Brevard Symphony Orchestra Presents IN GOOD COMPANY, 11/23

Brevard Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Music Director & Principal Conductor Christopher Confessore leads the BSO for the second subscription concert of the 2013-2014 season, In Good Company on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 8:00pm at the King Center for the Performing Arts.

The BSO's 2013-2014 season, "CELEBRATE," is the orchestra's 60th Anniversary. Reaching such a milestone inspired Christopher Confessore to program a season that commemorates all the opportunities the BSO has to reach the community through the power of great music, including the orchestra's 30 year partnership with the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra. The evening begins with a side-by-side performance with the BSYO's Philharmonic orchestra. The BSYO's most talented musicians will join the Brevard Symphony Orchestra on stage for a performance of Verdi's Overture to Nabucco, undeniably the composer's breakthrough opera and first great success.

The centerpiece of the evening will see the return of world renowned soloist Elmar Oliveira, who last performed with the BSO in November 2008. "Unquestionably Oliveira is the perfect choice to perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto," states Confessore. Oliveira remains the only American violinist to win the Gold Medal at Moscow's prestigious Tchaikovsky International Competition. He was also the First Prize winner at the Naumburg International Competition and the first violinist to receive the coveted Avery Fisher Prize.

The concert concludes with Brahm's Symphony No. 1. The First Symphony is an epic and original work, a masterpiece in which Brahms found his own identity and voice, a fitting conclusion to the evening's program.

Complete Concert Details

In Good Company

Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 8:00pm

King Center for the Performing Arts

3865 North Wickham Road

Melbourne, FL

Christopher Confessore, Music Director & Principal Conductor

Verdi: Overture to Nabucco

Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra, side-by-side

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto

Elmar Oliveira, violin

Brahms: Symphony No. 1

Tickets range from $34 to $54 and are available through the King Center box office at 321.242.2219 or BrevardSympyhony.com. Student/Teacher discount also available.

Pre-Concert Discussion

The BSO invites patrons to enhance their concert experience by attending Concert Conversations with Christopher Confessore. This interactive session begins approximately 40 minutes before the performance. Main floor seating is open during the informal informative discussion.

Christopher Confessore, Music Director & Prinicipal Conductor

Christopher Confessore serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure in Brevard, the orchestra has enjoyed a dramatic and sustained period of artistic excellence and has been praised for its innovative programming, spirited performances and broad repertoire. Mr. Confessore's work with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra has garnered rave reviews for his "special talent for drawing the broadly lyrical out of his orchestra." He leads the orchestra in a wide range of Classics, Pops, Educational and Outreach performances each season.

During the 2013-14 Season, Mr. Confessore's schedule as a guest conductor includes appearances with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, New Mexico Philharmonic, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sarasota Orchestra. In recent seasons he has also appeared with the Charlotte Symphony, Hartford Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He appears annually as a conductor of Walt Disney World's Candlelight Processional at EPCOT - a production featuring a full orchestra, 300-voice choir and celebrity narrators including Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Sinese, Amy Grant, Chita Rivera and Trace Adkins.

Heralded as a sensitive accompanist and inspiring collaborator, Christopher Confessore has accompanied a distinguished list of world-class concert artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell and Lang Lang. As a Pops conductor, he has appeared with a diverse group of superstars, including Grammy Award winners Art Garfunkel, Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Marvin Hamlisch, LeAnn Rimes, the Indigo Girls, Chris Botti and Charlie Daniels and Tony Award winner Idina Menzel. Music columnist Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News remarked "Anyone who regards the symphony as stuffy and elitist hasn't been to a SuperPops show when Confessore's in charge. He exudes nice-guy appeal on stage, along with real warmth, a sense of humor and smarts to spare."

Elmar Oliveira, violin

Unsurpassed in his combination of elegance and impeccable artistry, Elmar Oliveira is one of the most distinguished violinists in the world today. His commitment to a wide spectrum of the violin world manifests itself in numerous ways, such as consistently expanding repertoire boundaries as a champion of both contemporary music and rarely-heard works of the past, devoting considerable energy to the development of younger artists, and enthusiastically supporting the efforts and art of modern violin makers.

Mr. Oliveira has become a familiar and much-admired figure at the world's foremost concert venues. His rigorous international itinerary includes appearances with many of the world's great orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and the Zurich Tonhalle, to name a few. He has also made extensive recital tours of North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.

Elmar Oliveira remains the only American violinist to win the Gold Medal at Moscow's prestigious Tchaikovsky International Competition. He was also the First Prize winner at the Naumburg International Competition and the first violinist to receive the coveted Avery Fisher Prize.

The son of Portuguese immigrants, Mr. Oliveira was nine when he began studying the violin with his brother John. He later continued his studies with Ariana Bronne and Raphael Bronstein at the Hartt College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, where Mr. Oliveira also received an honorary doctorate. Other honors include an honorary doctorate from Binghamton University and the Order of Santiago, Portugal's highest civilian honor. He has served on the juries of numerous violin competitions including the Montreal, Indianapolis, Naumburg, and Vianna da Motta.

Elmar Oliveira is a Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida. He performs on a 1729/30 Guarneri del Gesu called the "Stretton," and on several outstanding contemporary violins.

Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra

The Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra (BSYO) strives to provide an educationally sound musical experience that will motivate students to fulfill their potential and strive for excellence. The BSYO offers challenging rehearsal and performance opportunities for participating students and serve the community by encouraging a greater understanding of and participation in music.

The BSYO is comprised of students ages 6-18 who are admitted through a competitive audition process. The Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra is committed to the training of talented young musicians by professional musicians and conductors. The students are offered the opportunity to expand their skills in classical music and to work with a peer group that has attained the same level of expertise and talent. The BSYO is an affiliate of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra.

Additional Information

Season Tickets are available for the BSO's subscription series at the King Center for the Performing Arts, offering up to 50% off regular single ticket prices with a wide variety of concert packages. Full-time teachers and students save 50% off subscriptions and single tickets in areas two and three. Groups of 20 or more can save 20% off individual tickets.

Brevard County students in grade 4-12 are invited to join the BSO Kids! Concert Club. Membership is FREE for local students and includes benefits such as $6 symphony tickets for members and one guest to any BSO subscription concert. Concert Club students also receive a special invitation to attend OPEN rehearsals of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra at the King Center.

For more information, contact the Brevard Symphony Orchestra at (321) 242-2024 or visit our website at BrevardSymphony.com

The BSO is Brevard's premier professional orchestra. For 60 years, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra has brought quality performances, educational programs and outreach opportunities to the community. Our mission is to entertain and enrich individuals and communities, by creating exceptional, live symphonic music. The BSO is orchestra-in-residence at the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida.