50th Anniversary Specials
Prints of the art piece by Fred Gilmour, Brad Nason's DVD on the History of WSO, and two CD's: Favorites of the WSO and Billtown Brass Holiday Favorites are all available in the lobby concert nights as well as in the office until the end of the season. Along with 50-50 campaign, proceeds from the sales of these items support the orchestra as it celebrates its birthday.
All about the art – Urge to Provoke by Fred Gilmour
Looking for a holiday gift?Our original mixed media acrylic painting by artist Fred Gilmour is being made available to the public as a signed and numbered, limited edition giclee print. The print is produced on the highest quality archival paper using archival pigmented ink and each is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity also signed by the artist. Unframed prints are 14” x 20” and come with a FoamCor backer and protective poly bag. $75.00 ea. Framed prints are finished to 21” x 28” $180.00 ea.Please call the Symphony office at 570-322-0227 to place an ...
Mark Minnich – New Concertmaster
Mark Minnich debuts as concertmaster October 18th. Heholds a Bachelors of Music degree in Violin Performancefrom Bowling Green State University, as well as an MM inViolin Performance and an MA in Music Theory and Historyfrom Penn State.From a small town near Toledo, Ohio, his first instrumentwas piano,"...although I was a terrible student- I didn't practiceregularly, rarely listened to recordings, and had littleenthusiasm... but my teacher was very patient with me. Itook up violin because I'd heard it on a few different CDs andloved the sound; after about a year of asking, ...
50/50 fundraising campaign is underway!
50/50 fundraising campaign is underway! The "musicometer: is slowly sliding upward. Our first goal is to match the $7,500 challenge contributed by the Susquehanna Valley Vein Center and by Lyneah and Michael Hudock. The next goal is to reach the ambitious goal of gaining 1,000 contributors. You could donate by visiting www.williamsportsymphony.org or follow the link Support WSO!
Recognizing “Those Who Came Before, On Whose Shoulders…”
The previous newsletter credited the work of Georgia Burch (violinist, 1980-2008) who tackled the job of contacting former conductors and players from the past 50 years as part of the anniversary celebration. Her name appeared in the comments of one of the responders:
Jessica Landes, second violinist, 2007-09 wrote: My favorite memory of my time in the WSO was my stand partner, Georgia Burch, who took me under her wing from the very beginning. Adding to the pleasure was the unusually high quality for an orchestra of its size (and by that I mean budget size)." Currently ...
WSO Billtown Brass at the Parks – August 20 & 21
The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra’s Billtown Brass Band will be presenting concerts at 7:00 PM, Saturday, August 20 at the Central Oak Heights pavilion, Milton and 7:00 PM, Sunday, August 21, in the Brandon Park Dr. Ken Cooper bands shell, Williamsport. The programs will follow a traditional park concert model presenting an eclectic collection of great brass music with solos by band members and sections.
Brasstastic! is the program’s theme and includes repertoire that will delight all members of the audience. Anticipated selections include everything from the rock ...
Pops in the Park at Brandon Park – August 13
The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP) will host its eighth event in a series of twelve monthly "Centennial Surprise" gifts to the community on Saturday, August 13, 2016.
FCFP is offering a free concert and laser light show in Brandon Park with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra featuring the music of the popular Star Wars movies.
The concert will be held in Brandon Park, on Packer Street, in Williamsport at the Band Shell, beginning at 7:30 PM. The public is encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the outdoor concert. ...
Pops in the Park at Pepper Street – August 6
Muncy Historical Society to host the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra for a second year with a “Pops at Pepper Street” free concert.
The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra returns to Muncy to perform a variety of musical selections on Saturday, August 6 at 7:00 pm. The outdoor concert location is 232 Pepper Street, Muncy Creek Township, Muncy. Parking is available at Muncy High School and on Painter, Buffington and Lincoln streets. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary, 602 S. Market Street, Muncy.
Under the ...
Concert Master Number 4: Hyeri Choi
As the search/auditions for the permanent position of Concertmaster continues , Hyeri Choi will claim the chair in March. As an undergraduate she earned a Bachelor of Music from Ewha Women's University in Korea and a Certificate in Orchestra Performance from TOHO Orchestra Academy in Japan. At the Eastman School of Music she completed her masters and doctorate degrees in Violin Performance and Literature.
Her performance experiences as a solo, chamber, and orchestra musician include her New York debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, after winning first prize in ...
Some WSO History
Many of the WSO concerts feature guest artists - most recently the saxophone-viola performers and before them, the Williamsport High School Chorus. It is interesting to note how "guesting" with the orchestra occurred early on, specifically during the period that temporarily ended the WSO in 1957.
In 1950, the first "highly rated professional singer" soprano Dorothy Sarnoff (1919-2008) appeared with the orchestra. Time magazine described her as "one of the most personable and best equipped singers the U.S. opera has turned up." She studied in Paris until the war interf...