.m. and pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Ticket prices range from $10 - $40 and discounts are available for students and seniors.
Join Pickett at a free monthly event, Behind the Baton, at the Springfield Art Museum on Wednesday January 15 (111 E. Brookside Dr) for the opportunity to hear Pickett talk about the music that will be performed at the January 18 concert. The meet & greet begins at 5:15 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:45 p.m. Pickett is available for any interviews or questions. Please feel free to email him at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422. The concert is being sponsored by Reliable Superstore (Presenting Sponsor), RMMC Certified Public Accountants, and William T. White.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: November 26, 2019 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony to perform free annual holiday concert with seasonal favorites
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony is joining musical forces with over 150 choir members from surrounding Springfield Public Schools at its free annual holiday concert, An American Christmas Matinee, on Saturday, December 7 at 2:30 pm at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The orchestra will be led by music director/conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett, and will feature music from holiday classics White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Festive Sounds of Hanukah, and more!
“The holiday concert is always one of my favorites to perform,” said Pickett. “What I love about concerts like this is that everyone—young, old, and everyone in between—knows and loves these songs. The holidays bring us together by uniting us in a common playlist that everyone appreciates. The Symphony will have a great time playing these seasonal classics for the big crowd we always get at the Christmas concerts.” Pickett is available for any interviews or questions. Please feel free to email him at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422.
The An American Christmas Matinee is a condensed one-hour performance of the evening concert An American Christmas at 7:30 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall. Admission is free for the matinee and seating is first come first served. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and seating will begin at 2:00 p.m. The An American Christmas Matinee is being sponsored by Don Wessel Honda, Dr. Michael & Krystyna Clarke, and Kids Directory. For more information on this performance and other events, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: November 22, 2019 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony celebrates with “An American Christmas” this holiday season
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony is joining musical forces with over 150 choir members from surrounding Springfield Public Schools at its annual holiday pops concert, An American Christmas, on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 pm at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The orchestra will be led by music director/conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett, and will feature music from holiday classics White Christmas, The Christmas Song, Festive Sounds of Hanukah, and more!
“The holiday concert is always one of my favorites to perform,” said Pickett. “What I love about concerts like this is that everyone—young, old, and everyone in between—knows and loves these songs. The holidays bring us together by uniting us with a common playlist that everyone appreciates. The Symphony will have a great time playing these seasonal classics for the big crowd we always get at the Christmas concerts.”
“To continue our theme for the 2019-20 symphony season, we are highlighting songs that are part of the quintessential nostalgic American holiday playlist,” stated Pickett. “This will be a terrific concert to put you in the holiday spirit with American Christmas favorites like Sleigh Ride, The Christmas Song, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In addition, we are always thrilled to invite local high school students to join us for the holiday concert. They bring such a great high energy to the performances, and you can really feel how excited the students and families are to be up onstage at Hammons with the symphony. It’s a great tradition and I’m looking forward to working with these talented young singers again.” Pickett is available for any interviews or questions. Please feel free to email him at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422.
Pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Ticket prices range from $10 - $40 and discounts are available for students and seniors. The An American Christmas concert is being sponsored by Reliable Superstore (Presenting Sponsor), Central Bank of the Ozarks, CoxHealth, Don Wessel Honda, Digital Lunchbox, KY3, and 105.9FM KGBX.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: October 30, 2019 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
Fax: 417.864.8967
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony takes center stage with World Premiere from Rodgers & Hammerstein
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony will perform the World Premiere concert version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical Oklahoma! Concert performances will take place on Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. Under the direction of Robert Westenberg with the Missouri State University BFA Musical Theatre Program, actors and singers will bring life to the songs of one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals.
“We are so excited to be performing this amazing musical in the world premiere of the concert version of Oklahoma!,” exclaimed Kyle Wiley Pickett, music director/conductor for the Springfield Symphony. “This concert version is a semi-staged performance of the full musical, with the orchestra featured on stage with the singers. I've been working with the actors and their wonderful director, Broadway legend Robert Westenberg, and this cast is incredible.”
Set in a Western Indian territory just after the turn of the century, Oklahoma! contains the high-spirited rivalry between the local farmers and cowboys provides the colorful background against which Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, play out their love story. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love’s journey is as bumpy as a surrey ride down a country road.
“This project is something I've wanted to do for a long time. The great Broadway shows of the mid-20th century have some of the best orchestral music by American composers. We rarely get to hear these scores in their full orchestral glory, because theater pits can't fit the full complement of a symphony orchestra. This is a chance for you to hear the wonderfully lush score performed by the Springfield Symphony!”
Pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. provided by the Suzuki Violin Preparatory Program. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Single ticket prices range from $15 - $45 and discounts are available for students and seniors, and additional group discounts are available for the Oklahoma! in Concert Matinee.
The Oklahoma! in Concert performance on November 9th is brought to you by Reliable Superstore, Independent Printing, Hiland Dairy, Positronic Industries, TLC Properties, KOLR10, Mid-West Family Broadcasting and 417 Magazine. The Oklahoma! in Concert Matinee on November 10th is made possible by the Schneider Family Foundation, Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Irwin and Susan Cohen, and #ChooseToLive. Pickett is available for any interviews or questions at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: October 10, 2019 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone: 417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony to perform 11th Annual free Halloween concert for local kids and families
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony invites children of all ages and their families to join us for the 11th Annual Spooky Symphony, a free Halloween concert, on Monday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The orchestra, all dressed in their Halloween costumes, will be led by Maestro Kyle Wiley Pickett, and will feature performances of Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, March to the Scaffold, and many more.
Concert attendees are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and join in the costume contest for children during the event. Attendees can look forward to the distribution of free ice cream sandwiches generously provided by Hiland Dairy. The concert is free, and seating is first come first served. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and seating will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The Musical Fraternities of Missouri State University is hosting a petting zoo, and the Springfield Fire Department will be site with a firetruck to educate kids and families about Fire Safety Month. The concert is being sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Maggie Wilcox, and the Kids Directory. For more information about this and other upcoming events, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org/.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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News Release: Springfield Symphony portrays the glamour and grit of the Big Apple on opening concert
NEWS RELEASE
Date: September 16, 2019 Contact: Lexi Locke
For Immediate Release Phone:417.864.6683
Photos Available Upon Request Cell: 417.860.9690
Fax: 417.864.8967
lexi@springfieldmosymphony.org
Springfield Symphony portrays the glamour and grit of the Big Apple on opening concert
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Springfield Symphony kicks off its 85th consecutive season, American Playlist, in Big Apple style. The classical concert, New York Night, will feature pianist Alexander Tutunov on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The concert is being sponsored by Reliable Superstore, Margo S. Armstrong, Ozarks Fox KRBK and Meyer Communications.
“I absolutely love the music that tells the story of New York City. It’s some of the best American music we have,” exclaimed Kyle Wiley Pickett, music director/conductor for the Springfield Symphony. “New York offers wonderful shows on Broadway and you can hear amazing music at Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera. You can wander the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art and see incredible works of art. You can get Chinese food at 2:00 in the morning and New York’s delis always have my favorite sandwich--a Reuben piled with corned beef and covered in Russian dressing. There is no place like New York.”
In planning this concert, Pickett worked to depict New York’s best dazzling hits in presenting this Big Apple in Springfield, MO. “The music of Gershwin conjures a jazzy, bustling, ambitious city, bursting with passions, sensuality, and potential; it’s undeniably thrilling,” said Pickett. “No one has ever written musicals that so completely embody New York City like Leonard Bernstein. West Side Story tells us of the tragedy of the city—of star-crossed lovers, of racism and street violence and dreams that don’t always come true on the island of Manhattan. On the Town shows us the comic side of the city—foolish love and zany characters and wild antics all in a day designed solely for fun in the city. I’m thrilled to dedicate a night—one night—to the music of New York City, to celebrate its glamour and glitz and its tragedy and grit, in some of the most American music of all time. ”
There will be a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. and pre-concert music will begin at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall box office, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-7678 or online at www.hammonshall.com. Ticket prices range from $10 - $40 and discounts are available for students and seniors.
Join Pickett at our free monthly event, Behind the Baton, at the Springfield Art Museum on Thursday, September 19th (1111 E. Brookside). Take the opportunity to meet conductor Kyle Wiley Pickett and soloist Alexander Tutunov while hearing about the music that will be performed at the September 21st concert. The meet & greet begins at 5:15 p.m. and the program will begin at 5:45 p.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase and will be provided by Mama Jean’s Natural Market.
Pickett is available for any interviews or questions. Please feel free to email him at kwpickett@gmail.com or call at (417) 837-9422. For more information on this and the Springfield Symphony’s upcoming events, visit the Symphony office at 411 N. Sherman Parkway, or visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org/.
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and an Equal Opportunity Employer. Additional funding for all Springfield Symphony Orchestra programming is provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit www.springfieldmosymphony.org or www.facebook.com/springfieldsymphony.
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