News and Notes
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents The Fourth Music Director Candidate Concerts: George Jackson Conducts Dvořák
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JANUARY 31, 2019) – The Winston-Salem Symphony’s 2018–2019 season promises to be thrilling as five brilliant conductors vie for the role of Music Director. On Sunday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 5, 2019, George Jackson, a dynamic, young conductor from London, will lead the symphony in György Ligeti’s jovial Concert Românesc (Romanian Concerto), Antonin Dvořák’s spectacular Symphony No. 8 in G Major, op. 88, B. 163, as well as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s majestic Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503 featuring exciting guest pianist Clara Yang. Jackson, whose conducting has been described as “enthralling from first bar to last,” rocked the international scene recently after stepping in on short notice with both the London Symphony and the Orchestre de Paris.
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents a Concert For Community February 2
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JANUARY 16, 2019) – The Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony will present a Concert for Community on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 3 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public and will take place at Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus. Although the concert is free, please visit the Symphony website at WSsymphony.org to reserve your ticket.
The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents and Evening with Ricky Skaggs
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (JANUARY 15, 2019) – Join the Winston-Salem Symphony for a special one-night only performance with 15-time GRAMMY® winner and music legend Ricky Skaggs on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Under the baton of Jessica Morel, Assistant Conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony, the audience will enjoy an evening of bluegrass, gospel, Americana, and more.
Join the Winston-Salem Symphony for a New Year’s Eve Celebration
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Robert Franz
Cirque Returns for A Carolina Christmas!
Cirque de la Symphonie is returning this year to deliver acrobatic artistry and family fun as part of the Winston-Salem Symphony’s beloved Triad holiday tradition; A Carolina Christmas! With Jessica Morel as the conductor and WXII 12 News’ Lanie Pope as master of ceremonies, A Carolina Christmas! is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. The concerts take place the weekend after Thanksgiving on Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25.
Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus Presents a Concert Entitled Heaven to Earth—A Journey
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 22, 2018)—The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus under the direction of Dr. Christopher Gilliam with the Winston-Salem Symphony Chamber Orchestra will present a concert featuring Aaron Copland’s well-known and treasured “The Promise of Living” (from The Tender Land), Ola Gjeilo’s ethereal Sunrise Mass, and Jake Runestad’s powerful Proud Music of the Storm. The concert will take place on Friday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Centenary United Methodist Church at 646 West 5th Street in downtown Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents The Second Music Director Candidate Concerts
Winston-Salem Symphony to Open 2018–2019 Season
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (SEPTEMBER 24, 2018) – The Winston-Salem Symphony’s 2018–2019 season promises to be thrilling as five brilliant conductors vie for the role of Music Director. The season opens when the first candidate, Vladimir Kulenovic (pronounced “koo-LEN-o-vich”), takes the podium on Sunday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 16 for a dynamic program featuring C.M. Weber’s magical Overture to Der Freischütz (“The Magic Bullet”); Dmitri Shostakovich’s riveting Cello Concerto No. 1 with award-winning guest cellist Julian Schwarz; and Johannes Brahms’ dramatic Symphony No. 3.
Symphony Launches New Series Symphony Unbound First Concert to Feature Up and Coming Duo Mandolin Orange
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (August 1, 2018) – The Winston-Salem Symphony is launching Symphony Unbound, a new music series that is a break from the traditions and norms of classical music. The Winston-Salem Symphony is taking music out of the concert hall and into the community while joining forces with some of hottest up-and-coming acts in various genres. The first installment will feature members of the Winston-Salem Symphony alongside Chapel Hill’s Mandolin Orange in Winston-Salem’s new, cutting-edge music venue, The Ramkat. Symphony Unbound: Mandolin Orange will take place on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 8 p.m.
John R. Beck, Principal Percussionist, named Ford Musician Award winner by League of American Orchestras
The Winston-Salem Symphony’s Principal Percussionist, John R. Beck, is one of just five orchestra musicians from across the U.S. who will receive Ford Musician Awards for Excellence in Community Service from the League of American Orchestras at the League’s 73rd National Conference in Chicago, June 13-15, 2018. Recognizing the transformative power of music, the Awards honor those in the orchestra field who employ music for the benefit of the greater community.
Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras to Perform Free Spring Finale Concert
The Winston-Salem Symphony’s Youth Orchestras Program will hold its final concert of the 2017–2018 Season on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m. The Premiere Strings, led by Dr. Ryane Dunnagan, the Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, led by Margaret Rehder, and the Winston-Salem Youth Symphony, under the baton of Maestra Jessica Morel, will perform at the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts at 405 West Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem. The concert is free and open to the public.
Maestro Robert Moody’s Final Concerts with the Winston-Salem Symphony Maestro’s Farewell: Mahler Symphony No. 2
Music Director Maestro Robert Moody’s final moments on the podium with the Winston-Salem Symphony will be Classics Series concerts entitled “Maestro’s Farewell: Mahler Symphony No. 2.” The concerts will take place Saturday, May 19, Sunday, May 20, and Tuesday, May 22, 2018. The Symphony, along with guest artists Christina Pier, Soprano; Cat Zachary, Soprano; and Elizabeth Bishop, Mezzo-Soprano as well as the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale, Dr. Christopher Gilliam, director, will perform the Final Trio and Duet from Act III of Der Rosenkavalier, by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor (Resurrection).
Maestro Moody to Conduct His Final Plugged-In Pops Concert: Simply Three
Maestro Robert Moody’s farewell Plugged-In Pops concert with the Winston-Salem Symphony features YouTube sensation Simply Three. This dynamic string trio comprised of Glen McDaniel (violin), Nick Villalobos (bass), and Zack Clark (cello) presents high-octane performances spanning from classical music and Cole Porter to their own compositions and more. Simply Three will take place on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Discovery Concert for Kids The Great Outdoors: An Earth Day Celebration
The Winston-Salem Symphony, Robert Moody, Music Director, will present a Discovery Concerts for Kids concert entitled The Great Outdoors: An Earth Day Celebration. Under the baton of Maestra Jessica Morel, the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, the concert will take place Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium, located at 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem. Pre-concert activities will begin at 2 p.m.
Winston-Salem Symphony to Present Plugged-In Pops Concert The Music of David Bowie
The Winston-Salem Symphony, Robert Moody, Music Director, joined by the Jeans ‘n Classics Band featuring singer Jean Meilleur, will present an evening honoring the music of David Bowie on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Winston-Salem Symphony Takes on the Recorder Challenge Encourages All to Help Bring the Joy of Music to Children in Developing Countrie
In celebration of the 2018 Music in our Schools Month theme, Music Connects Us, the Winston-Salem Symphony is taking on the Recorder Challenge to benefit the nonprofit organization Recorders Without Borders—and is encouraging its patrons, musicians, partner organizations, and local schools to do the same.
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents A Concert for Peace: Music of Bernstein and Jenkins
The Winston-Salem Symphony and Music Director Robert Moody will present Classics Series concerts entitled “A Concert for Peace: Music of Bernstein and Jenkins” on Sunday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 13, 2018. The Symphony along with the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale, Dr. Christopher Gilliam, director, will perform Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) and The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Foley Davis will perform with the Symphony for both pieces.
Winston-Salem Symphony Announces Five Finalists for Conductor Search Each Finalist Will Conduct a Classic Series During 2018–2019 Season
The Winston-Salem Symphony announced the five finalists for its conductor search as well as its 2018–2019 season on Wednesday, January 31. As part of the upcoming season, the finalists for the Symphony’s Music Director position will each conduct a pair of Classics Series concerts, which will give the Symphony musicians, staff, board, and the community a chance to see the candidates in action. In addition, there will be opportunities to interact with the finalists. Throughout the 2018–2019 season, the community will play a key role in helping the Symphony decide who ultimately assumes the baton to lead the Winston-Salem Symphony into the future.
Winston-Salem Symphony to Present the Steep Canyon Rangers
The Winston-Salem Symphony, Robert Moody, Music Director, will present a Plugged-in Pops! concert featuring North Carolina’s own Steep Canyon Rangers, who will join the Symphony for an evening of bluegrass and more on Saturday, February 10, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Discovery Concert for Kids Star Wars 2.0: The Orchestra Strikes Back!
The Winston-Salem Symphony, Robert Moody, Music Director, will present a Discovery Concerts for Kids concert entitled Star Wars 2.0. Under the baton of Maestra Jessica Morel, the Winston-Salem Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, the concert will take place Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Reynolds Auditorium, located at 301 N. Hawthorne Road in Winston-Salem. Pre-concert activities will begin at 2 p.m.
