SUNY Orange Symphonic Band: Works of South African & African American Composers Inspired by Greece, Nov. 2, 2013, 8 PM at Paramount Theatre

Maestro Kevin Scott writes:

Hello, folks!

 

Now that the 2013-2014 concert season is well under way, yours truly is presenting for this season one of the most ambitious, daring and exciting concert programs for the year at SUNY Orange, and it begins on Saturday, November 3rd when the SUNY Orange Symphonic Band presents a series of concerts featuring composers from Africa, as well as a slew of African-American composers inspired by the music of the continent.

 

So, if you're able to come to Middletown, join us as we offer the first New York performances of James Wilding's Greek Goddesses for piano and wind ensemble with Caroline Oltmanns as soloist, and David Avshalomov's Vignettes, which was co-commissioned by our college, along with over two dozen college and community bands across the country. The well-rounded program also features Dana Paul Perna's Middletown March, Jerome Moross' Biguine arranged for band by Perna, and Carlton Winston's Dionysian Mysteries. What's amazing about this concert is that we have two composers of African heritage - James Wilding from South Africa, and Carlton Winston by way of Ohio - who have composed works on Greek subjects, not to mention that two movements of Avshalomov's work are inspired by the continent, and Moross' composition melds the dance patterns of West Africa with an art-deco modernist flair! Come on down - or up - if you can!

 

And if you can't make this concert, we have others on December 14th, February 16th, March 21st and May 17th. Stay tuned for more.

 

Thanks, and see some of you soon!

 

Sincerely,

Kevin Scott

SUNY Orange Symphonic Band performs African Composers Inspired by Greece

The SUNY Orange Symphonic Band, an intergenerational wind ensemble comprised of students and members of the community under the direction of Kevin Scott, opens the 2013-14 season with a program of original works for concert band, including two New York premieres, at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday evening, November 2^nd at 8:00 p.m.

Kevin Scott, the band’s director, will lead the ensemble in two New York premieres: “Vignettes” composed by David Avshalomov, and “Greek Goddesses,” a concerto for piano and wind ensemble by the South African composer James Wilding, with Caroline Oltmanns as soloist. “Vignettes,” a multi-movement suite for concert band, is being performed by the SUNY Orange Symphonic Band as part of a commissioning consortium comprised of two dozen college and community bands across the nation. “Greek Goddesses” is a concerto musically portraying seven goddesses of Greek mythology that was composed for Ms. Oltmanns and premiered by the Dana Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Youngstown, Ohio in 2001. Mr. Wilding and his wife Ms. Oltmanns are on the faculty of the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University.

Rounding out the concert are two works from the pen of SUNY Orange Assistant Professor Dana Paul Perna: Mr. Perna’s “Middletown Quasquicentennial March,” which was composed for the 125^th Anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Middletown and premiered by the SUNY Orange Symphonic Band this past June, and his arrangement of Jerome Moross’ 1935 orchestral work “Biguine” for concert band, in celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Moross’ birth. The concert will conclude with Carlton L. Winston’s  celebration of the college’s Global Initiative series on Africa, which will feature native African and African-American composers on the band’s concerts throughout the year.

“Dionysian Mysteries,” which the band premiered in May of 2012 and was one of the works listed as an audience favorite for this past season’s “By Request!” concert. The Wilding and Winston compositions, both inspired by Greek mythology, are part of the celebration of the college’s Global Initiative series on Africa, which will feature native African and African-American composers on the band’s concerts throughout the year.

For directions and further information, please contact the Arts and Communication Office at (845) 341-4787, or Kevin Scott at (845) 341-4393. The SUNY Orange Symphonic Band is also seeking musicians who are interested in joining a college-community band.