North Carolina Symphony Announces Newest Member

By: Jul. 28, 2011
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The North Carolina Symphony today introduced the newest member of its musical family, Sympson, the orchestra's new NCS Kids mascot. A playful, feathered friend of music lovers, he will be a visible presence on the Symphony's website to teach children about classical music and answer questions submitted by the many students and families who attend Symphony events year-round.

Meet him today at www.ncsymphony.org/sympson.

Sympson was selected from over 30 entries as part of a design contested launched by the Symphony in December 2010. He was designed by Raleigh resident Kimberly Ridge.

"The idea for Sympson came to me really quickly," she said in a profile in the May/June issue of Artsee Magazine. "I have a fondness for bluebirds and get very excited each time I see one. The Eastern Carolina Bluebird made sense for The North Carolina Symphony and I thought kids would easily relate a bird with music...Sympson was and is a joy to create and I am thrilled that he was chosen to represent NCS Kids as their mascot."

Sympson will be featured on the Symphony's website and in posters and images for the 2011/12 edition of the Symphony's Young People's Concerts series at Meymandi Concert Hall, in downtown Raleigh's Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Aimed at families and children ages four to 12, the series features hour-long concert adventures into classical music. This year, pre-concert activities will be provided by Marbles Kids Museum, along with the Symphony's popular Instrument Zoo, which allows children to try out the orchestra's instruments for themselves.

The 2011/12 Young People's Concerts include a romp into the life of Ludwig van Beethoven in "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" this November; a Mozart-inspired spin on the Dr. Seuss classic Green Eggs and Ham in January; and the orchestra imitating the sounds of the greatest musicians of the insect world in March's concert, "Bug Songs."

Series subscriptions to all three 2011/12 Young People's Concerts are available now for $36. Individual concert tickets go on sale on August 8 for $20 each. Meymandi Concert Hall is located in the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., in Raleigh.

About the North Carolina Symphony

Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony performs over 175 concerts annually to adults and school children. The orchestra travels extensively throughout the state to venues in over 50 North Carolina counties. Under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Grant Llewellyn, Resident Conductor William Henry Curry and Associate Conductor Sarah Hicks, the orchestra employs 67 professional musicians.

Based in downtown Raleigh's spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts and an outdoor summer venue at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., the Symphony performs about 60 concerts annually in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary metropolitan area. It also holds concerts in Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines, Wilmington and many other North Carolina communities throughout the year.

For tickets, program notes, podcasts-or just to get to know your Symphony's musicians-visit the North Carolina Symphony Web site at www.ncsymphony.org. Call North Carolina Symphony Audience Services at 919.733.2750 or toll free 877.627.6724.

Series Listing:

NCS Kids presents

2011/12 Young People's Concerts

BEETHOVEN LIVES UPSTAIRS

William Henry Curry, Resident Conductor

Classical Kids Live!

"One of the most completely wondrous examples of children's entertainment ever!" -Billboard

A madman has moved in upstairs, and young Christoph wants to find out just what's going on up there. Enjoy this romp into the work of Ludwig van Beethoven, from "Moonlight" Sonata to "Ode to Joy" and everything in between.

Sat, Nov 19, 2011, 11am and 4pm

Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

Rob Kapilow, conductor, composer and host

"Kapilow is a kind of Bill Nye the Science Guy for classical music."-Time Out New York

Would you like them in a house? Would you like them with a mouse? Would you like them on a ball? How ‘bout Meymandi Concert Hall? Robert Kapilow, composer of The Polar Express, puts a Mozart-inspired spin on Dr. Seuss's classic.

Sat, Jan 7, 2012, 11am and 4pm

Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh

BUG SONGS

Sarah Hicks, Associate Conductor

The bugs are swarming your concert hall! But don't fret, they're here for the music. Hear the orchestra imitate the sounds of the greatest musicians in the bug world, including everyone's favorite, Flight of the Bumblebee.

Sat, Mar 10, 2012, 11am and 4pm

Meymandi Concert Hall, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh

MUSICMAKERS

Marbles Kids Museum and the North Carolina Symphony put the magic and creativity of music into children's hands on select Saturdays throughout the year. Join our musicians at the museum for hands-on fun (www.ncsymphony.org/musicmakers).

 



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