Pianist William Wolfram Joins the ASO for 'Opening Night!' Concert Series This Weekend

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Pianist William Wolfram joins the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for the first concerts of the 2015-2016 season, this weekend, October 2 and 3. Entitled "Opening Night!", Music Director José-Luis Novo will lead the orchestra's first performance of the season at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts under the now fully renovated acoustic shell.

October's Lexus Classic Series concerts will begin at 8:00PM and be preceded at 5:30pm each evening by a gala Opening Night Celebration. Tickets for the concert and the party are sold separately and are currently on sale online atwww.annapolissymphony.org, by calling 410-263-0907 or in person at the ASO's office 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD 21401.

ASO's Opening Night concert program includes Richard Wagner's Overture to Tannhäuser, Jean Sibelius' Pohjola's Daughter, Manuel de Falla's Interlude & Dance from La Vida Breve and Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 2, "The Age of Anxiety" featuring pianist William Wolfram.

American pianist William Wolfram was a silver medalist at both the William Kapell and the Naumburg International Piano Competitions, a bronze medalist at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow and finalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Wolfram has appeared with many of the greatest orchestras of the world and has developed a special reputation as the rare concerto soloist who is also equally versatile and adept as a recitalist, accompanist and chamber musician.

The ASO's second annual Opening Night Celebration consists of a pre-concert cocktail party and a post-concert champagne reception under a festively decorated tent in front of Maryland Hall. Patrons will enter on a red carpet to enjoy bountiful gourmet hors d'oeuvres including an oyster bar. Guests will also enjoy a liquor infused tea-bar courtesy of Capital Teas and a celebration-themed signature cocktail by Lexus.

The party will begin at 5:30PM, on both Friday October 2 and Saturday October 3. A trumpet fanfare will call the audience into the concert hall at 8:00PM for a program titled "Opening Night!" Following the concert, guests will return to a lounge-style reception to enjoy champagne, tea cocktails, desserts, and the opportunity to mingle with Maestro Novo, William Wolfram, and members of the orchestra.

In addition to the Baltimore/Annapolis Lexus Dealers, corporate sponsors for the Opening Night Celebration include: M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust, 1 North Wealth Services, Fidelity Investments, Loews Annapolis Hotel, Kagan Law Group, Zachary's Jewelers, Crusader Yacht Sales and Rockwell Collins.

Guests may choose to attend either Friday or Saturday night, and concert tickets must be purchased separately. Attire for the evening is "black tie optional." Event tickets are $150 per person ($175 on or afterSeptember 19). Concert tickets range in price from $38 and $13 per seat for students. Tickets are available online at www.annapolissymphony.org, by calling the ASO at 410-263-0907 or by visiting the office in Room 204 at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.

About the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

Now in its 54th season, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is led by renowned Music Director José-Luis Novo and features 70 professional musicians who perform a variety of symphonic concerts for audiences of all ages. Additionally, the non-profit organization provides educational programs through its partnerships with local schools, as well as various other community outreach efforts. The ASO's vision is to be the best regional orchestra in the country and recognized as a jewel in the Washington/Baltimore area.

About José-Luis Novo

Since his appointment as Music Director and Conductor of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2005, José-Luis Novo, holder of The Philip Richebourg Chair, has instilled a new and vibrant artistic vision. Maestro Novo's continuous drive for artistic excellence, innovative thematic programming and collaborations with some of today's most respected guest artists, brought about unprecedented artistic growth, praising audiences and consistent critical acclaim.

In addition to his post at the helm of the ASO, Maestro José-Luis Novo has served Music Director and Conductor of the Binghamton Philharmonic (New York) since 2003. Prior to these appointments, he was Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under the direction of both Music Director Emeritus Jesús López-Cobos and former Music Director Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the late Erich Kunzel.

Guest conducting engagements in the US include the Baltimore Symphony, the Rochester and Fresno Philharmonic and the orchestras of Minnesota, Syracuse, Silicon Valley, Stamford, Modesto, Tulsa and Tallahassee.

Since 1999 he has been on the conducting faculty at the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he currently holds the position of Associate Conductor. In addition, he has conducted many noteworthy college and youth orchestras including the Curtis Institute Orchestra, the University of Maryland Symphony, the Ithaca College Symphony and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra.

About Lexus

Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service from its 231 dealers. Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader, offering five hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and first-class luxury. When it began, Lexus offered two models of vehicles. Now, more than 20 years later, Lexus offers variations of 10 vehicles, from the sporty CT 200h hybrid to the V10 supercar, the LFA. Lexus is the official Vehicle of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.

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