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).”

Joseph Lovinsky, Principal Hornist of the United States Army Band and Orchestra

[Joseph Lovinsky]

His agent tells AfriClassical: “Joseph Lovinsky is preparing for a concerto performance of Benjamin Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with Maryland Symphony Orchestra; tenor - Scott Williamson, conductor - Elizabeth Schulze, this weekend, February 14th and 15th.”

JosephLovinsky.com

“Joseph Lovinsky is Principal Hornist of the United States Army Band and Orchestra Pershing’s Own, The Army Brass Quintet, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Ballet. Before beginning formal horn studies at the age of 17, Joseph Lovinsky made his Carnegie Hall debut as solo horn of the McDonald's All American Band and received critical acclaim for performances of Mozart, Strauss, and Weber horn concerti with Orchestra. The Miami Herald called him, '...the self taught virtuoso.' Vincent Cason of the Miami Times wrote '...Joe Lovinsky is the best French horn player money can buy.' Following his studies at the Peabody Institute and Curtis Institute of Music, Joseph was appointed horn teaching assistant at the Juilliard School and was awarded the Irving Berlin Fellowship for Outstanding Orchestral Performance and the New York Philharmonic Music Assistance Fund Grant.”

“Since 1997, Joseph Lovinsky has served as Principal Horn of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, after being hand selected by world renowned horn soloist and recording artist Barry Tuckwell. In 1999, Joseph had the honor of touring with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra. A much sought after soloist/clinician, Joseph Lovinsky has conducted master classes throughout the United States. Joseph continues the musical tradition he received from his mentors, Jerome Ashby, James Chambers and Robert Watt, as he serves on the faculty at Howard University.”