The Winston-Salem Symphony Starts the 2023-2024 Season with Bernstein & Brahms
Michelle Merrill makes her debut as the new Music Director in this Classics Series Concert
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (September 5, 2023) – The Winston-Salem Symphony opens its 2023-2024 season with a Classics Series concert entitled “Merrill Conducts Bernstein & Brahms.” The concerts are Michelle Merrill’s first as Music Director after winning the role in June 2023. Merrill will take the podium on Saturday, September 23, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 24, at 3:00 p.m. for a captivating program of celebratory music by Bernstein, Brahms, and Dvořák.
Merrill is joined by Kristin Lee, a remarkable violinist who makes her Winston-Salem debut with Johannes Brahms’ lyrical Violin Concerto. The concert opens with Antonin Dvořák’s exuberant and celebratory Carnival Overture, which he describes as expressing the feelings of “a lonely, contemplative wanderer reaching at twilight a city where a carnival is in full sway.” Dvořák’s powerful melodies lead into Brahm’s Violin Concerto, frequently considered one of his most technically demanding pieces with magical moments almost too numerous to count. The program ends with excerpted and orchestrated music from Leonard Bernstein’s legendary Broadway hit, West Side Story. Audiences will recognize popular tunes such as “Maria,” “One Hand, One Heart,” “America,” “Tonight,” “I Feel Pretty,” and “Somewhere A Place for Us.”
“We are thrilled for Michelle to take the podium as our new Music Director as we open our 76th season,” said E. Merritt Vale, Winston-Salem Symphony President & CEO. “The energy Michelle brings into a crowd is truly inspirational, and her connection with the community is undeniable. Whether in a concert hall or at a public event, folks are naturally drawn to her engaging and approachable demeanor.”
Merrill expressed her excitement about the upcoming program, saying, “I’ve been waiting for this moment since being announced as the Symphony’s new Music Director back in June. We’ve got an exceptionally vibrant music program in store, and I’m eagerly anticipating working with our incredibly talented musicians again to create an unforgettable performance for all involved – both onstage and off. This debut concert as Music Director is my initial step toward helping the community experience music in a new way and one that you won’t want to miss!”
Kristin Lee is especially excited about her performance because this Violin Concerto brings back vivid memories of when she first learned the piece. “Brahms’s composition stands out from other violin concerti because even though it is one of the most technically demanding pieces in the violin repertoire, every single moment is to serve a musical purpose, not a virtuosic display. The emotional and musical complexity that Brahms captures through his writing is the reason why it remains my favorite violin concerto to this day,” she said.
The “Merrill Conducts Bernstein & Brahms” concerts will occur on Saturday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 24 at 3 p.m. at R.J. Reynolds Auditorium, 301 N. Hawthorne Road. Tickets begin at $29 and are available by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at wssymphony.org.
The public is invited to several opportunities to interact with Michelle Merrill and performers throughout the week leading up to the concert. First up, Symphony by the Glass returns to The Caviste, 1100 Reyolds Road, on Thursday, September 21, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and provides an opportunity to be serenaded by Symphony musicians while learning about the music on the weekend’s concerts by tasting wines paired with each composition.
Patrons are also invited to the Symphony’s Music Lovers’ Luncheons. These fun and informative pre-concert events occur the Friday before each 2023-24 Classics Series concert from 12–1:30 p.m. Attendees can learn about the weekend’s programming while enjoying a gourmet lunch. September 22 Music Lovers’ Luncheon will include a discussion between Michelle Merrill and Kristin Lee. Participants will gain insights into the music presented and learn more about the performers’ career and background. Music Lovers’ Luncheons are $30 per person, and advanced registration is required. Visit wssymphony.org/luncheon for more information and to make a reservation. This season’s luncheons will occur at Founders Restaurant in the historic Shaffner Inn located at 150 Marshall Street, SW, just south of Salem Parkway.
Finally, the audience is invited to mingle with Merrill and orchestra members immediately following the Saturday performance at The Remedy Café & Bar, 429 West End Boulevard.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony enters its 76th season, inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Concert Sponsors Arbor Acres; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council. Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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