CANTON, OHIO (April 14, 2015) - Three choruses combined into one, six vocal soloists and internationally acclaimed pianist André Watts join together for the Canton Symphony Orchestra's final Beethoven Festival concert. The program for the concert on April 26 at 8:00pm at the Zimmermann Symphony Center (2331 17thStreet NW) includes Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy".
The rarely performed Choral Fantasy begins with solo piano, which will be performed by Watts, then the orchestra joins in, followed by the vocal soloists and full chorus. Symphony No. 9 employs the full orchestra and finishes with a climactic movement with the full chorus and Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy". The full chorus consists of the Canton Symphony Chorus, University of Mount Union Concert Choir and Walsh University Chamber Singers. The vocal soloists are soprano Rachel Hall, soprano Maribeth Crawford, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Findlen, tenor Timothy Culver, baritone Britt Cooper, and bass Nathan Stark.Soprano Rachel Hall was soloist with the CSO in 2014 on the Brahms Requiem. In 2014 she had her Lincoln Center debut as Gretel with the Little Orchestra Society and recently had performances with Annapolis Opera, Opera in the Heights, and Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes Showcase. She holds Bachelor degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.Videos