Showing posts with label symphony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label symphony. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2009

"Sing We and Chant It"

Thomas morley wasn't a monk, but his 16th century madrigal does capture what the KSO offers on its upcoming program of chant inspired music.


American composer Aaron Jay Kernis sought the 12th century inspiration of Hildegard von Bingen for his Musica Celestis for string orchestra. Like Samuel Barbers' famous Adagia for strings, Kernis also adapted his emotional sound scape from the second movement of his string quartet. Musical fire and brimstone appear courtesy of Franz Liszts's Totentanz (Dance of Death) and renowned pianist Michael Chertock, playing the devilishly difficult variations on "Dies Irae" (Day of Wrath).

The program's second half adds 100 voices from the KSO Chorale and CIncinnati CHoral Society for the beautiful and contemplative Requiem of Maurice Durufle. Unlike Mozart's or Verdi's Requiems, Durufle's mass (service) for the dead was dedicated to the composer's father, and includes the unusual settings of the Pie Jesu and In Paradisum to reinforce the loving kindness of God and the peacefulness of paradise in lieu of the Last Judgment.


Join music director James Cassidy, Michael Chertock, the KSO Chorale, Cincinnati Chorale Society and the KSO for a liturgical performance.

8:00 p.m. Saturday, November 21 at Florence Baptist Church at Mt.Zion

3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 22 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

Tickets are $28 & $23 dollars with discounts for seniors and students.

For more information please call the KSO at (859) 431-6216 or visit our website at www.kyso.org

Friday, September 4, 2009

Our trumpet players for the show this Saturday!

This Saturday marks the final performance for our Free Summer Series Concerts called, "What is Hip?" We hope you will come join us in Devou Park for a beautiful night during Labor Day Weekend. Pack a picnic, bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and enjoy gorgeous weather and exciting music of the horn bands of the 1970's!

Before the show, we want to highlight the trumpet players that will be playing during the show. Each has his own unique story and has traveled the world playing with big names such as Fred Wesley, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and more (just to name a few). They are well-versed and highly talented trumpet players, who are sure to put on an amazing performance this Saturday. Read more about each player below:

GARY WINTERS

Gary Winters’ career as a professional trumpeter started at the age of 8, when he took his first lessons on the trumpet. Five years later, he was performing R&B in nightclubs. After touring for 9 years with a show band, Winters became Director of Entertainment for The Red Onion, a nightclub/restaurant in L.A. Switching careers completely, Winters moved to northern Kentucky and worked in the corporate world for ten plus years. During a recording session in Bootsy Collins’ studio in 1998, he first met Fred Wesley, music director/arranger/trombonist/primary composer for James Brown in the late 60s-early 70s. That chance meeting led Winters to tour with Wesley for the past ten years, recently returning from a gig with him in Australia. His performance credits are varied and represent the biggest entertainment names both internationally and locally: Rosemary Clooney, American Idol Orchestra, CBS’s “The Genius of Ray Charles,” Manhattan Transfer, Franki Valli, The Temptations, Debby Boone, Lionel Hampton, Wayne Newton, Don Rickles, Aretha Franklin, Little Anthony, Michael Feinstein, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, The Reflections, Clyde Brown, Dee Felice Swing Band, The Blue Wisp Big Band, The Four Tops, Carmon DeLeone New Studio Big Band. In addition, he has recorded for some of Nashville’s top gospel groups, entertainment video games and national jingles.
Click here to read more

GREG WING

Currently Professor of Trumpet at Morehead State University where he received a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Gregory Wing holds a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from Indiana University. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading trumpet artists, Wing has served as lead trumpet with Paul Anka, Tom Jones (for four years) and the Buddy Rich Big Band. He has played for virtually every major entertainer including Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Frank Sinatra, as well as classical performances with Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra. As a studio musician for Westwind Musical Productions in California, he has recorded numerous commercial productions and convention soundtracks including the recent Winter Olympic themes.
Click here to read more

PAT HESSION

Pat Hession’s skills as a trumpeter were influenced from a young age by studying Maynard Ferguson’s recordings, which resulted in his lifetime dream of joining Ferguson’s band years later, playing with him for six years as lead trumpet until Ferguson’s recent passing. Following Ball State University, Hession worked the cruise ship circuit, before becoming third trumpet with Lionel Hampton’s Band. Touring with them on and off for four years, he then played lead book. In between touring with Hampton, Hession was awarded a full music scholarship to the University of Nevada. After graduating, Hession became lead trumpet with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, performing with them for two and a half years.
Click here to read more

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Who We Are

Welcome everyone,

My name is Michelle, a marketing intern for the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. I have been working here for most of this summer, and will continue here until mid-September. During my time here, I have come to have a much better understanding and appreciation for the symphony. Although an immediate reaction to the word "symphony" may be "boring," "long," or, "stuffy," to many people, it is quite the opposite in reality! The KSO is working very hard to change this state of mind.

As the symphony becomes a less popular form of entertainment, the KSO has taken a different approach to its performances. We want to make symphonic music entertaining and relevant to a new audience, while maintaining the highest quality of music possible. We invest much our time and money in music research and talented, dedicated musicians. And thus, we are able to provide a unique repertoire of music for our audience, which is not only fun and engaging, but authentic and true to form. Our past performances have included many types of entertainment, from silent films, dancers, comedians, zoo animals, to rock and complete operas and musicals, country bands, and even aerobic classes!

The symphony is a long-standing form of musical entertainment that can portray a multitude of genres of music, classical being just one of those genres. Throughout the years, our conductor, J.R. Cassidy, has formed the KSO Boogie Band, the Newport Ragtime Band, Flood Wall Jazz Quartet, and the KSO Chorale. We want to share our love for not only classical music, but also original big band, ragtime, and jazz. Lastly, we have an education program, where a group of musicians go to selected schools and perform concerts and clinics for students.

As you can see, we work hard to bring the symphony to life and share it with everyone we can. I will continue to keep you informed of our upcoming performances and any news on the horizon. Stay tuned for updates!