FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News media contact
Joey Burdette
336.725.1035 or jburdette@wssymphony.org
The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Green Eggs & Ham
Kids, parents, the entire fam, will LOVE new series, Sam I Am!
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 17, 2022) – SECCA’s McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium will get Seussified on Sunday, October 23, with the Winston-Salem Symphony’s production of Green Eggs & Ham: A Musical Setting By Robert Kapilow. This concert is an excellent fit for some of the youngest listeners who may just be discovering the joy of books and can now experience this time-honored classic jumping off the page to become music for a chamber orchestra and singer. Rob Kapilow’s brilliant musical setting of this Dr. Seuss favorite is sure to capture the imagination of all ages.
This concert marks the launch of the Symphony’s fun and exciting three-concert Ignite Family Series. These shows provide an interactive experience that the entire family can enjoy while introducing the youngest audience members to the delights of live music. In addition to the concerts, all Ignite performances feature a variety of preconcert activities, including games, story times, and an instrument petting zoo that gives all kids a chance to make sounds just like the musicians on stage. Festivities start at 2 p.m. with a book fair with Bookmarks and an interactive craft activity with Kaleideum.
“A live concert experience can be a defining moment for young minds, opening up a whole new world of music and imagination,” said E. Merritt Vale, Winston-Salem Symphony President & CEO. “The Symphony’s mission is to bring music to life, and these concerts aim to do that for the most junior members of our community. They not only encourage young people to appreciate music from a young age, but they are also fun and can provide a great afternoon of entertainment for the whole family.”
Ian Passmore will conduct Green Eggs & Ham. Atlanta-based soprano Casey Margerum makes her Winston-Salem debut with this production. Tickets are $18 for children and $36 for adults and can be purchased by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at wssymphony.org.
Filipino-American conductor Ian Passmore leads a rich career as an orchestral leader and pedagogue. Following two seasons as the Omaha Symphony’s Assistant Conductor, the orchestra named Passmore their Associate Conductor in 2019—a position never before created in its 100-year history. Passmore has appeared with the orchestras of Kansas City, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Lincoln, the North Carolina Symphony, and the Hanoi Philharmonic in Vietnam. Having begun his own conducting studies at a very early age, Passmore’s career also prioritizes conducting pedagogy and music education. His educational contributions include frequent appearances as a guest conductor and adjudicator for student ensembles, as well as numerous speaking engagements. Passmore holds a Doctor of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Delaware, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Additional conducting studies were completed at UNC Chapel Hill. For more information, please visit ianconducts.com.
Soprano Casey Margerum was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina and is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her interest in music was sparked when she joined her elementary school choir, and she’s been singing ever since. Her past roles include Alice (Falstaff), Catherine (Le mariage aux lanternes), Miss Toro/Nurse (Angry Birdsong and Benedicta), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), and Pamina (The Magic Flute). Casey holds a Bachelor of Arts in music and English from Davidson College and a Master of Music degree from Georgia State University. For more information, please visit caseymargerum.com.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony will celebrate its 75th Anniversary across 2022. The Symphony inspires listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
The Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; 2022 Classics SeriesGuest Artist Sponsors Salemtowne; Symphony Unbound/Etherbound Presenting Sponsors Chris and Mike Morykwas; 75th Anniversary Season Sponsor Betty Myers Howell; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other dedicated sponsors. Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
# # #
