CSO's Free Happy Hour Concert Series to Feature 14-Year-Old Granville Pianist

The CSO's Happy Hour concerts offer free, informal, after-work concerts performed preceded by complimentary appetizers, a DJ in the theatre lobby, and a cash bar. Led by CSO Associate Conductor Peter Stafford Wilson, Dance Rhythms will feature Granville-based, 14-year-old guest pianist Gavin George who will explore the music of another young talent, Felix Mendelssohn, who wrote the G Minor Piano Concerto at barely 20 years of age. The Dance Rhythms Happy Hour program will also include John Adams' surreal portrait of Madame Mao in his haunting foxtrot for orchestra, and Dvorak's earthy series of energized and whimsical melodies in Slavonic Dances.

The Columbus Symphony presents Happy Hour Concert: Dance Rhythms at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Thursday, April 6. Doors will open at 5:30pm with complimentary appetizers, drink specials, and opportunities to meet CSO musicians. The concert begins at 6:30pm, and will last for approximately 60 minutes with no intermission. Admission is free. Seating is general admission.

The 2016-17 Happy Hour concert series is presented through the generous support of Giant Eagle.

About CSO Associate Conductor Peter Stafford Wilson

Peter Stafford Wilson has served the Columbus Symphony since 1990 when he joined the conducting staff as Assistant Conductor. In 1993, he was promoted to Associate Conductor, and since that time, has appeared on all the CSO's subscription, education, and outreach series. Wilson also leads the nationally renowned Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestras program, conducting the senior orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Columbus All-City Orchestra, comprised of students from the Columbus City Schools.

In addition to his duties with the CSO, Wilson has served the Springfield Symphony Orchestra as music director since 2001, and in 2010, won a League of American Orchestras/ASCAP Award for Adventuresome Programming for his commitment to contemporary American music. He has also led the Westerville Symphony at Otterbein University as music director for more than 16 years. In 2012, Wilson began an association with the Tulsa Ballet, where he serves as principal conductor, leading three to four major productions per season.

About guest pianist Gavin George

Acclaimed for his musical maturity and virtuosity, 14-year-old pianist Gavin George made his concerto debut at age seven with the Newark-Granville Symphony performing Haydn's Concerto in D Major, and was a featured performer on the "CBS Early Show." As a gold medal winner for two consecutive years in the American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented International Piano Competition, George has performed multiple times at Carnegie Hall. He was also awarded a full scholarship to study and perform at Luxembourg's Vianden Music Festival. In 2011, George became the youngest musician to perform on NPR's Emmy Award-winning "From the Top." He was awarded first prize in the SAA's International Piano Concerto Competition, performing Beethoven's Concerto No. 3, and performed at Orchestra Hall (Minneapolis), Midland Theater (Newark), and Constitution Hall (DC). George was selected as one of the PRODIGIES series documentary profiles made by Radical Media, appearing on the YouTube THNKRTV channel. www.GavinGeorge.com

www.columbussymphony.com

Photo credit: Randall L. Schieber

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