Thursday, December 8, 2016

Announcing Chicago Sinfonietta’s Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert, Jan. 14-16; Assistant Conductor Kalena Bovell Leads Two Works of Dvořák


Assistant Conductor Kalena Bovell conducts Antonin Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances Opus 46 No. 2 & Slavonic Dances Opus 72 No. 7

Program features young musicians from Roosevelt University Conservatory Choir, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, The People’s Music School, Merit School of Music and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra playing and singing side by side with Sinfonietta members

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie, January 14
Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, January 15
Symphony Center, Chicago, January 16
           
December 8, 2016 (Chicago, IL) —Chicago Sinfonietta, led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, continues its 2016-2017 season with its Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a cherished Sinfonietta tradition since its founding in 1987 by the late Maestro Paul Freeman. The 2017 tribute concert will celebrate the boundless optimism of youth as the orchestra is joined by young musicians who embody the next generation of Dr. King’s legacy. The concert will be performed three times: first, in the Sinfonietta’s debut at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Saturday, January 14 at 8 pm, next in the western suburbs at Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, Naperville, Sunday, January 15 at 3 pm, and finally in its downtown Chicago home of Symphony Center, Monday, January 16 at 7:30 pm

This year’s program includes a never-before-seen performance featuring young musicians from every corner of the city playing and singing “side by side” with the orchestra. The signature Sinfonietta performance will highlight the next generation of diverse musicians being developed in Chicago and celebrate the city’s intergenerational dedication to the messages of Dr. King. The tribute concert begins with Williams’ masterpiece Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis performed by young musicians from three area music programs followed by Vivaldi’s rhythmic and intense Concerto for 4 Violins and Cello Opus 3 No. 10 B minor Opus featuring young violin soloists Maria Arrua, Teddy Wiggins, Tomer Marcus and Tara Lynn Ramsey from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Chen, a fierce proponent for and mentor of young conductors, welcomes Assistant Conductor Kalena Bovell to the podium for Antonin Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances Opus 46 No. 2 & Slavonic Dances Opus 72 No. 7. Chen returns to the podium to lead the rest of the transformational and uplifting concert ending with an epic performance of Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. featuring the Roosevelt University Conservatory Choir and vocal soloists Nicholas Davis (bass), Jared Esqurerra (tenor), Kimberly Gunderson (soprano) and Louise Rogan (alto), led by Cheryl Hill Frazes, conductor of the Conservatory Chorus.  

“We are thrilled to honor Dr. King's legacy and celebrate the next generation in these Tribute concerts, which will include young voices from throughout the city, including the members of the Civic Orchestra (under the umbrella of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) being the soloists for the Vivaldi Concerto for 4 Violins and Cello Opus 3 No. 10 B minor Opus, and young musicians from the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Merit School of Music and The People’s Music School playing side by side with the Sinfonietta musicians in Vaughan Williams breathtaking Fantasia on Theme by Thomas Tallis for multiple string ensembles,” says Chen. “These concerts also honor the memory of our late founder, Maestro Paul Freeman, especially with some of his favorite works such as Dvořák's Slavonic Dances, conducted by a former Freeman Fellow and current Sinfonietta Assistant Conductor, Kalena Bovell, and Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Choral Symphony featuring Roosevelt University Conservatory Choir, prepared by the incredible Dr. Cheryl Frazes Hill.”
This year’s MLK Tribute Concert is sponsored in part by Exelon, Lead Sponsor, Hyatt, Molex, Aon, and PWC, Supporting Sponsors.
Title:
Chicago Sinfonietta presents the Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dates:  
Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8:00pm
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie

Sunday, January 15, 2017 at 3:00pm
Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville

Monday, January 16, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago

Tickets:
Single tickets range from $18-$99 for concerts at Symphony Center, $48-$60 for concerts at Wentz Concert Hall, and $29-$58 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, with special $10 pricing available for students at all concerts. Tickets can be purchased by calling Chicago Sinfonietta at 312-284-1554 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

Program:                   
WILLIAMS
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
VIVALDI
Concerto for 4 Violins and Cello Opus 3 No. 10 B minor Opus
DVORAK
BEETHOVEN
Slavonic Dances Opus 46 No. 2 & Slavonic Dances Opus 72 No. 7
Ode to Joy

Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
Kalena Bovell, guest conductor
Roosevelt University Conservatory Choir
Nicholas Davis (bass), Jared Esqurerra (tenor), Kimberly Gunderson (soprano) and Louise Rogan (alto), vocal soloists from Roosevelt University Conservatory Choir
Maria Arrua, Teddy Wiggins, Tomer Marcus and Tara Lynn Ramsey, violin soloists from Civic Orchestra (Molly Walker, Orchestra Manager on the Civic Orchestra)

Young musicians from: Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, The People’s Music School and Merit School of Music


Now in its 29th season, Chicago Sinfonietta has pushed artistic boundaries to provide an alternative way of hearing, seeing and thinking about a symphony orchestra and is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, racial and cultural equity in the arts. Led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen since 2011, each concert experience blends inventive new works with classical masterworks, each from a diverse array of voices, to entertain, transform and inspire. In 2016, Chicago Sinfonietta was the proud recipient of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (MACEI). This award recognizes exceptional organizations that are key contributors in their fields. The orchestra also received the Spirit of Innovation Award at this year’s Chicago Innovation Awards.  Learn more at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

Chicago Sinfonietta is grateful to its season sponsors including Cedar Concepts, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Southwest Airlines, Fairmont Hotel, Hotel Arista and NBC5. Chicago Sinfonietta also thanks its BRIDGE Audience Engagement sponsors Macy's and PWC, as well as its season media sponsors including WXRT, Chicago and Naperville Magazines, and Chicago Reader.



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Comments by email:

1) William,  Thank you as always for your support and the lovely write ups. 
~Kalena [Kalena Bovell]

2) Diverse musicians undoubtedly, but not a single black composer. Sigh. 
Suzanne Flandreau

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