TORONTO, March 24, 2008 -- York University’s Music Department serves up a symphony of talent in two classical concerts in the last week of March. The York U Symphony Orchestra takes centre stage March 27 with a Concert of Soloists featuring some of the department’s finest young musicians. The York U Wind Symphony, with guest artists, the York U Percussion Ensemble, performs exhilarating band music on March 30. Both concerts take place in the Tribute Communities Recital Hall at York’s Keele campus as part of the third annual York Fine Arts Festival.
The YU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mark Chambers, turns the spotlight onto soloists – York students who took top honours in the Music Department’s concerto competition earlier in the term. Soprano Joyce Goh sings the aria “Saper vorreste” from Verdi’s opera Un Ballo in Maschera; Hannah Kwon and Arvid Neumann play the first movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major; Thu Van offers the first movement of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor; and Jenny Xia performs the first movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto in C minor K. 491.
Bizet’s Carmen Suite and Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain round out the program. These two orchestral favourites feature numerous solos for the wind section, turning the entire program into a showcase where soloists can shine.
The York University Wind Symphony, conducted by William Thomas and associate conductor James Macdonald, is joined by the York U Percussion Ensemble in a concert featuring Ira Hearshen’s Symphony on Themes of John Phillip Sousa. Sousa’s own The Fairest of the Fair is also on the program, along with Eric Whitacre’s Noisy Wheels of Joy, Frank Tichelli’s Cajun Folk Songs, Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy arranged Eiji Suzuki, Steven Bryant’s Dusk and Percy Grainger’s The Immovable Do.
Other classical instrumental concerts taking place under the York Fine Arts Festival banner include free midday performances of original compositions by York student composers (March 25) and the Baroque Ensemble (March 31).
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The Faculty of Fine Arts at York University spotlights its resident talent in a three-week festival packed with 40 exciting and entertaining events. Running March 11 to 31, the York Fine Arts Festival features exhibitions and films, theatre and dance productions, and a wide variety of classical, jazz and world music concerts. Events take place in state-of-the-art facilities at York University’s Keele campus.
York’s Faculty of Fine Arts is one of North America’s leading and largest centres for fine arts education. A vibrant community of some 280 faculty and 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students, it offers academic studies and professional training in all the fine arts. For a generation, York Fine Arts has been a premier launching pad for outstanding young talent and a major contributor to the arts and cultural scene in Toronto, Canada and beyond.
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What: York U Symphony Orchestra
When: March 27 at 7:30pm
Where: Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St.
Admission: $15, and $5 for students.
Box Office: 416-736-5888 | www.yorku.ca/finearts/festival
What: York U Wind Symphony
When: March 30, 3:00pm
Where: Tribute Communities Recital Hall, Accolade East Building, York University, 4700 Keele St.
Admission: $15, and $5 for students.
Box Office: 416-736-5888 | www.yorku.ca/finearts/festival
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Media Contact:
Amy Stewart, Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts, York University
416.736.2100 ext. 20421 | amy.stewart@yorku.ca
