The Hopkins Symphony Orchestra continues its 2003-2004 run with a program entitled, "Let's Play," this Sunday, March 7th, at 3 p.m. Conductor Jed Gaylin, in his eighth season as Music Director for the HSO, will lead the orchestra first with the world premiere of "Two Latino Sketches," a piece composed by Thomas Benjamin, who is giving a pre-concert speech in Shriver Hall beginning at 3 p.m. The HSO will perform his movements of "Canto" and "Conga Mambo," which are sure to please the audience. Following this, will be Serge Prokofiev's "Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Opus 19," with a solo performance by violinist Christian Vachon.
After a brief intermission, the orchestra is back onstage with Georges Bizet's "Jeuz d'Enfants" and for the conclusion, Richard Strauss's "Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, Opus 28."
The HSO consists of students, faculty, and staff members of Johns Hopkins University, as well as members of the nearby community. It was originally started by Catherine Overhauser, a Peabody Conservatory graduate student, in 1981 and continues today with the mission of "performing and promoting orchestral and chamber music from the standard and contemporary repertoire at a high artistic level and to reaching out and educating a diverse audience through affordable concerts." It also provides chances for local Maryland natives to become involved in music careers.
For folks who are looking to add a little more fun to their concert, the 12th annual free family and kids concert will be given the day before, on Saturday, March 6th, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Shriver. Maestro Gaylin will give a short introduction to instruments and the art of conducting an orchestra, and excerpts from "Two Latino Sketches" and "Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche" will be performed. Tickets are required, although the event is free.
Tickets for the concert on Sunday are $10 for general admission, though purchase of one ticket will come with another free one. JHUstudents get in free with ID, and JHU faculty, staff, and alumni pay $8. To obtain tickets to either concert, call (410)-516-6542 or email hso@jhu.edu. For more general information about the HSO and all of its upcoming concerts, check out their official website at http://www.jhu.edu/~jhso.
