MSO Announces 2013-14 Chamber Series

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announces plans for the 2013.14 Chamber Series, which will be led by Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong and take place in several intimate venues around the Milwaukee area. All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. Programmed by Lecce-Chong, the series includes works from Bach, Handel, Bruckner, Vaughan Williams, and others.

The first program features non-sacred works with rich harmonies and broad forms. The second includes various concerti, featuring a variety of MSO principal players in solo roles. The final program showcases the MSO Chorus, led by Lee Erickson, director, in three contrasting works.

PROGRAMS

Chamber I
November 1-2, 2013

Cathedral of St. John

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Bach Chaconne (from Partita No. 2) (transcribed by Joachim Raff)

Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten

Bruckner Symphony No. 6 in A major

1. Maestoso
2. Adagio: Sehr feierlich
3. Scherzo: Ruhig bewegt (etwas gemessen) - Trio
4. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell

Chamber II

February 7-8, 2014

Zelazo Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Jennifer Bouton, piccolo

Katherine Young Steele, oboe

Sonora Slocum, flute

Bach Suite No. 2 in B minor for Orchestra, BWV 1067

1. Overture
2. Rondeau
3. Sarabande
4. Bourree I and II
5. Polonaise/Double
6. Menuet
7. Badinerie

Vivaldi Concerto in C major for Piccolo and Orchestra, R. 443

1. Allegro
2. Largo
3. Allegro

Handel Concerto No. 3 in G minor for Oboe and Orchestra

1. Grave
2. Allegro
3. Sarabande
4. Allegro

Stravinsky Concerto in E-flat major for Chamber Orchestra, "Dumbarton Oaks"

1. Tempo giusto
2. Allegretto
3. Con moto

Ginastera Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23

Chamber III

May 23-24, 2014

Basilica of St. Josaphat

Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor

Robert Levine, viola

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Lee Erickson, director

Vaughan Williams Flos Campi ("Flower of the Field")

Wagner "Prelude to Act III," "Pilgrim's Chorus," and "Finale" from Tannhauser

Cherubini Requiem in C minor

Introitus et Kyrie

Graduale

Dies irae

Offertorium

Sanctus

Pie Jesu

Agnus Dei

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

American conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, active with both the orchestral and opera repertory on the international stage, currently serves as associate conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In addition to working closely with renowned Music Director Edo de Waart, Mr. Lecce-Chong provides artistic leadership for the orchestra's extensive community and education programs. In his first season with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2011.12, he conducted over forty performances, including an acclaimed mainstage debut with pianist Joyce Yang. In the 2012.13 season, he made his MSO subscription debut with pianist Stephen Beus and led a gala performance with Itzhak Perlman.

Mr. Lecce-Chong has appeared with international orchestras including the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (China), Pitesti Philharmonic (Romania), Ruse Philharmonic (Bulgaria), and the Sofia Festival Orchestra (Italy). Equally comfortable in the opera house, he has served as principal conductor for the Brooklyn Repertory Opera and as cover conductor for Gotham Chamber Opera and the Santa Fe Opera. His dynamic performances and growing reputation have brought distinction, including a Career Assistance Award from The Solti Foundation and the Presser Music Award from The Presser Foundation.

An accomplished pianist, Mr. Lecce-Chong has performed as soloist with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, and Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and made his Lincoln Center debut with the Mannes Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall. He is an active chamber musician and has presented solo and chamber music recitals at the Young Musicians Forum Concert Series, Music in the West End, and the Curtis Institute of Music Recital Series. A native of Boulder, Colorado, Mr. Lecce-Chong began his conducting work at age 16. He is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree with honors in both piano and orchestral conducting, and was also the recipient of the N.T. Milani Memorial Conducting Fellowship and the George and Elizabeth Gregory Award for Excellence in Performance. Mr. Lecce-Chong also holds a diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with renowned pedagogue Otto-Werner Mueller as the recipient of the Martin and Sarah Taylor Fellowship.

Jennifer Bouton joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in fall of 2011, following three seasons with the Virginia Symphony. Prior to her appointment with the VSO, Ms. Bouton performed regularly with the Pittsburgh Opera Theater, Akron Symphony, Colorado Ballet and Symphony, Central City Opera, and the Washington DC Summer Opera Theater Company, among others. She has participated in numerous American and international festivals. Ms. Bouton received a Master of Music degree and Certificate in Advanced Flute Studies from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory. Recent projects include assisting Jeanne Baxtresser, former principal flute of the New York Philharmonic, with the publication of a new revised edition of Ms. Baxtresser's classic book, Orchestral Excerpts for Flute (Presser), and a performance at the 2012 National Flute Association Convention in Las Vegas, NV.

Katherine Young Steele is the principal oboe of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, where she holds the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra League Oboe Chair. Previously, she served as principal oboe of the Florida Orchestra in Tampa Bay, a position she held for five seasons. Since 2008, Katherine has served as co-principal oboe of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC. She has also served as guest principal oboe in the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony, and the Sarasota Orchestra. A native of Lancaster, OH, Steele holds a Bachelor of Music degree and the prestigious Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from Rice University's Shepherd School. Her primary teachers include Richard Killmer, Robert Atherholt, and Donna Conaty.

Sonora Slocum is the principal flute of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She has been acclaimed for her commanding stage presence and instinctive musicality. Ms. Slocum's orchestral experience includes performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, New World Symphony, and Symphony in C. She has performed in venues throughout the United States and Asia, including Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), and the Kennedy Center. Now completing her master's degree in orchestral performance at the Manhattan School of Music, Ms. Slocum holds a bachelor's degree from the Curtis Institute of Music. Among her teachers are principal flutists Robert Langevin, Jeffrey Khaner, and Bart Feller.

Robert Levine has been the principal violist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra since September 1987. He has also been a member of the Orford Quartet in residence at the University of Toronto and principal violist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Oklahoma City Symphony, and the London (Ontario) Symphony. Robert is an active chamber musician, having performed at many American and overseas festivals in addition to numerous concerts in the Twin Cities and Milwaukee. He is chairman emeritus of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, president of the Milwaukee Musicians Association, Local 8 AFM, and a member of the Board of Directors of the League of American Orchestras. Robert attended Stanford University, the University of Reading (UK), and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Switzerland.

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, directed by Lee Erickson, has become one of the finest symphony choruses in the country. Founded in 1976 by Margaret Hawkins at the request of the MSO's second music director, Kenneth Schermerhorn, the MSO Chorus' 150 volunteer members are dedicated to artistic excellence and performances of the highest caliber. Under Lee Erickson's dynamic leadership, the Chorus performs with the MSO throughout each season and also performs regularly at Ravinia with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition, the chorus is featured on many of the MSO's recordings, including the current MSO Classics digital series. The 2013.14 season includes performances of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé, Schubert's Mass No. 6, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Chamber groups from the chorus also perform Handel's Messiah in December. The 2012.13 season included performances of John Adams's On the Transmigration of Souls, Rachmaninoff's The Bells, and Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, as well as a Pops concert of Gershwin favorites.

Known for his tireless pursuit of excellence, Lee Erickson was appointed associate director of the Chorus in 1978, and assumed the position of director in 1994. He has served on the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts, is a past Dean of the American Guild of Organists, and is Music Director at St. Anthony's Church in Milwaukee. In January 2008, Mr. Erickson was honored by the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music for his musical contribution to the greater Milwaukee community. In March 2008, he was named as one of the 2007 Artists of the Year by the City of Milwaukee Arts Board.

TICKETS & PRICING

For information about tickets, please call 414.291.7605 or visit mso.org. All programs subject to change.

ABOUT THE MSO
Ranked among the top orchestras in the country, the MSO is the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the orchestra has received critical acclaim for artistic excellence. The orchestra's 83 full-time professional musicians perform more than 130 concerts each season. A cornerstone organization in Milwaukee's arts community, the MSO provides enrichment and education activities for audiences of every age, economic status, and background.