Clinton Symphony Orchestra, composed of area musicians, will open its 62nd season of concerts with a pair of performances on September 19 and 20. Brian Dollinger will conduct the orchestra for his 8th season.
The orchestra prides itself in performing live music, both by local musicians, and for local listeners. “Although music is available now in many electronic forms, live music of any genre is always a more complete experience,” the Symphony’s Executive Director, Robert Whipple said. “We continue to work diligently to bring that live experience to the area Š right here where we live!”
Opening the series is a program of “Italian Delights,” featuring three familiar selections from Italian operas, the overture to “The Thieving Magpie” by Rossini, the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” from a Puccini opera, and “Dance of the Hours” by Ponchielli. “Dance of the Hours” was featured in Disney’s “Fantasia,” and also in a well-known comedy parody by Allan Sherman. The program will also include a symphony by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, who wrote his reflections on his holiday in Italy. Performances are a 7:30 p.m., Saturday, September 19 in Sterling’s Centennial Auditorium, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 20 in the Central Performing Arts Center in DeWitt.
The Symphony’s annual concert of chamber music is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, November 8 in the sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton. The event will feature music performed by small groups of the Symphony’s local musicians.
Another popular annual event for the orchestra is “Holidays with the Symphony.” The orchestra will perform seasonal and Christmas music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 12 in Vernon Cook Theater at Clinton High School. Included is a sing-along of familiar carols with the orchestra.
Saturday, February 27 is the annual performance featuring a local “Young Artist,” chosen by audition in January for outstanding high school musicians in the area. The student selected will perform, accompanied by the orchestra. Also on the program are the overture to “The Bartered Bride” by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, and the final symphony, “Symphony No. 4,” by the great Johannes Brahms.
Clinton Symphony and several other community orchestras across the country have formed a consortium which commissions new music for orchestras. On Saturday, April 30, the Symphony will perform the Iowa premiere of “Dreamtime Ancestors,” written by Christopher Theofanidis, who teaches at Yale University. In addition, the orchestra’s brass section will play the fanfare from the ballet “La Peri” by Paul Dukas, and the triumphant “Symphony No. 2” by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
A festive weekend of a social and benefit event, and a free outdoor pops concert will conclude the season. June 3 is the date for the annual “Symphonic Affair,” with the pops concert on Clinton’s river front on Sunday, June 5.
Season tickets will be available at the door of the first set of concerts, and are also available on the Symphony’s website at www.clintonsymphony.org. Adult season tickets are $60, and students $15. All students through 8th grade are always admitted free of charge to the concerts.
Tickets for the individual concerts will always be available at the door, or in advance two weeks before performance at Tegeler Music in Clinton, Fitzgerald Pharmacy in Morrison, and Grummert’s Hardware in Sterling. They can also be purchased online. Adult tickets for individual concerts are $15, and students $5.
Information and program notes for the music are available on the website as well, www.clintonsymphony.org.