Celebrate and Explore Press Release

Press Release

From the Or= chestra of Southern Utah

To Be Released: August 27^th 2007

Contact: Jackie Riddle-Jackson

(435) 586-7363

Photo Cutline: = Cedar City’s Community Orchestra, The Orchestra of Southern Utah invites everyone to join them for the 2007-2008 season to celebrate Great Orchestral works and Explore music in the traditi= on of Dvorak, Handel and Co Composers, McDonald and Nelson.

Celebrate and Explore

OSU announc= es their upcoming Season

&nb= sp; Join us at the Heritage to “Explore More” as we adventur= e into a s= eason filled with Beauty, Elegance, Surprise and Creativity. Xun = Sun, Music Director and Conductor, returns for his 5^th Season. His goal is to bring the Orchestra= to realize its finest season to date. &n= bsp; Xun is completing his Doctoral work at Co= lumbia University in New York and will guest conduct in the Ukraine this fall. He is also a guest conductor in China e= ach spring and directs the Southern Utah University Symphony Orchestra. Xun and the Orchestra are excited = to perform this season’s selections that are both challenging and dramat= ic.

&nb= sp; To open the season a “Talent Showcase” on September 13th at 7:30 p.m. brings to the forefront local musicians wi= th “Star Quality” = Giving the Orchestra a chance to show their versatility and skill. David Price, violinist, recently w= on first place in his age group at the Utah State Fair competition and a virtuoso piece with OSU. Chris Talley and Ke Ma are professional vocalists from contrasting traditions. Talley performs in opera and Ke Ma= specializes in Chinese folk music. = The Leavitt Sisters Cello Duo, Brooke MacNaughton and Heather Leavitt, have selected a double concerto by Vivaldi. Pete Akin plays a French Horn concerto, and Jensina Byington presents the Ravel= Piano concerto.

&nb= sp; On Friday, November 2, 2007, 7:30 p.m. OSU will present Dvorak’s Carnival Overture and the New World Symphony.= Guest Soloist Sharon Wei (violist)= will perform a Concerto by Telemann and “Yizkor” by Partas accompani= ed by the orchestra.

The Tra= dition Continues for it= s 67^th year the performance of Handel’s Messiah will take place Sunday Decem= ber 9^th and Monday December 10^th at 7:30 p.m.

Fest= ival City Community Chor= ale and selected Soloists will present this Sacred Work with the Orchestra as a gift to the Community as part of the Christmas Celebration.

Solo auditions and Choir rehearsals will take place th= is fall, Details to be announced at a later date.

&nb= sp; This Year the Children’s Carnival is planning a world musical exploration. With support from the National Endowment of the Arts, the orchestra has commissioned a new symphony work focusing on the sounds of Africa composed by Marshall McDonald and Steven Nelson. The music is complime= nted with science and art activities for a fun filled family afternoon. Please j= oin us Saturday, February 9^th at 2:00 p.m. at the Heritage. Families and children of all ages = are invited to attend.

&nb= sp; Thursday, February 21 2008, 7:30 p.m. features in its full completion the World Premiere of the New Orchestral Work by Composers Marshall McDonald and Steve Nelson. Music from = around the World will round out this Mid-Winter Concert.

&nb= sp; The Roy L. Halverson Young Artist Concert closes the season on April= 10^th. This concert features youth solois= ts from our area and is an annual event that Celebrates and Honors Roy Halvers= on a Cedar City Music Professor and Mentor. The Spanish Trail Suite by compose= rs Marshall McDonald and Steve Nelson gives the evening its final polish.

&nb= sp; Season tickets are $35 and are available at Cedar Music Store and Studio, 602 South Main, and include general seating to all evening performances. Tickets are also available at the = Heritage Center box office.

&nb= sp; Patrons are also invited to attend OSU’s 11^th Annual Fall Recital series, at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, 70 North 200 Wes= t, in Cedar City, Performances start Sept. 4^th with Performances by Musical Famil= ies and continue every Tuesday evening for six weeks. Other themes are: Shall we Dance? Music of Fantasies and many others. Suggested donations per recital are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

&nb= sp; Those interested in meeting new people, renewing old acquaintances a= nd sharing their enjoyment of orchestral music are invited to join Friends of Music Guild .&n= bsp; Memberships are $35 per person or $50 per couple and include invitat= ions for special receptions and activities throughout the season. Call Sara Penny, 586-2286, for more Guild Details.

Season sponsors include the RAP funds through Cedar City Corporation, Leavitt Group, State of Southe= rn Utah, Utah Arts Council and the NEA. Free tickets for low inc= ome seniors are available the week before each concert at the Parowan and Cedar City Senior Citizen Centers through support from the United Way of Iron County.

&nb= sp; Come join OSU to “Celebrate and Explore” everything this season of exciting music has to offer.&nbs= p; For more information, visit on-line at www.orchestraofsouthernuta= h.org.

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