Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra Performs 'Serenade' of William Grant Still July 27

[William Grant Still (Photo is the sole property of William Grant Still Music, and is used with permission.) The American Scene; Manhattan Chamber Orchestra; Richard Auldon Clark, conductor; Newport Classic NPD 85596 (1995)]

Peters' Music News

Music News, Reviews And Events For The San Gabriel Valley

“Pflueger, Prado to Conduct Orchestra at Levitt Pavilion July 27

The Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra will perform at Levitt Pavilion, Memorial Park, in Pasadena at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 27 in a program of the music of Bernard Herrmann, J.S. Bach, Karl Jenkins, William Grant Still, and Benjamin Britten.

“Founder-manager of the PSYCO, Roberta Wilcox, has enlisted the talents of two local music educators to conduct the orchestra: Bethany Ann Pflueger and Chad Prado. Pflueger, a flutist, is a Professor of Music at Glendale Community College. Prado, a violist, teaches Music Education at the elementary school level in the Pasadena Unified School District.

“PSYCO, that is, the Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra, is not without a sense of humor. One of the numbers on the program is taken from Bernard Herrmann’s score to the Alfred Hitchcock film 'Psycho'. Other music will be Bach’s 'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3; Jenkins’ 'Palladio' Concerto Grosso; 'Serenade' by William Grant Still; and Britten’s 'Simple Symphony'.”

William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where a complete Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma is found. Here is an excerpt from the entry on Serenade, which was premiered in Montana by the Great Falls High School Orchestra, conducted by Paul Schull, on May 7, 1958:

“Serenade, for flute, clarinet, harp & orchestra (1957). Mission Viejo CA: WGS Music. Duration: 8:00. Originally to have been part of a cello concerto on the suggestion of Gregor Piatigorsky. Commission: Great Falls High School, MT. Première: 1958/V/07; Great Falls High School Orchestra; Paul Schull, conductor. Duration: 7:16.

“CD: Manhattan Chamber Orchestra; Richard Auldon Clark, conductor. Newport Classic NPD 85596 (1995; The American scene).”