This concert features one of the world’s most beautiful pieces of music, the Beethoven Violin Concerto, played by our Khuner Young Artists Competition winner, 16-year-old Dustin Breshears. Come hear a young violinist that you’ll likely see performing with major orchestras in the future; you can say “you knew him when….” Switching gears, we head to American composers. Aaron Copland’s brief but haunting “Quiet City,” will be performed by our principal trumpet player, John Maga, and our oboist, Terri Knight, with string orchestra.
Then on to George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” a jazz-influenced symphonic poem for orchestra, inspired by the time that Gershwin spent in Paris. Gershwin said of it: “It's not a Beethoven Symphony, you know...It's a humorous piece, nothing solemn about it. It's not intended to draw tears. If it pleases symphony audiences as a light, jolly piece, a series of impressions musically expressed, it succeeds.” We’re quite pleased and hope you will be too!
Tickets are required but admission is free. Families always welcome; the facility is fully accessible. Join us at 2:40 for a pre-concert talk by Conductor Eric Hansen and at intermission for concessions in the courtyard.