Stamford Symphony Announces Virtual Gala, Free Concert

Stamford CT

07 October, 2020

9:40 PM

Description

Press release from Stamford Symphony: Oct. 7, 2020 Stamford Symphony today announced their annual gala and concert will be taking place virtually on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30pm (EDT). This year's theme "Together Again" will celebrate the Orchestra reuniting with the community in a new way, while also paying tribute to how we have all come together for each other during this difficult year. For the first time, this gala and concert will be a FREE event as Stamford Symphony brings the joy of music to the entire Fairfield County community, and far beyond. "We are delighted to be able to bring the experience of a gala, through this virtual concert, to a worldwide audience," said Russell Jones, President and CEO, Stamford Symphony. "While this year has been quite challenging, our mission remains to bring great orchestral music to everyone in Stamford and the wider Fairfield County community. We look forward to welcoming audiences old and new to share the extraordinary music-making of our incredible musicians who have been silent for too long." This year's impressive lineup includes Stamford Symphony's Music Director, Michael Stern, conducting Grieg's Holberg Suite; world-renowned Violinist Pinchas Zukerman performing Bach's Violin Concerto in A minor; and Dr. Michael Coady, Pianist and Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Co-Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Stamford Health, performing Beethoven's Quintet in E-flat for Piano and Winds, Op. 16. All three of these featured performances will be accompanied by Stamford Symphony musicians. Of course, there will also be a grandstand performance by the Stamford Symphony of Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, From the New World, 2nd movement ("Goin' Home"). Stamford Symphony will be honoring an important pillar in the community, Stamford Health. It has been the doctors, nurses and staff of Stamford Health, and throughout Fairfield County, who served on the frontlines throughout this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and deserve a very special, musical thank you. Additionally, the event is dedicated to the Stamford Symphony musicians who donated hours of free content for the Stamford Symphony Channel during the pandemic. "Together Again" Stamford Symphony's 2020 Virtual Gala and Concert is sponsored by EY and Accordia with support from WSHU as a media sponsor. To pre-register, visit: http://bit.ly/togetheragain20 Questions? Email Karine Jeanneret at [email protected] or call 917.359.1495 *Programs and Artists are subject to change About the Stamford Symphony The Stamford Symphony is one of Connecticut's pre-eminent cultural institutions, championing the lifelong appreciation of classical music among all populations of Fairfield County through passionate, professional performances of the highest caliber, diverse and innovative programming, and inspirational education initiatives. The Orchestra is comprised of professional musicians from the tri-state area, drawing its members from premiere ensembles including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, the American Symphony Orchestra, the New York Pops, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Originally formed in 1919, the Stamford Symphony thrived under the leadership of Clayton Hotchkiss, Music Director of the Stamford Public Schools, until after WWII, when many of its musicians returned to their homelands. It languished until its rebirth in 1967 as a regional orchestra of amateur musicians. Skitch Henderson was appointed Music Director in 1974, and with the hiring of Barbara Smith-Soroca as General Manager in 1979, the orchestra began its ascent to a fully professional orchestra and an integral part of the cultural fabric of Fairfield County. 1980 brought a new music director, Roger Nierenberg, who spent the next 24 years recruiting top musicians from the New York metro area and crafting a balanced ensemble of remarkable versatility. Maestro Nierenberg expanded the Orchestra Classics Series and created new music and education programs, developing the Stamford Symphony as a valuable classical music resource for Stamford and its surrounding communities. His successor, Eckart Preu, was appointed in October 2005, following an international search that attracted more than 250 applicants, and concluded his final season with Stamford Symphony in 2017. Beginning with the 2020/2021 season, the Orchestra welcomes Michael Stern as its fourth music director. The Stamford Symphony's home is at the Palace Theatre where most performances occur in the beautifully restored venue. Music Education programs serving 6,000 students have grown to include FREE tickets for kids under 18, Concerts for Students: The Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute Link-Up Program, Master Classes with students from the HARTT School of Music and more. More information is at www.stamfordsymphony.org. This press release was produced by Stamford Symphony. The views expressed here are the author's own.