Little Orchestra Society News

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra announces a three-year extension of Philip Mann's tenure as Music Director. Mann first took to the podium as ASO Music Director at Robinson Center Music Hall on October 2, 2010.

Regarded as the World's Greatest Xylophone virtuoso, Ian Finkel (www.ianfinkel.com) expands his creative reach by partnering with More4Many books as they publish three works of fiction. The partnership was celebrated on Tuesday, May 20 at the Davis Room at The Warwick Hotel (65 West 54 Street).

After an extensive search, the Albany Symphony board of directors has appointed Lawrence J. Fried to the position of executive director of the organization. Fried, who most recently headed up an opera company in Houston, has over 20 years of experience and proven results in the field of arts management.

On Saturday, May 17th, Tony nominated actor John Tartaglia, will join The Little Orchestra Society and its Music Director, James Judd, for the delightfully wry whodunit The Composer is Dead, a musical collaboration between New York Times best-selling children's author Lemony Snicket and his high school friend, composer Nathaniel Stookey. The performance, taking place at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, is part of The Little Orchestra Society's popular Happy Concerts for Young People series for children ages 6 to 12. The Orchestra will also premiere Kenji Bunch's Embrace featuring Tracy Silverman on electric violin. This concerto was written to celebrate the theme of ' family.'

The Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Mitchell Sardou Klein, will continue its 65th anniversary season with a pair of concerts entitled 'Fountain of Youth' featuring the world premiere of a new Double Concerto for Cello, Clarinet and Orchestra by young composer and clarinetist Jonathan Russell with the composer and award-winning young cellist Nathan Chan as soloistsMarch 21 and 22 in San Mateo and Cupertino. The concerts will also include Grieg's In Autumn, the Intermezzo, Nocturne and Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream; Lalo's Cello Concerto with Nathan Chan and Debussy's Premiere Rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra with Jonathan Russell.The concerts will be given tonight, March 21, at 8 pm at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and March 22, at 8 pm at Flint Center/DeAnza College.

The Little Orchestra Society is reaching out to fellow New Yorkers to help craft its new name. Long time fans of the Orchestra and new enthusiasts alike will have the opportunity to submit their favorite names for an institution beloved by generations of concert-goers. Today through March 9th, music lovers are invited to visit the Orchestra's website: littleorchestra.org, and recommend a new name for an Orchestra known for its audience engagement, inclusive educational mission and commitment to innovative music and multi-disciplinary performances. The Orchestra's new name will be announced later this year.

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble has announced its annual 'Best of Baroque' concerts tonight, January 4th at 5:00 PM at Christ Church on Quaker Hill in Pawling, NY and on Sunday the 5th at 4:00 PM at St. Andrew's Church in Kent, CT. The program will include J.S. Bach's 2nd Brandenburg Concerto, the Vivaldi oboe concerto and a Handel Trio Sonata. Featured performers will be harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, Susan Rotholz (flute), Eliot Bailen (cello), Peter Weitzner (bass) and others.

Los Altos, CA, December 18, 2013 – The Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Mitchell Sardou Klein, will continue its 65th anniversary season with a pair of concerts entitled “Fountain of Youth” featuring the world premiere of a new Double Concerto for Cello, Clarinet and Orchestra by young composer and clarinetist Jonathan Russell with the composer and award-winning young cellist Nathan Chan as soloistsMarch 21 and 22 in San Mateo and Cupertino. The concerts will also include Grieg's In Autumn, the Intermezzo, Nocturne and Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream; Lalo's Cello Concerto with Nathan Chan and Debussy's Premiere Rapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra with Jonathan Russell.The concerts will be given Friday, March 21, at 8 pm at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and Saturday, March 22, at 8 pm at Flint Center/DeAnza College. For information and tickets, visitwww.peninsulasymphony.org .

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble has announced its annual "Best of Baroque" concerts on Saturday, January 4th at 5:00 PM at Christ Church on Quaker Hill in Pawling, NY and on Sunday the 5th at 4:00 PM at St. Andrew's Church in Kent, CT. The program will include J.S. Bach's 2nd Brandenburg Concerto, the Vivaldi oboe concerto and a Handel Trio Sonata. Featured performers will be harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, Susan Rotholz (flute), Eliot Bailen (cello), Peter Weitzner (bass) and others.

The Little Orchestra Society presents Music Under the Big Top, an evening of entertainment and musical acrobatics for audiences of all ages at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center on December 10, 2013. This first of its kind program for The Little Orchestra Society, conducted and co-hosted by new Music Director James Judd, will feature the Orchestra performing an eclectic array of classic and contemporary pieces in the ring of the Big Apple Circus joined by the talented violinist and composer Daniel Roumain. See Judd andRoumain discuss the upcoming concert on The Little Orchestra Society's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LittleOrchestraSoc.

The Little Orchestra Society presents Music Under the Big Top, an evening of entertainment and musical acrobatics for audiences of all ages at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center on December 10, 2013. This first of its kind program for The Little Orchestra Society, conducted and co-hosted by new Music Director James Judd, will feature the Orchestra performing an eclectic array of classic and contemporary pieces in the ring of the Big Apple Circus joined by the talented violinist and composer Daniel Roumain. See Judd andRoumain discuss the upcoming concert on The Little Orchestra Society's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LittleOrchestraSoc.

The Little Orchestra Society presents Music Under the Big Top, an evening of entertainment and musical acrobatics for audiences of all ages at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center. This first of its kind program for The Little Orchestra Society, conducted and co-hosted by new Music Director James Judd, will feature the Orchestra performing an eclectic array of classic and contemporary pieces in the ring of the Big Apple Circus joined by the talented violinist and composer Daniel Roumain.

The Little Orchestra Society, in association with New York City Center, is pleased to announce an exciting reimagined version of the timeless Russian masterpiece, Stravinsky's Firebird, at New York City Center on November 23rd and 24th. The production, part of The Little Orchestra Society's Happy Concerts for Young People series, will take audiences on an unforgettable journey through space and time using light, shadows, music, dance and Bunraku-style puppetry to tell the epic tale of Prince Ivan, the magical firebird and the struggle between good and evil. The story will be set to Stravinsky's dramatic narrative music and the performance will be guest conducted by David Alan Miller.

After an extensive international search, The Little Orchestra Society is excited to announce the appointment of James Judd as its new Music Director, effective June 1st. Mr. Judd will work closely with The Little Orchestra Society's Executive Director Joanne Bernstein-Cohen and its Board to advance the Orchestra's mission of producing innovative and extraordinary classical music programming for audiences of all ages. Mr. Judd becomes only the third Music Director of The Little Orchestra Society in its 65-year history.

The Solti Foundation U.S. today recognized the talent of five distinguished young American conductors. James Feddeck, Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, is the recipient of the 2013 $25,000 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. Vladimir Kulenovic, Ankush Kumar Bahl, Roger Kalia, and Christopher James Lees were all named as recipients of Solti U.S. Career Assistance Awards.

The Little Orchestra Society announces its Spring Benefit, hosted by two-time Tony Award winning actress Donna Murphy, to follow the premiere of Disney Fantasia Live in Concert tonight, April 26 at Avery Fisher Hall. The Arts and Education Honoree of the evening is the Big Apple Circus and its co-founders Paul Binder and Michael Christensen. A special benefit reception for adults will take place after the concert on the Grand Promenade of Avery Fisher Hall. Saturday's two encore performances of this Happy Concerts For Young People program are already sold-out.

The Little Orchestra Society announces its Spring Benefit, hosted by two-time Tony Award winning actress Donna Murphy, to follow the premiere of Disney Fantasia Live in Concert on Friday, April 26 at Avery Fisher Hall.

The Little Orchestra Society (LOS) presents TUBBY THE TUBA narrated by Patti Smith, the iconic National Book Award-winner, rock musician and poet, today, March 16, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

Today, March 9 th, VH1 and Parenting Magazine will present the VH1 Save The Music Foundation's Family Day - a free, family fun day open to the public - at The Anderson School in New York from 10AM to 4PM.

The Little Orchestra Society (LOS) presents MEET THE MAESTRO today, March 2, at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Sunday, March 3, at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th St. between Park and Lexington Aves.).