| |
|
|
 |
|
|
RSO News
|
For Immediate Release
Date: 31 March, 2009
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
BEHIND THE SILENCE - Music of the Holocaust
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra presents "Behind the Silence: Music of the Holocaust" Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at Shaftman Performance Hall, Jefferson Center, in Roanoke. This Holocaust Remembrance Day special event features the Audubon (String) Quartet and members of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. The concert event is sponsored by the Roanoke Jewish Community Council and MemberOne Federal Credit Union. Tickets are on sale now.
Behind the Silence is an uplifting tribute to the music and art that survived the Holocaust and to their creators, many of whom did not. The music on the program includes masterworks by J. S. Bach, Mozart, Faure, Puccini, and Jewish composers like Klein, Schulhoff and Ullman. The compositions were performed in the death camps and had great meaning to those who performed and heard them there. Some of the music had been written many years earlier, and some was written in the camps on scraps of paper and empty book pages. For many Jewish musicians, the camp at Theresienstadt in then Czechoslovakia, was their destination. The world was told that Theresienstadt was "Hitler's gift to the Jews," a peaceful and tranquil haven, with cafes, shops and bucolic living. And while screams echoed through the camps, the world heard silence. Behind the barbed wire and silence, the inmates created art and made music!
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's esteemed colleagues of the Audubon Quartet join members of the RSO on stage for this special concert event. Founded in 1974, the Audubon Quartet achieved international recognition by winning top prizes in three major competitions in their first four years together. They were the first American string quartet ever to win a first prize in international string quartet competition. The Quartet performs in the major concert halls throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. In 1981, the Quartet made a groundbreaking three-week tour of Mainland China at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the first American quartet ever to visit the People's Republic of China. The Audubon Quartet is the quartet in residence at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Tickets for Behind the Silence are on sale now. Prices range from $20 to $48 each. Contact the RSO box office at (540) 343-9127 for tickets and details, or visit www.rso.com to order online.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 16 March, 2009
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
ROCK SYMPHONY CIRQUE - Tickets On Sale
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra presents "ROCK SYMPHONY CIRQUE, Celebrating 50 Years of Motown" Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. This special concert includes the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, rock band Jeans 'n' Classics and performers from Cirque de la Symphonie. This event marks the second annual collaboration between all three ensembles, and serves as the RSO's premier fundraising event of the year. Tickets are on sale now.
ROCK SYMPHONY CIRQUE was created by the RSO to raise awareness of its programs and to serve citizens in the Roanoke region and beyond. The unique event appeals to a broad and diverse audience and raises funds needed to continue the RSO's successes in attracting high quality instrumentalists and world renowned guest artists throughout its regular concert season.
With ROCK SYMPHONY CIRQUE, the RSO again marries unique elements; veteran Cirque du Soleil performers, a Rock band, and Roanoke's own professional symphony orchestra for an evening of soulful sounds, mesmerizing visual elements, and palate pleasures. Audience members will be tantalized by the soaring, seductive, graceful panache of the Cirque performers on stage and overhead. This year, the RSO has teamed up with local restaurants to offer picnic baskets at different price points ($10, $20 and $30 per person) for concertgoers. A full bar will be available at the civic center for beverage purchases. Extraordinary rock artists Jeans 'n Classics, will join Maestro David Stewart Wiley and the RSO, along with the Cirque performers for a program that celebrates 50 years of Motown -- it all builds to a grand finale crescendo that will bring the house down!
Tickets to this special event are on sale now (as of March 16th) for table seats as well as stadium seats starting at $25. Contact the RSO box office at (540) 343-9127 for tickets and details. Corporate and individual sponsorships are also available, including dinner, wine and other exclusive benefits. Contact RSO development director Caroline Hammond at caroline.hammond@rso.com or (540) 343-6221 ext. 225 for sponsorship details and benefits.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 23 January, 2009
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
RSO WELCOMES MILL MOUNTAIN THEATRE PATRONS & TICKETS
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra box office will immediately begin accepting tickets for canceled shows that would have been presented at the recently closed Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke. The RSO sees the closing as a disappointing and significant loss for the region, and has devised a free-ticket-exchange offer, with some conditions, for MMT patrons through the end of the current concert season. MMT ticket holders will be able to exchange tickets from any one canceled MMT show for tickets to any one of a selection of RSO concerts. (The closing of the Theatre had meant that tickets for future MMT shows were a total loss to ticket holders.) Contact the RSO box office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by phone at (540) 343-9127 for complete details. [Concert Listing]
According to officials at Center in the Square, where MMT is located, there are hundreds of subscribers holding tickets to shows that would have been presented following Driving Miss Daisy, currently running thorugh February 8th. Driving Miss Daisy is the last show that will be presented at MMT, at least for some time, according to the Mill Mountain Theatre board of directors in a recent release.
Mill Mountain Theatre patrons may use the free-ticket-exchange offer only once, and they must exchange tickets from one canceled show for tickets to one RSO performance between now and June 8, 2009. Tickets may be exchanged for Masterworks Series and Pops Series performances only, and are subject to availability. MMT complimentary tickets will not be honored. Also, tickets may not be exchanged for RSO "Extra" concerts or "Special Events" currently scheduled or yet to be announced. Tickets must be exchanged in person at the RSO box office located on the 2nd floor of Jefferson Center, at 541 Luck Ave. in Roanoke.
To learn more about the RSO/MMT free-ticket-exchange offer, call the RSO box office at (540) 343-9127.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 1 December, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
ACCLAIMED TENOR COMES HOME FOR A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY POPS
Roanoke Virginia -- Roanoke native and internationally acclaimed singer, tenor George Dyer, joins the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra & Chorus in the RSO's annual Holiday Pops Spectacular! The Holiday concert is part of the RSO's "Picnic at the Pops" series and takes place December 12, 2008 at the Salem Civic Center. Concert time is 7 p.m. The doors open at 5:30. Along with Mr. Dyer, the RSO & Chorus are joined by singers from the Roanoke College Children's Choir, Salem Choral Society, and dancers from Southwest Virginia Ballet. RSO music director David Stewart Wiley conducts the performance. The concert is sponsored by Allstate and nTelos. The "Picnic at the Pops" series is sponsored by A Friend of the RSO, and Mr. Dyer's appearance is sponsored by Lucille H. Middleton.
Holiday Pops Spectacular has become the RSO's yearly Holiday celebration. The audience at Salem Civic Center can expect a traditional mix of timeless Christmas and Holiday favorites, great solo numbers, an audience sing-along, and a few surprises along the way. Santa has been known to bring his jolly good humor and musicianship to Holiday Pops!
This year, tenor George Dyer, a native of Roanoke, comes home and goes on stage with the RSO at Holiday Pops Spectacular. Dyer soared onto the operatic scene in 1996, making his professional debut to rave reviews with the New York City Opera at the Lincoln Center in New York City. He has performed extensively to wide acclaim in prestigious opera houses and concert halls across North America and in many countries throughout the world. Dyer has been a guest soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on numerous occasions, including a 2005 worldwide broadcast to over 63 countries. He is a gifted performer of musical theater; having enchanted countless audiences in the U.S. and Europe in solo concerts featuring a mix of opera and Broadway favorites. Dyer was named "Best Male Recording Artist" of the year in 2004 by the FCMA (Faith Centered Music Association) and he has released three solo recordings on the Shadow Mountain Label. He filmed two made-for-TV concerts in Jerusalem, made his film debut in 2006 in two Lightstone Studios musicals, and was named Vice President of Lightstone Records in 2007. A devoted family man, George currently lives in Utah with his wife Clarisse and their four children.
Selections on this year's Holiday Pops Spectacular program will include Holiday classics such as "I'll Be Home For Christmas", "Santa Claus is Comin'", "Jingle Bell Rock", and "O Holy Night" to name a few, all spotlighting Mr. Dyer as soloist with the RSO. The entire program is full of familiar Holiday songs, along with classical selections from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" (complete with dancers from Southwest Virginia Ballet), as well as selections performed by the Roanoke College Children's Choir and a Piano Trio.
In addition to the December 12th performance at Salem Civic Center, a special version of the same program will be presented twice in neighboring communities -- on December 13th and 14th. The New River Valley Friends of the RSO will present Holiday Pops Spectacular on December 13th at Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech -- information at rso.com/nrv. The Piedmont Arts Association will present Holiday Pops Spectacular on December 14th at Martinsville High School -- information at piedmontarts.org. Both of these regional performances of Holiday Pops Spectacular will include the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, and tenor George Dyer.
Tickets for Holiday Pops Spectacular at the Salem Civic Center on December 12th at 7 p.m. are available as follows: from the RSO Box Office, located on the 2nd floor of Jefferson Center in Roanoke, by calling (540) 343-9127, by visiting the Salem Civic Center, or by ordering online at rso.com. Tickets for December 12th range from $15 to $51 each, with group rates and a child rate available. For more information about Holiday Pops Spectacular, contact RSO Marketing Director, Rodney Overstreet, by phone at (540) 343-6221 ext. 227, or by email at rodney.overstreet@rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 11 November, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
SYMPHONY'S "JUNIOR" MUSICIANS PERFORM
Roanoke, Virginia - The Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra (RYSO) and the Roanoke Youth Symphony Junior Strings will present their Fall Concert on Sunday, November 30 at 3 p.m. in Shaftman Performance Hall at Jefferson Center in Roanoke. Admission is $5 at-the-door. Concert sponsors are the Virginia Commission for the Arts and Member One Federal Credit Union.
The concert begins with the Junior Strings and concludes with a performance by the RYSO that includes "Procession of the Sardar" by Russian composer Pascual Ippolitov-Ivanoz and an arrangement by of Pascual Marquina's "Espana Cani."
The RYSO and the RYS Junior Strings are two of the ensembles that comprise the Roanoke Youth Symphony education program by the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. The Junior Strings, under the direction of Joanne Steele since the group's inception in 1985, is comprised of more than 20 beginning-to-intermediate string players. These musicians perform two concerts annually and also participate in the Roanoke Youth Symphony's "Discovery Concerts," attended by area school children. For many young string players, participation in the Junior Strings is the first and only opportunity to begin playing in such an ensemble under the direction of an experienced conductor. Many members of the Junior Strings, after achieving an appropriate level of skill, successfully audition to become members of the RYSO. The RYSO is comprised of over 60 student musicians, ages 12-18, who come from six counties across southwest Virginia and from West Virginia. These young musicians rehearse weekly and perform symphonic repertoire throughout the year in public concerts. Additionally, the RYSO performs an annual "Discovery Concert," in collaboration with the RYS Junior Strings, attended by area school children. Led by RSO Associate Concertmaster James Glazebrook, the RYSO is the only professional orchestral training for young people in southwestern Virginia.
For more information about the RSO's 2008-2009 concert season and education programs contact Marketing Director, Rodney Overstreet at 540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com, or visit www.rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 30 October, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
STALIN ERA COMPOSITION SPEAKS TODAY
Roanoke Virginia - The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra performs the music of composer Dmitri Shostakovich Sunday, November 9th and Monday, November 10th at Jefferson Center's Shaftman Performance Hall. The powerful Symphony No. 5 of Shostakovich is part of the program entitled "Spirit Over Oppresssion." Concert sponsors include Brandon Oaks and AEP Appalachian Power.
It's not often that one hears praise for the unspoken forces that ignite raw emotion from within. Tales of human experience are more likely prompted by our joys and woes as they are tied to relationships and material possessions. But what about the individual sense of feeling that builds upon time and series of events? How do we explore our internal depths without dialogue or tangible deeds?
In "Spirit Over Oppression," the second Masterworks concert in the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's 2008-2009 season, the RSO hopes to uncover answers to these questions and more. The performance includes Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, a compelling musical account of survival during the mid-1930s Russian landscape. Shostakovich was a gifted composer and pianist whose talent earned him the ability to pursue his art for a Stalin-led public. The composition recalls the drama that unfolded at the height of this era, when Stalin's ever-watchful eye underlined both the joy and pain of the musician's achievements.
Spurred by a time that had begun to span years of mass imprisonment and execution, Shostakovich made a daring foray into modernist expression with an opera entitled "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District." Though popular with audiences, the communal air of appreciation came to an abrupt halt with Stalin's harsh, outspoken rebuke of the performance. A national newspaper immediately deemed the opera "Muddle Over Music," and at once Shostakovich lost his standing among politicians, patrons, and peers.
Memoirs reveal that the composer feared for his life, and a packed suitcase remained at his door in case of the sudden need for departure. But despite his written revelations, Shostakovich was notably unemotional on the surface. Just as music speaks to us and for us where words alone cannot, Shostakovich relied on his art form as a primary means of communication. Symphony No. 5 in D Minor marks the Russian musician's return to traditional form, his resolve for an audible peace offering to Stalin.
Shostakovich's work of art was regarded as pleasing and met with sublime approval. We now know that its true success lies in the triumph of spirit. Like so many great works, it has the ability to create the kind of universal understanding that transcends time and language. The elemental sounds of militaristic battle, exaltation, madness, wonder, tragedy, and victory combine to bring us a powerful tale of survival.
The RSO presents the "Spirit Over Oppression" concert during the Roanoke Arts Festival with a shared appreciation for the human ability to overcome doubt and uncertainty. The power of musical expression is much more than a means of stirring intellect. This piece in particular lends itself to unique imagery, personal interpretation, and individual interpretation. Music is a source of captivation; it holds us safe while our spirit freely roams. And regardless of heavy airs that stem from political frustration, financial strain, or any personal difficulties, this season's celebration certainly will be our route to inspiration.
For more information about the RSO's 2008-2009 concert season, including "Spirit Over Oppression" on November 9th at 3 p.m. and November 10th at 8 p.m., contact Marketing Director, Rodney Overstreet at 540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com, or visit www.rso.com. A pre-concert feature, Illuminations, with music director David Stewart Wiley, begins one hour before concert time on November 9th and 10th at Jefferson Center.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 16 October, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
YOUTH ORCHESTRAS PERFORM FOR STUDENTS
Roanoke, Virginia -- The Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra (RYSO) and Roanoke Youth Symphony Junior Strings present Discovery Concerts for local school children on Monday, October 27th at 10 a.m. and 12-noon. Over 3200 students in grades 3 - 5 from Botetourt County, Roanoke City, and Roanoke County will be bussed to the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre to hear the young musicians perform a program entitled "Musical Experiences from Around the World." The concerts are part of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's education programs.
These Discovery Concerts offer young students of the Roanoke Valley the opportunity to hear a full symphony orchestra and a string ensemble, while providing valuable performance experience for the members of the RYSO and the Junior Strings. Each year, a new musical program is planned to provide quality experiences for the concertgoers while simultaneously supporting material required in all subject areas as outlined by the Virginia Standards of Learning. A detailed Study Guide is provided to assist teachers in their preparation and follow-up. Teacher, administrator, parental, and student feedback is sought to enable the education staff of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra evaluate this program.
About the RYSO and Junior Strings
The RYSO and Junior Strings are two of the ensembles that comprise the Roanoke Youth Symphony program (RYS). The RYSO consists of over 60 students musicians, ages 12-18, from six counties across southwest Virginia and West Virginia. Under the direction of James Glazebrook, the RSO's Associate Concertmaster, the RYSO is the only professional orchestral training for young people in southwestern Virginia. The RYS Junior Strings is comprised of 25 beginning-to-intermediate string players under the direction of Joanne Steele, Director of Bands and Orchestras at James Madison Middle School in Roanoke. The Junior Strings provides excellent preparation for membership in the RYSO, and for many string players, Junior Strings is the first an only opportunity to begin playing in an ensemble under the direction of an experienced conductor.
About the RSO
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1953, is the largest professional orchestra in Virginia west of Richmond. In 1986, the RSO hired its first full-time, resident music director, established its professional status, and made a public commitment to artistic excellence and meaningful educational programs. The orchestra tours to many locations and has gained significant support and new audiences from communities throughout western Virginia, making it "Virginia's Orchestra." Concert offerings range from symphonic and choral masterworks to popular music, exemplified in the organization's "Picnic at the Pops" series. Guest artists have included Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Aaron Neville, Olivia Newton John, Kool & The Gang, Willie Nelson, and many others. The RSO is a member of the League of American Orchestras.
For more information about the Discovery Concerts, contact Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, 540.343.6221, ext. 227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 9 October, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
SYMPHONY WINS SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Roanoke Virginia - The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to receive the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce 2008 Small Business of the Year Award for Not-for-Profit Arts and Culture Organizations. The award was presented as part of the Chamber's 22nd annual Small Business Awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 30th at the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center. The RSO was one of six organizations in the Arts and Culture category nominated by other local businesses.
The RSO has been a cultural mainstay of Southwest Virginia since the 1950's. Beginning with Gibson Morrisey as conductor, the RSO has demonstrated a progressive strengthening and building process for over a half-century. It has a proud reputation of maintaining conductors who are deeply involved in the community - Gibson Morrissey, Jack Moehlenkamp, Victoria Bond, and currently David Wiley, who is about to begin his 13th season with the RSO on Opening Night, October 13th. This longevity helps the organization craft concert and education programs that serve audiences well. This longevity and building process has born out a steady increase in artistic quality through artistic personnel consistency as well as a competitive auditioning process. The combination of seasoned veterans, some of whom have been with the RSO for 20 years or more, and new talent puts the RSO's best artistic quality on stage today.
The RSO is proud of its deep community involvement in the Roanoke Valley and beyond. The orchestra partners each year with Opera Roanoke and their music director Steven White, now on staff at The Metropolitan Opera of New York. The RSO performs regularly with other local ensembles such as the Roanoke College Children's Choir, local university choruses, as well as the Salem Choral Society and other community choruses. The RSO's music director David Wiley serves concurrently as the music director of the Long Island Philharmonic in New York. All of these artistic connections strengthen the RSO's impact at home. The shared experiences developed by the RSO and other organizations help enrich the concert experience while fulfilling a mission to enrich lives through music.
Other key local partners include the Jefferson Center Foundation, Center in the Square, and the local governments of the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, and City of Salem. The RSO's relationship with Jefferson Center means the RSO enjoys a reduced rate for office rental and facility rental there - where its offices have been located since the early 90's and where it has performed since 2001. Also, the RSO is pleased to partner with the Jefferson Center in a Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts called "The Silk Road to Roanoke." The Grant will bring an Asian composer-in-residence to Roanoke, with the RSO's Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra performing the composer's commissioned work during the summer of 2009. With Center in the Square, shared backroom services have resulted in reduced costs for marketing, IT and payroll while strengthening the opportunities for the RSO to work closely with Center organizations. Because of the RSO's partnerships with the City of Roanoke, City of Salem and Jefferson Center, the RSO has been able to forestall any drive for community funding of a dedicated symphony hall. In a recent article in The Roanoke Times reviewing the Salem and Roanoke concert venues, RSO concerts were consistently listed as some of the best attended.
During its 55-year history, the RSO has demonstrated strong fiscal stability, and is a strong economic partner for the Roanoke Valley. In 2007-2008, the RSO generated over $12,000 in admissions taxes for the City of Roanoke, plus nearly $15,000 paid in catering and meals for musicians and patrons, $32,000 to hotels, and over $58,000 for facility rental and related concert costs. As a non-profit organization, the RSO receives grant funds from the City of Roanoke, City of Salem and Roanoke County totaling $58,400. For every dollar received from the muicipalities, the RSO directly invests two dollars into the local economy. These figures do not include dollars spent on meals, hotels and other services consumed by the over 18,000 concertgoers during and around RSO events each year. The RSO also employs an average of 75 musicians annually. Much of what the RSO is able to accomplish is funded by corporate grants and individual donors and the on-going support of the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Each year over 500 donors support the RSO with gifts as small as $5 and as large as $100,000, contributing directly to the organization's fiscal stability. Every RSO donor becomes a partner in fulfilling the organization's mission and contribution to the Roanoke Valley.
In education, the RSO has a variety of programs that serves the educational needs of school children in southwestern Virginia. The RSO works closely with local school districts to offer full orchestra performances twice a year to students through its Adventures In Music and Discovery Concerts. For the low admission price of $4 each, students from Roanoke and beyond can experience a live performance of symphonic music in a concert hall setting. Teachers are admitted at no cost. The RSO also offers small ensembles for in-school performances, providing musical programs that align with SOL guidelines. Roanoke City Schools and Roanoke County Schools contribute an average of $13,000 in grants to the RSO to bring the in-school ensembles to many schools. All RSO educational offerings come with teaching materials to support the instruction and make it easier for the teachers to stay within their goals for learning. In addition, the RSO has offerred the only orchestra experience for youth in Southwest Virginia for over 50 years through the Roanoke Youth Symphony (RYS). The strength of the youth programs lies in consistency and stability. James Glazebrook, Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra (RYSO) conductor, and Joanne Steele, RYS Junior Strings conductor have both served for over twenty years. Their long commitment to music education has helped the RSO set the standard for quality orchestral training in southwestern Virginia. The RSO recently partnered with the Taubman Museum of Art to present The Arts in Concert Family Series, a series of children's concerts scheduled for performance at the museum throughout 2009.
The RSO's many musicians play an active role in the organization with representation on the Board of Directors and on the Board's Executive Committee. Some RSO musicians live in the Roanoke Valley and some travel from throughout the United States, coming together to fulfill their professional contract with the RSO. These musicians also work in various segments of the music industry, as educators, performers, and professionals in other disciplines - from computer programmers to pilots to accountants. Longtime members of the RSO are proud of the teamwork and sense of family that are hallmarks of the RSO environment and their time in Roanoke.
The RSO is delighted to receive the 2008 Small Business of the Year Award and looks forward to being around another 50 years by doing what it has historically done - run a good business. The RSO thanks its many corporate and individual donors, and strives to listen to them as it provides a quality product at an affordable price. The RSO is honored to give investors a charity they can be proud of, be fiscally prudent, plan strategically for the future and be true to its mission.
The RSO's 2008-2009 season begins October 13th at 8 p.m. at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre with Opening Night Masterworks, "Heroes & Homecomings." For more information about the RSO's upcoming 2008-2009 concert season, contact Marketing Director, Rodney Overstreet at 540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 9 October, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
SYMPHONY EXPANDS NEW MEDIA
Roanoke, Virginia - The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra has unveiled a pair of "new media" features at the organization's web site -- a web log (blog) and podcast series. The RSO made its first entry to the world wide web when it launched rso.com in 1996. With the blog and podcast series, the RSO enters a new generation of new media, engaging concertgoers and would be concertgoers in new ways. The blog and podcast will be updated with new entries and episodes throughout the 2008-2009 season.
The blog adds a personal touch and sounding board to the organization's presence on the web, with entries from music director David Wiley, musicians, and staff. The blog also provides the RSO the opportunity to garner feedback from readers. One category at the RSO's blog is designed solely to encourage such feedback from concertgoers. The category, "Have Your Say," will feature a series of new topics and questions for RSO patrons beginning October 13, 2008, the date of this season's Opening Night concert. The RSO's printed Program Guides, distributed at each concert, will introduce the topics for "Have Your Say" throughout the season. A link to the RSO's blog can be found on the home page of rso.com.
The audio podcast series, entitled "Inside The Music," explores symphonic and choral masterworks that are part of the RSO Masterworks Series of concerts. Produced in cooperation with WVTF Public Radio, the podcast series is hosted by Steve Brown with RSO music director David Wiley. Each episode will last approximately 15 minutes and include recorded examples of the musical selections, plus interesting facts and discussion. The first episode of "Inside The Music" is online now and focuses on Dvorak's Cello Concerto, Opus 104. The Dvorak concerto is one of the selections on the RSO's Opening Night Masterworks concert, "Heroes & Homecomings" featuring cellist Zuill Bailey and the RSO. The concert will be presented at 8 p.m. on October 13th at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre with tickets available from the RSO box office at 540.343.9127 and online at rso.com. New episodes of the podcast series are scheduled for listing throughout the season. Visit rso.com/podcast to listen to an episode or to subscribe to the free series.
For more information about the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's new blog and podcast series, contact Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director at 540.343.6221 ext. 227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 30 September, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 or rodney.overstreet@rso.com
Contact: Kimberly S. Templeton,
Director of External Affairs, Taubman Museum
540.204.4133 or ktempleton@taubmanmuseum.org
THE ARTS IN CONCERT
Roanoke, Virginia - The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra partners with the Taubman Museum of Art to present The Arts In Concert Family Series. The series of children's concerts marks the first such collaboration between the two organizations and begins with a kick-off event featuring the RSO's music director David Wiley at 11 a.m. on December 6, 2008 at Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke. The series will be presented on the third Saturday of each month from January through November 2009, with the final concert of the year on the first Saturday of December 2009. The series is made possible by corporate and individual donors.
To the RSO, the new Taubman Museum of Art is the perfect stage for engaging young minds in art and music. The museum's new location in an invigorated downtown, combined with the RSO's 55-year history as a pioneer arts organization in Roanoke, brings together two of the region's best. And indeed, The Arts In Concert Family Series is part of a greater action on the part of the RSO and the Taubman Museum of Art to work "in concert" as they fulfill their own missions in the Roanoke Valley. The RSO will employ and coordinate the musicians, while the Taubman Museum of Art will provide a spacious, new environment for music making, creativity and enjoyment. Admission to each concert is included at no additional charge with admission to the museum Ð by Membership or with Gallery Admission ($8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors, $4.50 for children ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under).
About the Programs
With twelve concert programs already slated, musicians will come from within the ranks of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Roanoke Youth Symphony (RYS) and other ensembles in and around the Roanoke Valley. Kids and parents alike should expect a high level of musicianship from professional musicians, educators and up-and-coming young musicians, while visiting the region's newest and most visible arts venue. Performers will include The Island Music Trio, Kandinsky Trio, The Wright Kids, members of the RYS, maestro David Wiley and many more. Each of the concerts will last up to 40 minutes, and some will rely on active audience participation, encouraging creative and organized expression on the part of the young audience members. Other RSO education programs include the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Roanoke Youth Symphony Junior Strings, the Roanoke Youth Symphony Flute Ensemble, professional in-school ensembles, masterclasses, as well as "Adventures in Music" and "Discovery" concerts presented each year to school-age children by the RSO and RYS.
About the RSO and Taubman Museum of Art
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1953, is the largest professional orchestra in Virginia west of Richmond. In 1986 the RSO hired its first full-time, resident music director, established its professional status, and made a public commitment to artistic excellence and meaningful educational programs. The orchestra tours to many locations and has gained significant support and new audiences from communities throughout western Virginia, making it "Virginia's Orchestra." Concert offerings range from symphonic and choral masterworks to popular music, exemplified in the organization's "Picnic at the Pops" series. Guest artists have included Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Aaron Neville, Olivia Newton John, Kool & The Gang, Willie Nelson, and many others. The RSO is a member of the League of American Orchestras.
The RSO's 2008-2009 concert season begins with "Opening Night Masterworks" on Monday, October 13th at 8 p.m. at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre. The program includes works by Antonin Dvorak and Ludwig van Beethoven, with internationally acclaimed cellist Zuill Bailey and the RSO. Tickets are available from the RSO Box Office, 2nd floor Jefferson Center in Roanoke, by phone at (540) 343-9127 and online at rso.com.
The Taubman Museum of Art is a dramatic composition of flowing, layered forms in steel, patinated zinc and high-performance glass payign sculptural tribute to the famous Blue Ridge Mountains that provide Roanoke's backdrop and shape the region's spirit. Designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, the 81,000 square foot structure will be the first purpose-built art museum ever constructed in Roanoke. The facility will house approximately 21,000 square feet of exhibition space, expanded education spaces, a flexible theatre/programming space, a multi-purpose auditorium, a museum shop, a works on paper study room, and a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. A dramatic, spacious atrium will provide a meeting place for the community, as well as a premier venue for special events. All exhibition and education spaces are wired to provide real-time, interactive distance learning experiences via high speed network.
The Taubman Museum of Art features significant selections of American art, modern and contemporary art, design and decorative arts, folk and visionary art, and works on paper, and features a changing array of regional and national exhibitions. Tours, gallery talks, family days, special events, workshops, classes, and summer camps are part of the museum's regular programming. The Taubman Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
For more information about The Arts In Concert Family Series, contact:
Rodney Overstreet,
Marketing Director, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
540.343.6221 ext.227 rodney.overstreet@rso.com
Kimberly S. Templeton,
Director of External Affairs, Taubman Museum of Art
540.204.4133 or ktempleton@taubmanmuseum.org
[www.TheArtsInConcert.com]
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental and choral music, and to enhance traditional performances with innovative programming in a welcoming acoustic environment.
Serving the diverse communities of our region, the Taubman Museum of Art engages all audiences through the celebration and enjoyment of the creative process. It is committed to excellence in its collection, scholarship, education, and creative activities. Our focus involves American art and regional culture.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 2 September, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director
540.343.6221 ext.227
Rodney.Overstreet@rso.com
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's New Board Members
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra announces the addition of seven new members to its Board of Directors for 2008-2009.
Manly Aylor is a financial representative with the Northwestern Mutual Financial network, and a past Kiwanis Club president. Peter Leggett, retired from Leggett Department Stores, is an Elder of Second Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Roundball Advisory Committee of Hampden-Sydney College, as well as a former trustee of the college. Betty Lesko is a Carlisle consultant and Carlisle owner at Smith Mountain Lake, a civic leader, past president of the Junior League of the Roanoke Valley as well as the Roanoke Academy of Medicine Alliance. She is a co-founder of the American Cancer Society Discovery Shops in Roanoke and SML and plays in a duo-piano ensemble. Richard Scott is a partner with the law firm of LeClairRyan in its Roanoke office. He is a member of the firm's Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Group. He obtained his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1999, and his B.A. in History from the University of Virginia in 1993. Ric and his wife, Melissa, have lived in Roanoke since 1995. They are active members of Colonial Avenue Baptist Church, where Melissa serves as Minister of Youth and Education. When not at work, Ric enjoys church activities, golf, and all things related to U.Va. Athletics. Deal Tompkins, a REALTOR and auctioneer with Woltz & Associates Inc., is a native of the Roanoke Valley and a graduate of Randolph Macon College. He currently serves as president of the Blue Ridge Planned Giving Study Group and is a member of various community organizations. William Penn is a well-known musician along the East Coast. He serves as Chairman of the Dumas Task Force, and serves on the boards of The Downtown Music Lab, the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, and the Dumas Drams Guild. He is currently employed by TAP. David Wine is a Roanoke native and retired businessman. He served on the RSO finance committee during the 07-08 season and is an active volunteer in the community, serving currently on the Taubman Art Museum Board of Directors.
The current officers of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors are Richard Maxwell, president; Wendy Moore, vice president; Joe Ferguson, secretary; Fulton Galer, treasurer; Janet Johnson, president of the New River Valley Friends of the RSO; and Herb Chapelle and Mary Neal, co-presidents of the Friends of the RSO.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 18 August, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director
540.343.6221 ext.227
Rodney.Overstreet@rso.com
Roanoke Symphony is Jazzin' it Up
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra presents an outdoor event, JAZZIN UP THE SYMPHONY, Sunday, September 28th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at "Sundara" located at 453 Apple Road in Boone's Mill. As the name implies, live jazz is on the agenda for this RSO fundraising event, as well as a "jazz brunch," silent and live auctions, and plenty of fun and relaxation at the beautifully picturesque "Sundara."
The JAZZIN UP THE SYMPHONY benefit was created by the RSO to raise public awareness of its own programs and to serve the Roanoke region and beyond with a fun, outdoor, fall musical event. The event will also raise funds needed to continue the RSO's successes in attracting high quality musicians and world-renowned guest artists to Roanoke during its regular concert season, as well as improve the organization's outreach initiatives, including those to underserved communities.
The event itself is fun, relaxing, exciting, and simply enjoyable. Live jazz will be provided by the William Penn Quartet. A longtime Roanoke musician and bandleader, Mr. Penn also currently serves on the RSO's board of directors. A plentiful jazz brunch, catered by Chef Patrick Maggi of Blues BBQ Co., will consist of Cajun dishes fused with local favorites. There will be wine, beer, and cocktails available for purchase. The delectable brunch and soft drinks will be included with the price of admission -- $35 for adults. Children are invited too, free of charge for ages 12 and under, with outdoor activities such as badminton and croquet available.
The event's silent auction offers a variety of goodies from local retailers such as Finks, Carmike Cinemas, Ocean Tan, Best Buy, 202 Market, and many local artists. The live auction will feature ski and beach vacations, a murder mystery dinner, fly-fishing courses, autographed photos and complimentary tickets for RSO Picnic @ the Pops concerts, and many other delights.
The ambience of the majestic gardens of "Sundara," situated at the foot of Cahas Mountain, nestled within apple orchards, will serve as a delightful backdrop for the afternoon's food, fun and enjoyment. [Driving Directions]
Tickets to this special event are on sale now for $35 per person. Children will be admitted for free when accompanied by an adult. Contact the RSO box office at (540) 343-9127 or www.rso.com for tickets and details. Corporate and individual sponsorships are also available. Contact RSO development director Caroline Hammond at caroline.hammond@rso.com
or (540) 343-6221 ext. 225 for sponsorship details and benefits.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and
to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental
and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 6 August, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director
540.343.6221 ext.227
Rodney.Overstreet@rso.com
A Season of Success in Roanoke
Now in its 55th year, and with single-tickets about to go on sale for another season of concerts, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates the successful finish of its 2007-2008 season. The RSO saw a 14% increase in the number of paying customers for its Masterworks series, and a 38% increase in its Pops series subscription revenue, without raising ticket prices. The RSO has finished the '07-08 season with a significant increase in its endowment fund, and now operates with a balanced budget of almost $2 million, up from less than $1 million just ten years ago.
2007-2008 also marked the first season the RSO presented as many as nine classical concerts in Roanoke (eight Masterworks concerts and one "Messiah" performance), plus Pops concerts and touring/runout performances elsewhere in Virginia. Other highlights of the '07-08 season included music director David Wiley's "Conducting Change," an innovative leadership seminar with Allstate executives participating on stage with the RSO, as well as ROCK SYMPHONY CIRCUS the RSO's primary fund raising event of the season.
Growth continues in the RSO's 2008-2009 season, entitled "The Power of Music." The new season will include even more classical performances in Roanoke, now up to eleven, the "Picnic at the Pops" series, special events, and regional performances. Single-tickets go on sale August 25, 2008. The RSO also plans to unveil new features at the organization's web site this fall, to include an online web log (blog), podcast series, and other exclusive offers for concertgoers. Information about the RSO's 2008-2009 season is available at www.rso.com.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 2 July, 2008
Contact: Rodney Overstreet, Marketing Director
540.343.6221 ext.227
Rodney.Overstreet@rso.com
A Powerful Symphony Season Ahead
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra with David Wiley, Music Director, is thrilled to announce a new and powerful season of concerts for 2008-2009. The new season entitled The Power of Music, goes on sale July 7th and includes a series of Masterworks concerts, also dubbed "Downtown Classics," as well as the increasingly popular Picnic @ the Pops Series, sponsored by A Friend of the RSO.
An extra concert on December 7th includes the Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah, and another added event presented on Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 21st (2009), features powerful music of Holocaust composers, and is entitled Behind the Silence. These "Extra" concert programs feature the Roanoke Symphony Chorus and violinist Joo Young Oh on the Messiah program, as well as soprano Leah Marer Wiley and the Audubon Quartet on the Behind the Silence program.
The 2008-2009 Masterworks Series explores the power of music through six program themes. The nine concerts in the series are presented in a combination of Sunday afternoon and Monday evening performances downtown at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre and Shaftman Performance Hall at Jefferson Center. With more concerts at Shaftman Performance Hall, the 2008-2009 season will be the first for the RSO to include as many as nine Masterworks performances in Roanoke. Touring and "runout" performances are also presented in other areas of Virginia. Masterworks Series standouts include cello virtuoso Zuill Bailey in October; Van Cliburn International Piano competition winner, Jon Nakamatsu in February; and vocalists Alyson Cambridge and Kevin Maynor in April. The opening concert of the Masterworks Series is presented October 13, 2008 and the series' grand finale brings the season to a close on June 7th and 8th, 2009.
The RSO's Picnic @ the Pops Series continues with three concerts during the '08-09 season, with popular guest artists and a choice of table seating or stadium seating, all presented at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va. This year's Pops Series will include a special solo performance by Grammy award winner superstar Vince Gill in A Special Evening with Vince Gill on November 21, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. The Pops Series continues with the RSO's popular and traditional Holiday Pops Spectacular - this year on December 12th at 7:00 p.m. The Spring 2009 Pops performance feautres Country music star Glen Campbell & the RSO on April 3, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. For concertgoers bringing their own picnic to these fun Friday evening events, the doors open 1-1/2 hours prior to concert time.
In a continuing effort to help bring live performances to more and more new Symphony patrons, the RSO has not raised subscription prices for 2008-2009 for both the Pops Series and the all-inclusive Symphony-to-the-Max subscription. Also, Masterworks subscriptions will again range from $90 to $216/person (for six programs), representing a discount of as much as 35% off the combined price for single-tickets. All subscription packages go on sale July 7th. Single-ticket prices too will not be increased when they go on sale for the entire season on August 25th.
Answering the call for flexibility, the RSO continues its Pick3 Masterworks package. The Pick3 allows ticket buyers to pick and choose three of the nine Masterworks performances to create their own discounted mini series.
To subscribe or to purchase single-event tickets, contact the RSO box office located on the 2nd floor of the Jefferson Center in Roanoke - phone (540) 343-9127 or visit the RSO on the web at www.rso.com. [How to buy Tickets]
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra celebrates its mission to enrich lives, to educate, and to entertain diverse audiences in western Virginia with the highest quality instrumental and choral music.
###
For Immediate Release
Date: 10 June 2008
Contact: Liz Lochbrunner, Education Director
540.343.6221 ext.231
Liz.Lochbrunner@rso.com
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW POSITION
FULL TIME WITH BENEFITS
SUZUKI METHOD STRING INSTRUCTOR - GRADES 3 - 5
DESCRIPTION: The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (David Wiley, Music Director), Roanoke, Va., will partner with local public school systems to offer a full time salaried position to the highest qualified Suzuki Method String Instructor with SAA certification. The instructor will be responsible for planning and implementing a Suzuki Method program in the schools and in after-school programs. The instructor will also provide at least four hours of group and/or private instruction for scholarship students of the RSO's Educational Programs. The preferred candidate will have a Bachelor's Degree in Music and a minimum certification of Suzuki Book 2 (or must be able to obtain the necessary certification by August 15). The instructor will be an employee of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and will be eligible for employee health, dental, 401k, and long-term disability benefits offered to all full time staff.
The position will fill a three-year pilot program. The desire of the community is to encourage and support the instructor to build a private Suzuki Method studio in the community.
The instructor may also earn additional compensation as a violinist with the RSO (upon successful audition.)
QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of certified Suzuki training though Book 2. (Or must be able to obtain necessary certification by August 15.) Have the energy and ability to initiate a new program within a public school system and an after school program in collaboration with another school system for grades 3-5. Proven ability to teach group lessons, private lessons, and parent classes.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide Suzuki Violin instruction to groups of students (at least 10 per class) grades 3 in the coming year and up to 5th grade within 3 years. Responsible for starting program and preparing students for orchestra classes to be offered in the sixth grade.
REQUIREMENTS: Up to six (45 minute - 1 hour) group classes four days per week within the school year. (Schedule is subject to change).
- Four Suzuki Method Violin Classes per school day (Franklin County Public Schools - two days per week).
- Two after-school Suzuki Method Violin classes per day (Salem City Schools - two days per week).
- At least four hours per week (Roanoke Symphony Orchestra) of private instruction and/or group classes for RSO scholarship students.
Any necessary evenings and weekends for parent classes, recitals and performances to create the best possible program model based on SAA recommendations for Suzuki in the Schools.
Must have access to reliable transportation as the instructor will provide own transportation to and from teaching obligations.
Must pursue and obtain Suzuki certification through Book 4 within the initial three-year period.
ADDITIONAL:
- May be considered for a position as a violinist with the fully professional Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (approx. 65 services per year @ $80.00 per service).
- May provide private lessons for a fee to parents. Will be encouraged and supported to build a private Suzuki Method studio in the community with almost limitless potential for growth.
COMPENSATION: Full-time salary with health and dental benefits. Base salary of $25,000/year with opportunity to earn additional compensation both as an RSO orchestra musician and as a private teacher.
The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (David Wiley, Music Director) performs Masterworks and Pops concerts in Roanoke and various venues throughout Southwestern Virginia. The Roanoke Valley boasts an active arts community nestled in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Please send resume to Liz Lochbrunner at Liz.Lochbrunner@rso.com
###
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
