[Jeri Lynne Johnson]
The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra announces its 2011-2012 concert series and educational programs.
Philadelphia, PA. The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO), committed to broadening ethnic diversity in classical music, is set to begin its 3rd season packed with thrilling performances and hands-on engagement for its audiences - including innovative concert programs, an Open Rehearsal Series for students, and a chance for audience members to conduct the orchestra.
The season kicks off on November 5th, 7:30pm with a night of rhythmic and dance-inspired music at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral. Works include Sibelius' Valse Triste, Astor Piazzolla's Four Seasons for Buenos Aires, featuring Venezuelan violinist Luigi Mazzocchi, and Beethoven's 7th Symphony. The season continues with "The Black Mozart," on March 10, 2012, followed by the exciting iConduct! Festival in the summer of 2012, a program winner of the 2011 Knight Arts Challenge, giving audience members a unique opportunity to test their conducting skills on stage with Maestra Jeri Lynne Johnson and the BPCO.
Opening Night Concert
Saturday, November 5, 2011
7:30pm
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral
38th and Chestnut Streets - Philadelphia
Repertoire: Sibelius, Piazzolla, Beethoven
The Black Mozart
Saturday, March 10, 2012
8:00pm
Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Benjamin Franklin Pkwy & N 18th St. - Philadelphia
Repertoire: Chevalier, Mozart, Hyden
iConduct! Festival
Summer 2012
Time and Locations to be announced
Tickets available online at www.blackpearlco.org or by phone (215) 717-7103
For more info, contact Julia Rubio (215) 717-7103 or julia@blackpearlco.org
The BPCO Season
Saturday, November 5
About Black Pearl Chamber Ochestra
Based in Philadelphia, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra was founded in 2007 and is the only professional orchestra in the region, and one of few in the country, to champion ethnic diversity in classical music.
Founded by award-winning Music Director Jeri Lynne Johnson, one of the only African-American women conductors on the scene today, the BPCO is dedicated to normalizing minority participation in classical music. This mission is achieved by presenting concerts and innovative community programs of the highest artistic and educational standard, performed by ethnically diverse musicians who represent Philadelphia's rich cultural diversity.
Described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "excellent," and having an "impressive standard of performance," BPCO musicians were trained at many of the nation's leading music conservatories, including The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute, and The Eastman School of Music, among others.
About the Music Director
Jeri Lynne Johnson is the Founding Music Director of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra (BPCO). Maestra Johnson began conducting during her doctoral studies in music theory and history at the University of Chicago. While a student in Chicago, Ms. Johnson was awarded the 1998 Jorge Mester Conducting Scholarship to attend the Aspen Music Festival and since then her conducting teachers and mentors have included Sir Simon Rattle, Marin Alsop and Daniel Barenboim among others. Soon after, Ms. Johnson was engaged by the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and served as that ensemble's assistant conductor from 2000-2004.
A recipient of many civic, community and artistic honors, including a 2010 British American ProjectFellow, 2010 Philly 360Creative Ambassador by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, and a 2009 Leeway Transformation Award, Ms. Johnson has been featured in numerous magazines and newspapers as well as television and radio shows including 20/20 and the "Tavis Smiley Show" on NPR and was heralded as one of today's leading women conductors on the NBC Today Show alongside prominent woman conductors Marin Alsop and Joann Falletta. In 2005 Ms. Johnson made history as the first African-American woman to win an international conducting prize when she was awarded the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship.
