Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra to Perform Gershwin's Piano Concerto This Weekend at BPA

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presents Gershwin's Piano Concerto tonight, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. & tomorrow, May 31 at 3:00 p.m., with a pre-concert chat Sunday at 2:15 p.m.

The Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra season finale marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss with performances of two of his works, the Concerto for Horn No. 1 and Feierlicher Einzug. The first work is likely the result of growing up with a famous horn player at home, his father, and the latter work was composed in 1909 for ceremonial events held by the Knights of St. John. Debussy's beautiful masterpiece L'aprés-midi d'un faune and Wagner's extract from Tristan und Isolde will hold you spellbound with their innovative harmonies and rich orchestral tapestry. Bringing the season to a rousing conclusion is Gershwin's jazzy Piano Concerto in F major. The program features Anne Marie Cherry (horn) and Johan Botes (piano).

An active free-lance horn player and music educator, Anne-Marie Cherry (pictured, left) has held the title of principal horn with the Round Rock Symphony from 2008-2012, and she has performed with the San Antonio, Downey, and Austin Symphonies in addition to the Dallas Wind Symphony, Victoria Bach Festival and the Austin City Brass Ensemble. She can be heard on several recordings with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, including the ground-breaking recording of John Corigliano's Circus Maximus, and a soon-to-be released recording on the Klavier label.

Dr. Johan Botes is Assistant Professor of Piano at Marshall University. First-Prize winner of the National Piano Competition in South Africa, he has performed as a soloist with orchestras in South Africa, Europe and America. In 2010, he won the Sidney M. Wright Presidential Scholarship Competition in Piano Accompaniment and in the same year began collaborative Piano Trio work with cellist Francesco Mastromatteo. Their first performance in October 2010 resulted in critical acclaim, winning them Prize for the best Chamber Music Recital at The University of Texas at Austin in 2011.

Maestro Wesley Schulz is garnering attention for his fresh programming and imaginative performances as well as building orchestras and growing audiences. In constant demand, Schulz is the Music Director of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra and the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra. He has been lauded by musicians for his "intensity and emotion" in performances and for his "approachable and inspiring" leadership. In the fall of 2014 Schulz assumed the post of Conducting Fellow at the Seattle Symphony with Music Director Ludovic Morlot.

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra performs at Bainbridge Performing Arts on Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 31 at 3:00 p.m. A special pre-concert chat will be held on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Tickets, $19 for adults, and $16 for seniors, students, military, and teachers may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569 or in person at Bainbridge Performing Arts (BPA), 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

Under BPA's Youth in Music Initiative generously sponsored by Wicklund Dental, each youth receives free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Bainbridge Performing Arts extends additional thanks to Fletcher Bay Foundation, who also funded music acquisition for the season. BPA is supported, in part, by Bainbridge Community Foundation and One Call for All.

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Photo Credit: (top) Liz Love

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