World Premiere Concerto to be Performed by Mads Tolling, 2/20

The world premiere of a new violin concerto entitled Begejstring ("Excitement") by popular jazz composer/violinist Mads Tolling will headline the Oakland East Bay Symphony's February 20, 2015 concert with Tolling as soloist at the Paramount Theatre conducted by Music Director Michael Morgan. The evening will also include Haydn's Mass in Time of War with the Oakland Symphony Chorus and Pacific Boychoir plus Samuel Barber's Symphony No. 1 (Symphony in One Movement), conducted by Assistant Conductor Brian Nies. A pre-concert talk with John Kendall Bailey will be given at 7 pm and is free to ticket-holders. Tickets and information: $20-$70 www.oebs.org or 510-444-0802.

About his Oakland East Bay Symphony premiere, composer/violinist Mads Tolling says, "Begejstring" is a Danish word, which translated to English, means excitement, enthusiasm, gusto, and passion. I have entitled my composition Begejstring because it encompasses who I am, what I am, and where I am in this moment, with my music and my evolving growth as an artist. Having grown up in Copenhagen, my Danish heritage and background is inherent to my perspective as a musician and a composer, and provides me with the foundation from which I continue to expand my landscape and horizons. The excitement I felt when I wrote my first piece in high school for my band was pivotal. The expression of something so personal, the connection with friends and band mates, and ultimately the audience, was an emotional epiphany. Since that time, I have had extraordinary opportunities to continue that sharing process, while challenging myself along the way, writing for string quartets, various chamber music groups, jazz combos and even Big Band. Composing for symphony is yet another challenge, which I have embraced with Begejstring. Integrating groove-based music with jazz, fiddle styles, and improvisation, fusing it with sixty-seven other musicians, and communicating it all to an audience is a fresh adventure for me. I am appreciative of everyone who is taking this journey with me, and look forward to the discovery of a new destination."

Haydn's Mass in Time of War will feature the Oakland Symphony Chorus, Lynne Morrow, Director, Pacific Boychoir and soloists from San Francisco Opera Center's
Adler Fellowship Program including Julie Adams, soprano; Zanda Šv?de, mezzo-soprano; Chong Wang, tenor; and Anthony Michael Read, bass

The concert is sponsored in part by Chevron and the premiere of Mads Tolling's work is part ofNew Visions/New Vistas Commissioning Project, supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.

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