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LOVE SONGS
If music be the food of love, the Ohio Valley Symphony is setting up a smorgasbord.
The orchestra welcomes tenor Eric Ashcraft for "Love Songs," the fourth program in its 20th anniversary celebration. The concert is at 8 p.m. March 13 in the historic Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre in downtown Gallipolis. The OVS, conducted by music director Ray Fowler, and Ashcraft will take audience members on a tuneful tour of the sunny Mediterranean featuring the most tasty musical morsels of France, Italy and Spain. The selections range from the most famous opera arias to classic popular songs to rarely heard orchestral miniatures by great operatic composers.
The concert is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Arnold J. Sattler and is sponsored by the Gallia County Medical Society.
For Fowler, the orchestra's music director since its first concert, the program was a labor of love. "It took me nearly a year to put this program together," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it." He's also looking forward to working with Ashcraft, who, Fowler said, has an incredible voice. "If he's singing the way he was singing two years ago, I'll just melt." Reviewers agree, calling Ashcraft's singing "rich, supple and powerful."
Short instrumental pieces balance groups of songs and arias on the program. Chabrier's "Espana" will give the evening a festive start. Other orchestral selections will include the lyrical "Meditation" from Massenet's "Thais"; intermezzos from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" (made more famous thanks to its use in "Raging Bull" and "The Godfather, Part III") and Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci"; preludes to Bizet's "Carmen" and Verdi's "Rigoletto"; and Puccini's touching "I Crisanthemi" (Chrysanthemums) for strings alone.
Among the famous opera arias Ashcraft will sing are "The Flower Song" from Bizet's "Carmen," "E Lucevan le Stelle" from Puccini's "Tosca" and "La Donna e Mobile" from Verdi's "Rigoletto." "Nessun Dorma" -- originally from Puccini's "Turandot" but more recently famous thanks to the Three Tenors and soccer's World Cup -- brings the night to a towering finish. Along the way, concert-goers also will hear famous standards from Spain and Italy, including "Granada," "Solamente un Vez," "O Sole Mio" (Elvis sang it as "It's Now or Never") and "Torna a Surriento.”
Eric Ashcraft received his master's degree and artist diploma in opera from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music. A New York District winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, he made his a Carnegie Hall debut in Schubert’s Mass in G. He has earned praise for his portrayals of Don Jose (in "Carmen"), Rodolfo ("La Boheme"), Alfredo ("La Traviata"), Don Ottavio ("Don Giovanni") and in Verdi's "Requiem." His upcoming engagements include Cavaradossi ("Tosca"), Turiddu ("Cavalleria Rusticana") and in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
Like the previous OVS concerts this season, there's an extra treat, too: A unique take on "Happy Birthday" to help mark the year-long birthday celebration. Two decades after playing its first concert on borrowed folding chairs in an unheated auditorium, the OVS has become an integral part of the cultural fabric of southeast Ohio and neighboring West Virginia. In the intervening years, the group has never wavered from its guiding principles: to bring live, professional, orchestral music to the region; to provide its performers with a positive atmosphere; and to instill a love of music in children through education and exposure to great music.
Also thanks to the OVS, the Ariel Theatre, once a forgotten gem, has been treated to a large, community-based restoration. Today the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre is the keystone to cultural life in Gallipolis and the permanent home of the OVS.
Tickets to the Ohio Valley Symphony's March 13 performance of "Love Songs" are on sale now. Visit the OVS Web site at www.ohiovalleysymphony.org for more information.
The public is also welcome to attend OVS rehearsals for free from 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 12, and 1-4 p.m. March 13 at the Ariel. Open rehearsals are a good way to introduce children to orchestral music and for casual listeners to grow more comfortable with it. They're also a great glimpse behind the scenes at what goes into preparing an orchestral performance.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is provided by the Ann Carson Dater Endowment. For more information, call Ariel-Dater Hall at 740-446-ARTS (2787).
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THE CHRISTMAS SHOW
Hark! O little town of Gallipolis, the
holidays are almost here -- and the Ohio
Valley Symphony is ready to get you in the
spirit. The orchestra's season-long
20th birthday celebration continues
Dec. 5 with "The
Christmas Show."
Music director Ray Fowler leads
southeast Ohio's only professional orchestra
in what has become a beloved community
tradition at 8 p.m. in the Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre. Celebrate the
sounds of the season with family,
friends, and a whole evening of favorite
holiday songs and
Christmas carols.
For Fowler, the OVS's conductor since its
first performance in 1989, the holiday
concert is a special event that never gets
dull. "I love looking for the repertoire,"
he said, "and this year's program has some
new pieces that I've discovered."
He describes Steven Amundson's "Angel's
Dance" as "a shower of orchestral colors"
and Bryan Kelly's "Improvisation on
Christmas Carols" as "just so well done."
Alongside those discoveries, concert-goers
will be treated to such classic carols as
"The First Noel," "Hark! The Herald Angels
Sing," "Joy the the World" and "O
Little Town of Bethlehem" -- all
arranged for orchestra by master arrangers
including Carmon Dragon and
Leroy Anderson. The lighter side of
the season will get its due thanks to more
modern winter standards, like Victor
Herbert's "Babes
in Toyland," Anderson's "Sleigh
Ride," and Dragon arrangements of "Winter
Wonderland," "Deck the Halls," and
"Jingle Bell Fantasy."
There's something extra, too. Just as at the
season's other four concerts, the OVS will
offer a unique take on "Happy Birthday" to
help mark the ongoing celebration of its
anniversary.
The years of making music are a testament to
the region's dedication, Fowler said. "A
small, Appalachian community can actually
support a quality
symphony orchestra experience. That's
very special. "The best way to find out just
how special, said Lora Lynn Snow, the
orchestra's founder and Executive Director,
“is to see and hear the orchestra perform
live. "The Christmas Show" is a great place
to start,” she said.
Tickets to The Ohio Valley Symphony's Dec. 5
performance of The Christmas Show are on
sale now. Visit the OVS Web site at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org for
more information.
The public is encouraged to attend OVS
rehearsals for free from 7-10 p.m. Friday,
Dec. 4, and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the
Ariel-Dater Hall. Open rehearsals are a good
way to introduce children to
orchestral music and for casual
listeners to grow more comfortable with it.
They're also a great glimpse behind the
scenes at what goes into preparing an
orchestral performance.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the
Ann Carson Dater Endowment. This
concert is sponsored by Holzer Clinic.
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Happy Birthday
OHIO VALLEY SYMPHONY
and JEWELL EVANS
MOZART AND SIBELIUS
It's still early for Christmas shopping, but
The Ohio Valley Symphony already has a
two-for-one offer for November. Two great
soloists, two great composers and two
birthdays will be celebrated on one big
night.
Music director Ray Fowler leads the OVS at 8
p.m. Nov. 7 in "Mozart and Sibelius," the
second program in the orchestra's 20th
anniversary season. Joining the ensemble at
the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre in downtown Gallipolis will be
violinist David Kim, celebrating 10 years as
concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra,
and pianist Debra Harder, a long-time local
favorite.
Kim plays the violin concerto of Jan
Sibelius, the Finnish composer best known
for "Finlandia." Like a Nordic winter, the
concerto is a fire-and-ice showcase of
melancholy beauty, brooding power, passion,
and playfulness. Though it's a first
performance by the OVS, concert-goers will
hear instantly why it's a long-time favorite
of both musicians and audiences.
Harder brings her keyboard elegance to
Mozart's beloved 21st piano concerto. The
C-major concerto has been a classic since it
was written in 1785. Audiences love its
stately opening, tender and graceful middle
movement and sparkling finale. The concerto
earned a new audience in 1967, when it was
used in the 1967 Swedish film Elvira Madigan
(the tragic true story of Danish tightrope
dancer Hedvig Jensen). Forty years later,
the movie is obscure, but the concerto is
still going strong.
David Kim earned two degrees from the
Juilliard School in New York. In 1986, he
was the only American violinist to win a
prize at the International Tchaikovsky
Competition in Moscow. He founded and for 20
years was artistic director of the Kingston
Chamber Music Festival at the University of
Rhode Island. In conjunction with the
festival, he also founded an outreach
program that took him to schools across the
state to cultivate future audiences. He
continues to devote time to bringing
classical music to school children in the
Philadelphia area.
Kim appears as soloist with the Philadelphia
Orchestra each season as well as with
numerous orchestras around the world. He
also serves as a member of the Philadelphia
Orchestra’s board of directors. Kim
continues the parade of great instruments to
Gallipolis: He plays a violin by .
Guadagnini made in Milan, Italy, about 1757.
It's on loan to him from the Philadelphia
Orchestra.
Debra Harder began piano studies at age 6
and made her orchestral debut at age 12.
Though she continued to perform, her first
degrees were in medicine, and she became an
emergency room physician. She then earned a
second doctorate -- this time in music --
after studying at The Ohio State University
with Earl Wild. She has performed with
orchestras across the United States and in
recital here and abroad -- including with
David Kim. She now teaches at Haverford
College outside Philadelphia.
The birthdays celebrate two of the region's
jewels. The November concert is part of the
20th anniversary season of The Ohio Valley
Symphony, marking two decades as an integral
part of the cultural fabric of southeast
Ohio and neighboring West Virginia. The
group has never wavered from its guiding
principles: to bring live, professional,
orchestral music to the region; to provide
its performers with a positive atmosphere;
and to instill a love of music in children
through education and exposure to great
music.
The OVS is also proud to help celebrate the
90th birthday of Jewell Evans. Jewell
Victoria Waters came to Gallipolis from
North Carolina with her family. It was here
she met her future husband, Robert "Bob"
Evans. Together they built one of America's
iconic family restaurant brands. Since Bob's
death in 2007, Jewell Evans has dedicated
her time and energy to charities and
non-profit organizations in the area. She
has been a tireless worker in support of the
ongoing restoration of the landmark Ariel
Theatre. Jewell will be honored at
receptions before and after the concert.
Tickets to the Ohio Valley Symphony's Nov. 7
performance of Mozart and Sibelius are on
sale now. Visit the OVS Web site at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org for more
information.
The public is encouraged to attend OVS
rehearsals for free at 7-10 p.m. Friday,
Nov. 6, and 1-4 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Ariel.
Open rehearsals are an excellent way to
introduce children to symphonic music and
for casual listeners to grow more
comfortable with it. They're also a great
glimpse behind the scenes to see what goes
into preparing an orchestral performance.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the Ann Carson Dater Endowment.
Further support is provided by Bob Evans
Farms wishing Jewell Evans a happy 90th
birthday.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY OHIO
VALLEY SYMPHONY
OPENING NIGHT SEPT. 26, 2009
West Virginia Public Radio Interview
WSAZ TV Interview
The Ohio Valley Symphony has one message for
its audience: Let 'em eat cake!
Both audible and edible confections will be
on the menu as the orchestra kicks off its
20th anniversary season at 8 p.m. September
26 at Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High
School in Point Pleasant, W.V. The OVS,
under music director Ray Fowler, welcomes
violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn, owner of the
Red Stradivarius violin -- the inspiration
for the book and 1998 movie "The Red Violin"
-- for the event.
Pitcairn brings the Red Stradivarius to
Ohio River Valley for three showpieces, the
"Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" and "Havanaise"
by Camille Saint-Saens and Pablo de
Sarasate's "Carmen Fantasy," based on the
melodies of Bizet's beloved opera.
Two decades after playing its first concert
on borrowed folding chairs in an unheated
auditorium, the OVS has become an integral
part of the cultural fabric of southeast
Ohio and neighboring West Virginia. In the
intervening years, the group has never
wavered from its guiding principles: to
bring live, professional, orchestral music
to the region; to provide its performers
with a positive atmosphere; and to instill a
love of music in children through education
and exposure to great music.
Also thanks to the OVS, the Ariel Theatre,
once a forgotten gem, has been treated to a
large, community-based restoration. Today
the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre is the keystone to cultural life in
Gallipolis and the permanent home of the OVS.
The Sept. 26 concert will be held at the
Lillian and Paul Wedge Auditorium at Point
Pleasant Junior/Senior High School in Point
Pleasant, W.V. The OVS helped celebrate the
hall's opening with a successful concert in
October. "It's a wonderful facility," said
Lora Lynn Snow, the orchestra's founder and
Executive Director, "and we're really
excited to come back to see out neighbors
across the river."
All the concerts of the 2009-10 festival
season will feature birthday-themed music.
For September's opener, Ray Fowler will lead
the orchestra in Slonimsky's "My Toy
Balloon," Bernstein's "Divertimento for
Orchestra" and Gershwin's "Let 'Em Eat Cake"
overture. The "Divertimento" was written as
Bernstein's 100th birthday present to the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. After the
concert, concert-goers will be treated to
birthday cake in the lobby.
The performance also will be accompanied by
an exhibit at The Gallery at 409 in Point
Pleasant. The art works are being lent by
the Lords New Church of Bryn Athyn, Pa.,
which Pitcairn's grandfather, the Rev.
Theodore Pitcairn, started and endowed.
Theodore Pitcairn was the son of PPG
Industries co-founder John Pitcairn Jr.
Tickets to the Ohio Valley Symphony's Sept.
26 season opener and subscriptions to the
entire 20th anniversary season are on sale
now. Visit the OVS Web site at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org for more
information.
This concert is sponsored by Ohio Valley
Bank, investing in our community one
neighbor at a time. Further funding for the
Ohio Valley Symphony is provided by the Ann
Carson Dater Endowment.
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Free Summer Elizabeth Concert
BYRON
STRIPLING
Trumpet/Vocals
With a contagious smile and captivating charm,
trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling has ignited
audiences internationally. As soloist with the
Boston Pops Orchestra, Stripling has performed
frequently under the baton of Keith Lockhart, as
well as being featured soloist on the PBS
television special, "Evening at Pops," with
conductors John Williams and Mr. Lockhart.
Currently, Stripling serves as Artistic Director
and Conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus
Jazz Orchestra.
Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch
Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has
become a pops orchestra favorite throughout
North America, soloing with the Boston Pops,
Cincinnati Pops, the National Symphony and the
symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Pittsburgh,
Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto, Utah, the Minnesota
Orchestra and the American Jazz Philharmonic,
among many others. He has also been a featured
soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and performs at
jazz festivals throughout the world. During the
2008/09 season Stripling performs with the
symphony orchestras of Detroit, Indianapolis,
Rochester, Vancouver, Edmonton and the Boston
Pops, among others.
An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was
chosen, following a world wide search, to star
in the lead role of the Broadway bound musical,
"Satchmo." Many will remember his featured cameo
performance in the television movie, "The Young
Indiana Jones Chronicles," and his critically
acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic
performance in the 42nd Street production of
"From Second Avenue to Broadway."
Television viewers have enjoyed his work as
soloist on the worldwide telecast of the Grammy
Awards. Millions have heard his trumpet and
voice on television commercials, TV theme songs
including "20/20," CNN, and soundtracks of
favorite movies.
Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter
and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under
the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He
has also played and recorded extensively with
the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave
Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis
Bellson, and Buck Clayton in addition to the
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall
Jazz Band, and the GRP All Star Big Band.
Stripling enjoys conducting Seminars and Master
Classes at colleges, universities,
conservatories, and high schools. His
informative talks, combined with his
incomparable wit and charm, make him a favorite
guest speaker to groups of all ages. Stripling
was educated at the Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, New York and the Interlochen Arts
Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. One of his
greatest joys is to return, periodically, to
Eastman and Interlochen as a special guest
lecturer.
A resident of Ohio, Stripling lives in the
country with his wife, former dancer, writer and
poet, Alexis and their beautiful daughters.
OHIO VALLEY
SYMPHONY SUMMER ELIZABETH
FREE CONCERT
Saturday July 4, 2009
The fireworks on the Gallipolis river front
won't all be in the sky this Fourth of July.
For the first time in its 20-year history,
the Ohio Valley Symphony will offer an
evening of musical fireworks at a free
concert at 8 p.m. in Gallipolis City Park.
The concert -- the orchestra's first
outdoors -- is a double birthday present to
the people of Gallipolis, marking both the
nation's 203rd year and the orchestra's
20th. The performance is also the
culmination of the city's annual River
Recreation Festival.
Expect a parade of great American music,
including a salute to America's armed
forces, Sousa marches, and classics of
America's own music, jazz. Joining the OVS
and music director Ray Fowler will be
trumpeter Byron Stripling, who will honor
the country's greatest trumpeter, Louis
Armstrong. Stripling portrayed Armstrong in
Broadway's "Satchmo."
Singing the national anthem and serving as
master of ceremonies for the musical
celebration will be Jon Cavendish, who sang
with the OVS on its first concert in April
1989. Bringing the night to a triumphal
conclusion will be Tchaikovsky's beloved
"1812 Overture," followed by fireworks over
the Ohio River.
The program is dubbed the Summer Elizabeth
Concert in honor of OVS volunteer Elizabeth
Davidson, who suggested it. The teen's
enthusiasm convinced philanthropist Ann
Carson Dater to fund the program. Mrs. Dater
has often professed that she believes the
world would be a better place if more people
listened to symphonic music. There's no
easier way than a free concert.
The Fourth of July program kicks off a
year-long celebration of The Ohio Valley
Symphony’s 20th season. For two decades, the
OVS has been the only professional orchestra
in the Ohio River Valley encompassing
Gallipolis OH and Pt. Pleasant WV. The
Twenty Years of Musical Excellence
anniversary season continues through May
2010 with subscription concerts at the
Ariel. For tickets and more information,
visit the OVS Web site at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
In case of inclement weather, the concert
will be held in the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown
Gallipolis.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the Ann Carson Dater Endowment.
Further support is provided by the Ohio Arts
Council, a state agency that funds and
supports quality arts experiences to
strengthen Ohio communities culturally,
educationally and economically.
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First Page
OHIO VALLEY SYMPHONY LEGENDARY CLASSICS
Today's headlines of
layoffs, bailouts and bankruptcies add an
unwelcome layer of stress to daily life. For
a night of relief, join The Ohio Valley
Symphony at 8 p.m. May 9 for a stimulus
package of the spirit.
In the finale to the orchestra's 19th
subscription season, Music Director Ray
Fowler leads southeast Ohio's only
professional orchestra in a program dubbed
"Legendary Classics."
On the bill at the
Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Center in downtown
Gallipolis are two timeless masterpieces
that have brought joy and peace to audiences
for nearly two centuries --
Johannes Brahms' Concerto for Violin
and Orchestra and Ludwig van Beethoven's
Symphony No. 8.
Brahms' concerto has been a staple for
violinists since its premiere in 1878. Its
fiery opening, singing slow movement and
rollicking finale -- inspired by the
composer's time in Hungary -- are
well-deserved audience favorites.
Beethoven's eighth symphony, written in
1812, is a non-stop dynamo of dance-like
tunes and energy. From the sweep of its
opening phrase to the country dances of its
third movement to the joyous whirlwind of
the finale, it inspires audiences to their
feet the world over.
Bringing the Brahms to life with the OVS
will be violinist Michi Wiancko, winner of
the 2002 Concert Artists Guild International
Competition. Featured as an “Artist to
Watch” by Symphony Magazine, Cleveland’s
Plain Dealer said her playing “melts
seamlessly into tender utterances,” while
the Des Moines Register labeled her playing
“pure gold.”
Besides her acclaimed solo classical
appearances, Wiancko's varied musical
interests include country fiddle, gypsy
violin and improvisation. She is a singer,
violinist and composer for her band Kono
Michi, comprising of string quartet, bass
and drums. She is also is a member of the
Los Angeles Piano Quartet, with which she
performs nationwide and a founding member of
ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra), a
conductor-less string ensemble which in 2008
toured America's East Coast.
The
southern California native holds
degrees from the
Cleveland Institute of Music and New
York's Juilliard School. Her debut solo CD,
"Platinum Spirals," features works by Ravel,
Beethoven,
Kreisler, Debussy,
Prokofiev and
Joan Tower and is available online at
www.concertartists.org.
May's "Legendary Classics" program is
another reflection of the OVS mission to
bring great music performed by great artists
to the Ohio Valley region -- all while
making
orchestral music easy to love. The
public is encouraged to attend OVS
rehearsals for free at 7-10 p.m. Friday, May
8, and 1-4 p.m. May 9 at the Ariel. Open
rehearsals are an excellent way to introduce
children to symphonic music and for casual
listeners to grow more comfortable with it.
They're also a great glimpse behind the
scenes to see what goes into preparing an
orchestral performance.
Tickets to "Legendary Classics" are
available through the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre at
426 Second Ave., Gallipolis. The box
office is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursdays and 90 minutes prior to the show.
Prices are $22, $20 for seniors and $10 for
students. Tickets are also available online
at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the
Ann Carson Dater Endowment. Further
support is provided by the
Ohio Arts Council, a state agency
that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities
culturally, educationally and economically.
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First Page
OHIO VALLEY
SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES JULY 4TH CONCERT
There will be fireworks on stage as well as
in the sky on the 4th of July when The Ohio
Valley Symphony presents their first outdoor
concert on Saturday, July 4 in the
Gallipolis City Park as part of the annual
River Recreation Festival. The Summer
Elizabeth Concert will be Saturday evening
at 8 pm with patriotic pops, marches, jazz
and other American music culminating in the
fireworks over the river.
The free OVS concert will feature nationally
known jazz trumpeter, Byron Stripling as
guest soloist. Stripling will be performing
the music of Louis Armstrong and will bring
to Gallipolis his musical and theatrical
experience in portraying Armstrong in the
Broadway production of "Satchmo."
The July 4th concert is part of a year long
celebration of The Ohio Valley Symphony’s
Twenty Years of Musical Excellence. The
concert was the brainchild of Elizabeth
Davidson, who ushers for OVS concerts. The
July 4 concert is funded by Mrs. Ann Carson
Dater and will be known as “The Summer
Elizabeth Concert . . . because she asked.”
Mrs. Dater has often professed that she
believes the world would be a better place
if more people listened to symphonic music.
Now she is making it possible for everyone
to hear The Ohio Valley Symphony free in the
park on July 4.
In case of inclement weather, the back-up
location is the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown
Gallipolis.
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CELEBRATING 20
YEARS OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE
By Thomas Consolo
There were plenty of reasons to be
skeptical of the Ohio Valley Symphony's
prospects at its first performance. The only
heat in the auditorium, from portable gas
heaters, had been turned off before the
concert because of their noise. The audience
and performers huddled in their coats on the
folding chairs borrowed from the city's
funeral homes. Besides lacking seats and
heat, the century-old hall -- until that
night closed for a quarter century -- still
needed extensive structural, mechanical and
artistic renovation before it could be put
back into regular service.
Then there was the challenge of building and
basing a professional orchestra in a small
city like Gallipolis.
The skeptics were wrong. This week, the OVS
takes the wraps off of its 20th season. In
the intervening years, the group has never
wavered from its guiding principles: to
bring live, professional, orchestral music
to southeast Ohio audiences; to provide
performers an atmosphere of positive
reinforcement; and to instill a love of
music in children through education and
exposure to great music. "There was never
any question in my mind," said Lora Lynn
Snow, the orchestra's founder and manager.
"(Failure) didn't occur to me."
The vision for what became the OVS came to
Snow, a professional oboist, during an
unfulfilling stretch of a rehearsal early in
1987. "I just knew how I wanted it to be,"
she said. She knew with whom she wanted to
collaborate, too. Ray Fowler, then
conducting at Ohio University, was a
colleague who welcomed her ideas. "Instead
of telling me I was crazy," Snow said, "he
said, 'Of course'."
Fowler, too, had faith in the orchestra's
mission, and he's been its music director
from its inception. "I was very clear that
we would launch something," he said of that
first concert.
Among his most memorable moments were the
preparation for the first subscription
concert in the fall of 1989. "I saw about 80
to 20 community-minded citizens helping to
support the balcony as support beams were
being installed. To see that kind of love
and dedication and caring brought me to
tears,"
Fowler said it doesn't feel like 20 years
since the first season — "more like 10" —
and he says that, over those years, the
orchestra has grown artistically. The Ariel
helps; as its restoration has progressed and
the orchestra's reputation grew, he said, it
has been easier to attract high-quality
players. Snow proudly notes that the
orchestra draws players from six states and
two countries.
Vital to that growth has been the support of
a woman Snow calls the orchestra's angel.
Ann Carson Dater grew up in Rutland in Meigs
County. When she was in the eighth grade,
her mother bought her a violin from
Montgomery Ward, and she began taking
lessons. Her teacher didn't make her into a
professional player, Snow said, but he did
instill in her a life-long love of music.
"Now, 80 years later, thanks to her and that
love of music, we can have live music in
Gallipolis," Snow said. "That's what
teachers can do."
Dater, the widow of Cincinnati businessman
and philanthropist Charles H. Dater, called
Snow in 1997. She'd read about the orchestra
and wanted to know more. They talked for an
hour. She liked what she heard and, in
January 1998, papers were signed outlining
an endowment. The money was to be used
toward better musician pay, more rehearsal
time, more soloists, a professional
recording and children's concerts.
Further gifts followed, which funded buying
the Ariel building for the orchestra and
renovating more of its spaces for public
use. "She gave us this theatre as a
permanent home for the orchestra ," Snow
said.
The OVS has returned the favor: The complex
is now known as the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre, following a gala
rededication concert on April 22, 2006.
Dater, then 89, made the cross country
journey, and heard the orchestra perform for
the first time.
The Ohio Valley Symphony will put their home
to good use during the 2009-2010 season. In
celebration of the orchestra's 20th
birthday, each program will include some
version of "Happy Birthday." There is a roll
of high-quality guest artists, including the
owner of the Red Stradivarius (inspiration
for the movie "The Red Violin"), the
concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra
(playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto) and
an evening of favorite tenor songs and
arias.
December will bring the traditional holiday
program. "It has some new pieces I've
discovered," Fowler said, "like the Amundson
'Angel's Dance,' which is a shower of
orchestral colors."
The Ohio University Singers round out the
season, joining the OVS in music of Bach and
John Rutter, The series finale also will
include a premiere by composer Brant Adams,
a Gallipolis native.
As it starts its second 20 years, both Snow
and Fowler say the OVS will focus on
education and building its youth orchestra.
Snow said she hopes to be able to expand a
program, begun this year, which saw the
orchestra fund a teacher for a strings
program in local schools.
SIDE BAR
Here's a look at the programs of the Ohio
Valley Symphony's 20th anniversary season.
All performances are at the Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre unless
otherwise noted. Music director Ray Fowler
conducts all the concerts.
— SUMMER ELIZABETH CONCERT (July 4): Jazz
trumpeter, Byron Stripling joins the OVS for
a star spangled pops concert under the stars
in the Gallipolis City Park in a program of
patriotic pops. Stripling will perform the
music of Louis Armstrong as seen in his
Broadway show "Satchmo." The grand finale
will include the "1812 Overture" and "Stars
& Stripes Forever" complete with fireworks.
— OPENING NIGHT (Sept. 26): Violinist
Elizabeth Pitcairn brings the Red
Stradivarius to Gallipolis for three
showpieces, the "Introduction and Rondo
Capriccioso" and "Havanaise" by Saint-Saens
and Sarasate's "Carmen Fantasy." Pine's
"Happy Birthday Variations," Slonimsky's "My
Toy Balloon," Bernstein's "Divertimento for
Orchestra" and Gershwin's "Let 'Em Eat Cake"
overture round out the concert.
The concert will be held at the Lillian and
Paul Wedge Auditorium at Point Pleasant
Junior/Senior High School in Point Pleasant,
W.V. The OVS helped celebrate the hall's
opening with a concert in October. "It's a
wonderful facility," Snow said. "and we're
really excited to come back to see out
neighbors across the river."
The concert will be accompanied by an
exhibit at The Gallery at 409 in Point
Pleasant. The art works are being lent by
the Lords New Church of Bryn Athyn, Pa.,
which Pitcairn's grandfather, the Rev.
Theodore Pitcairn, started and endowed.
Theodore Pitcairn was the son of PPG
Industries co-founder John Pitcairn Jr. Many
of the church's art was willed from the
collection of Theodore's brother Raymond.
— MOZART AND SIBELIUS (Nov. 7): Audiences
get two soloists for the price of one as
Debra Harder plays Mozart's Piano Concerto
in C Major, K. 467, and David Kim,
concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra,
plays the Sibelius Violin Concerto. There
will be plenty for the OVS to do, though,
thanks to the orchestra's dramatic role in
the Sibelius.
— THE CHRISTMAS SHOW (Dec. 5): Arrangements
by Leroy Anderson, Carmon Dragon and Jeff
Tyzik of seasonal favorites mix with
discoveries like Amundson's "Angel's Dance"
and Kelly's "Improvisations on Christmas
Carols" and Herbert's classic "Babes in
Toyland."
— LOVE SONGS (March 13, 2010): Tenor Eric
Ashcraft joins the OVS for favorite — and
soon-to-be favorite — songs and arias,
including "Flower Song" from "Carmen," "E
lucevan le stelle" from Tosca," "Nessun
dorma" from "Turandot," "La donna e mobile"
from "Rigoletto," and "O sole mio" and "Torna
a Surriento." Orchestral miniatures by
Bizet, Puccini and Verdi and Chabrier's "Espana"
round out the evening. Said music director
Ray Fowler, "It took me nearly a year to put
this program together."
— VOICES OF SPRING (May 8, 2010): "For 18
years, I've been badgering Peter Jarjisian —
a colleague from my days at OU — to bring
his choral forces to Gallipolis," said
Fowler. "They're finally coming to help us
eat birthday cake." They'll also sing a
double choir motet by Bach and John Rutter's
touching "Requiem." This season finale also
features the music of Gallipolis native
Brant Adams.
— Subscriptions to the Ohio Valley
Symphony's 20th anniversary season are on
sale now.
TIMELINE
A brief timeline of major Ohio Valley
Symphony and Ariel Theatre events:
— July 22, 1895: Ground broken for Ariel
Opera House by the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows.
— Dec. 25, 1895: Ariel opens.
— 1919: Gallia County Masonic Lodge buys the
building. Wheeler family manages the
theatre.
— 1947: Wheelers build Colony Theatre; Ariel
slips to B-movie house.
— 1963: Ariel closes after the film breaks
during last show.
— April 1, 1989: After volunteer remove
truckloads of debris and accumulated bird
droppings, Ray Fowler conducts first Ohio
Valley Symphony concert. The hall has no
heat, bathrooms or water.
— June 9, 1990: Grand Re-Opening Concert.
Ariel was semi-restored, with work
frantically being right up until show time.
The audience waited in the lobby as the
seats were bolted in place.
— December 1998: Ann Carson Dater sets up an
endowment fund, financially securing the
OVS's future.
— July 2005: Mrs. Dater purchases the Ariel
as a permanent home for The Ohio Valley
Symphony in perpetuity. Her support funds
face lift, new windows (making the ballroom
usable), new marquee, painting walls and
refinishing floors in second-floor ballroom,
banquet room and parlors, A new
music-inspired sculpture is installed in
banquet room.
— April 22, 2006: Grand Re-Dedication of the
Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre as home for OVS. Commercial CD,
titled "Celebrate the Gift," made of the
performance.
Back to Top
Return to
First Page
BROADWAY!
There will be songs in the air when Spring
breezes come to Gallipolis. Don't be
surprised if they're coming from the
audience as they leave "Broadway!" -- the
celebration of music and theatre by The Ohio
Valley Symphony. OVS music director Ray
Fowler leads the program, slated for 8 p.m.
March 21 at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown
Gallipolis, Ohio. The singing duo John and
Nancy Williams Shuffle bring the songs to
life.
The selections show off the
cross-pollination between the concert hall
and the Great White Way. For instance,
Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances" from "Prince
Igor" lead seamlessly to excerpts from
Broadway's "Kismet."
All of the show's songs -- including "Stranger
in Paradise," "He's In Love," "Fate,"
"And This is My Beloved" and "The
Sands of Time" -- were set to
Borodin's melodies. The 19th-century Russian
even shared a 1954
Tony Award for Best Musical. "These
are songs that people know," said Lora Snow,
the orchestra's manager, "but they're
inspired by symphonic music."
The program also includes excerpts from "West
Side Story," the "Romeo and Juliet"
story transplanted to the teen gangs of
1950s Manhattan by the dream team of
Leonard Bernstein,
Stephen Sondheim,
Arthur Laurents and
Jerome Robbins. "West Side Story"
forever changed Broadway, and it recently
marked its 50th anniversary. Also on tap
will be the classic shows by Broadway giants
of earlier generations: Songs by
Rodgers and Hammerstein from "South
Pacific" and "The
King and I" and by
George Gershwin, including " 'S
Wonderful," "By
Strauss" and "They
Can't Take That Away From Me."
Equally well-known opera and operetta arias
round out the night, including,
appropriately, "Voices of Spring" by the
waltz king,
Johann Strauss Jr. Expect favorites
by Puccini, Rossini and Verdi, too.
Guest artists John and Nancy Williams
Shuffle bring a wealth of performing
experience, having collectively played more
than 150 leading roles in their combined
careers. They have garnered numerous awards
-- both national and regional -- and have
eight solo and duet recordings to their
credit. John's career has included
orchestral, solo and musical-theater
appearances in some 30 U.S. states,
Australia, New Zealand,
Switzerland,
Finland,
England and Israel. Some of the
bass-baritone's favorite portrayals include
leading comic roles in Mozart's "Abduction
from the Seraglio," "Cosi
fan tutte," "Don
Giovanni" and "Marriage of Figaro";
Rossini's "La
Cenerentola" (Cinderella)
and "Italian Girl in Algiers"; and Puccini's
"Gianni
Schicchi." More dramatic roles have
included those from "The
Magic Flute," "La
Boheme," "Ariadne
auf Naxos," "Boris
Godunov," "La
Traviata," "Tosca" and "Turandot."
His recent starring portrayal of the Poet in
"Kismet" was reviewed as a “Critics Pick” by
the Chicago press. One reviewer called it "a
glorious theatrical achievement.” As Henry VIII, the lead role in the
world premier revival of
Richard Rodgers’ "Rex," he was hailed
by the show's original lyricist and
co-author, the Pulitzer Prize-winning
Sheldon Harnick.
Soprano Nancy Williams Shuffle has delighted
audiences with her versatility and magnetism
since 1991 in more than 60 musical
productions and countless concerts in
Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida,
California,
New York and Indiana, as well as
numerous international appearances in
Australia, Finland, England and
Israel. Among her portrayals are Marian in "The
Music Man," Hope Harcourt in "Anything
Goes," Sarah Brown in "Guys
and Dolls," Julie Jordan in
"Carousel," Alice Beane in "Titanic," Rhetta
Cupp in "Pump
Boys and Dinettes," Maria in "The
Sound of Music," Cinderella in "Into
the Woods," Anna in "The King and I,"
Audrey in "Little
Shop of Horrors,"
Catherine of Aragon in "Rex" and the
puppeteering comic genius Sister Mary
Amnesia in Dan Goggin’s "Nunsense,"
"Nunsense II," "Nuncrackers"
and "Nunsensation." Her reviewers have
glowed, stating “(H)er voice is awesome,
excellent … first-class.…”
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the
Ann Carson Dater Endowment.
"Broadway!" is funded in part by the
Gallia County Medical Society.
Further support is provided by the
Ohio Arts Council, a state agency
that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities
culturally, educationally and economically.
Back to top
THE OHIO VALLEY SYMPHONY
CHRISTMAS
SHOW
December 6, 2008
Stock prices are sinking, auto makers are
struggling and the nation's banks are lining
up for a bailout. With headlines like these,
as the song goes, we need a little Christmas
-- right this very minute! The Ohio Valley
Symphony is ready to step up with "The
Christmas Show," its
annual holiday program at the historic
Morris & Dorothy Haskins Theatre of The
Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre in downtown Gallipolis, Ohio. This
year's program, under the direction of music
director Ray Fowler, again serves up a tasty
buffet of favorite carols and songs of the
season on Saturday, December 6 at 8 p.m.
Among the more traditional Christmas works
on the program are
arrangements of such favorite carols as
"Away in a Manger," "Carol of
the Bells," "Deck the Halls," "God Rest Ye,
Merry Gentlemen," "Joy to
the World" and "Silent Night." Ralph
Vaughan-Williams' "Fantasia on
Greensleeves" (the tune known better at this
time of year as "What Child Is This?") and
excerpts from the fairy-tale opera "Hansel
and
Gretel" add a more classical tone.
American seasonal favorites follow,
including "It's the Most Wonderful
Time of the Year," the "Parade of the Wooden
Soldiers," and "Toyland." The night is
rounded out by "A Holiday Hoedown."
The annual Maestro for a Moment competition
will culminate at the end
of the concert when the winning Maestro
takes up the baton to conduct
Leroy Anderson’s holiday favorite, “Sleight
Ride.” vying for this year’s honor are
Holzer Clinic physician Naci Bozkir and
University of Rio Grande Professor David
Lawrence.
Tickets to the OVS "Christmas Show" are
available through the
Ariel-Dater box office at 426 Second Ave.,
Gallipolis. The box office
is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursdays and 90 minutes prior to the show.
Prices are $22, $20 for seniors and $10 for
students. Call 740- 446-ARTS (2787). Tickets
are also available online at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
"The Christmas Show" is sponsored by Holzer
Clinic. Funding for the
Ohio Valley Symphony is provided by the Ann
Carson Dater Endowment. Further support is
provided by the Ohio Arts Council, a state
agency that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities
culturally, educationally and economically.
The public is encouraged to attend
rehearsals for free on Friday, Dec.
5, from 7-10 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 6
from 1-4 p.m. OVS Saturday
dress rehearsals are an excellent way to
introduce young children to
symphonic music.
The Ohio Valley Symphony's Celebrate the
Gift CD makes a wonderful
stocking stuffer and a mini subscription to
the remaining OVS concerts
is the perfect gift for the music lover in
your life.
Back to top
NEW STRING PROGRAM
AT SOUTHWESTERN ELEMENTARY
The hills are
alive with music, or rather the halls of
Southwestern
Elementary as fourth and fifth grade
students begin a pilot program of
string instruction provided by The Ohio
Valley Symphony. Instructor Ian Jessee, a
long time OVS member and a ten year teaching
veteran of the Kanawha County Schools string
program, will be on hand once a week for
classes at Southwestern. “I’m excited about
being able to start up a new program,” said
Jessee, “their enthusiasm was very inspiring
to me.”
The classes are available to any interested
Southwestern student at no charge. In
addition to music, students learn
self-discipline, group
cooperation, problem solving, goal setting,
self-expression, memory
skills, concentration, poise, enhanced
physical coordination, high
self-esteem, and the importance of teamwork
-- skills in great demand in almost every
aspect of life. Like all the arts, music has
a profound effect on the academic success of
students as well. Music instruction affects
math and reading scores with string students
having higher scores on standardized tests
and they also have significantly higher
GPAs.
The string instruction program is being
funded through The Ohio Valley Symphony’s
Endowment that was set up some years ago by
Ann Carson Dater. “Mrs. Dater feels that the
world would be a better place if more people
listened to classical symphonic music,”
remarks Lora Lynn Snow, OVS manager and a
former teacher at Southwestern. “Mrs. Dater
took violin lessons herself as a child and
she is very excited about the new classes we
are offering.”
In addition to the classes, each string
student will be given free
admission to any Ohio Valley Symphony
concert when accompanied by a parent or
guardian. “My teaching experience at
Southwestern was very instrumental in my
founding the orchestra,” said Snow. “I saw
how hungry the students were for quality
music and I felt there was a real need for a
professional orchestra in our area so
students would have a high level to aspire
to.”
The next Ohio Valley Symphony concert is
November 8 at 8 pm and will feature
Halloween inspired music, a perfect
opportunity to expose budding musicians to
live symphonic music. For more information,
check out our website at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org
OHIO VALLEY
SYMPHONY SPOOKTACULAR
Not all the
ghosts and goblins slink back to
their world after
Halloween. Some have been hiding in
the dark corners of the Ariel
Theatre, waiting for one more night of fun.
The Ohio Valley Symphony's "Halloween
Spooktacular" is becoming a southeast
Ohio tradition. The orchestra's members —
including Music Director Ray Fowler
on the podium — trade their tails and bow
ties for whimsical or ghoulish costumes as
they offer concert-goers a full plate of
musical tricks and treats. This year's is at
8 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown
Gallipolis.
It's all part of the OVS philosophy of
making
orchestral music easy to
love, according to OVS Manager, Lora Lynn
Snow. "It gives the audience a chance to see
that we're all real people up there on
stage, and it gives us a chance to show off
our individual personalities."
Among the works on the eclectic musical menu
are
Paul Dukas' magical "Sorcerer's
Apprentice" (immortalized in Disney's
original "Fantasia"), the spooky "Witches
Ride" from "Hansel
and Gretel" and
Johann Strauss Jr.'s sparkling overture
to "Die
Fledermaus" ("The Bat"). Malcolm
Arnold's "Tam O'Shanter Overture” and the
theme to "Ghostbusters"
celebrate the ghoulish holiday.
There are two beloved excerpts from Grieg's
"Peer
Gynt," "Ase's Death" and "In
the Hall of the Mountain King." A
medley of tunes from
Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom
of the Opera," now the most
successful entertainment venture in history,
rounds out the evening.
November's "Halloween Spooktacular" reflects
the OVS mission to bring great music played
by great artists to southeast Ohio -- all
while
making orchestral music easy to love. The
public is encouraged to
attend OVS rehearsals for free at 7-10 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7, and 1-4
p.m. Nov. 8. Open rehearsals are an
excellent way to grow comfortable with
symphonic music. Young children unable to
sit through an entire concert can benefit
from time spent at the open rehearsal.
Tickets to the OVS "Halloween Spooktacular"
are available through the Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre at 426 Second
Ave., Gallipolis. The box office is open 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursdays; and from 90
minutes before performances. Prices are $22,
$20 for seniors and $10
for students. Call
(740) 446-ARTS (2787). Tickets are
also available
online at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
A mini subscription to the remaining four
concerts in the 2008-09 Ohio Valley Symphony
season is still available. Prices range from
$40 for students up to $220 for family
passes admitting two adults and as many
children as they have in their families.
Standard adult season tickets cost $80,
seniors $72.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is
provided by the
Ann Carson
Dater Endowment. Further support is
provided by the
Ohio Arts Council, a state agency
that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities
culturally, educationally and economically.
|
| |
Ohio Valley
Symphony Season Opener
Celebrates New Point Pleasant
Auditorium
They may be in different states,
but Gallipolis and
Point Pleasant are
neighbors. So as Point Pleasant
celebrates the new Lillian and
Paul Wedge
Auditorium at the new
Point Pleasant
Junior/Senior High School,
the Ohio Valley Symphony --
based at the Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre in
downtown Gallipolis -- decided
to congratulate their neighbors
the way they know best, with
music.
As part of a weekend of arts
events that culminate with a
dedication ceremony Oct. 4, the
OVS will open its 19th season
with an all-American program at
Wedge Auditorium. Under the
direction of
Music director Ray
Fowler, the orchestra will carry
listeners on a whirlwind tour of
the United States -- all from
the comfort of their seats in
the new, state-of-the-art
facility. Dubbed "America
the Beautiful," the music
will take you to destinations as
close as the barnyard and as far
away
as Jazz Age Manhattan.
Centerpiece of the program is
George Gershwin's Concerto in F,
one of the first American pieces
to secure its place in the
world's concert halls. Its
energetic rhythms, easy-going
melodies and atmospheric
orchestration capture the bustle
of mid-20th century
New York City. Pianist
Richard Glazier is soloist.
Richard
Glazier piano
Glazier "has Gershwin in his
soul," according to pianist and
singer Michael Feinstein.
Glazier has the Midwest in his
soul, too, having studied piano
both at the Indiana University
School of Music and the
Cleveland Institute of Music.
Beginning with the 1996 Gershwin
centennial, Glazier has created
and performed four (so far)
one-man, multimedia programs
dedicated to the American song,
and particularly to the Gershwin
brothers, George and Ira.
The concert is rounded out by a
nod to the incredible variety of
American song -- from church to
jazz to patriotic. Look forward
to arrangements of favorites
including "Amazing Grace,"
"America the Beautiful," the
hits of Duke Ellington -- even
"The Star Spangled Banner."
Also at the auditorium will be a
special art exhibit provided by
Point Pleasant's own Gallery at
409. A reception follows the
concert at the auditorium.
October's celebration of
America's own music reflects the
OVS mission to bring great music
played by great artists -- all
while making orchestral music
easy to love. The public is also
encouraged to attend OVS
rehearsals for free at 7-10 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3, and 1-4 p.m.
Oct. 4. Open rehearsals are an
excellent way to grow
comfortable with symphonic
music. Young children unable to
sit through an entire concert
can benefit from time spent at
the open rehearsal.
Tickets to "America the
Beautiful" are available through
the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre at 426
Second Ave., Gallipolis. The box
office is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday. Tickets
at Wedge Auditorium will be
available beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Oct 4. Prices are $22, $20 for
seniors and $10 for students.
Call (740) 446-ARTS (2787).
Tickets are also available
online at
www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
Point Pleasant Junior/Senior
High School is located just
three miles north of the U.S. 35
bridge on W.Va. 62. There's
plenty of free parking. Hosting
the OVS reflects the interest of
school, city, and Mason County
officials to invest in and
promote the arts and to expose
students to culture.
Subscriptions to all five
2008-09 Ohio Valley Symphony
concerts are also still
available. Prices range from $50
for students up to $275 for
family passes admitting two
adults and as many children as
they have in their families.
Standard adult season tickets
cost $100, seniors $90.
Funding for the Ohio Valley
Symphony is provided by the Ann
Carson Dater Endowment. Further
support is provided by the Ohio
Arts Council, a state agency
that funds and supports quality
arts experiences to strengthen
Ohio communities culturally,
educationally and economically.
|
The Ohio Valley Symphony’s
2008-09 Season
The Ohio Valley Symphony is gearing up for another year of
doing what it does best -- bringing great music played by
great artists to southeast Ohio. For its 19th subscription
season, the OVS, under music director Ray Fowler, will carry
listeners around the world with the help of tunes of a
diverse lineup of classics. From composers in 19th-century
Vienna to 20th-century America, the pieces evoke
destinations as close as the barnyard and as far away as the
islands of the South Pacific, the Caliphate of old Baghdad
and Jazz Age Manhattan.
To help bring the program to life, Fowler and the OVS will
welcome a parade of talented guest artists to the stage of
the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre. It's all
part of the OVS philosophy of making orchestral music easy
to love, according to the orchestra's manager, Lora Lynn
Snow. "We have the big masterpieces -- like Beethoven’s
Symphony No. 8 -- that everyone loves, but we have fun with
our programs, too."
Two of this year's concerts are easy examples:
-- Nov. 8's "Halloween Spooktacular" has become something of
a tradition, with orchestra members (including Fowler on the
podium) trading their tails and bow ties for whimsical or
ghoulish costumes giving the audience a chance to see the
individual personalities of the musicians. The OVS offers up
a full plate of musical tricks and treats, including The
Sorcerer's Apprentice (immortalized in Disney's original
"Fantasia"), the Witches Ride from "Hansel and Gretel" and
selections from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.
-- The Broadway-inspired program slated for March 21, 2009,
shows the cross-pollination between the concert hall and the
Great White Way. Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from "Prince
Igor" leads seamlessly to
excerpts from Broadway's Kismet. The show's tunes are all
taken from Borodin's works, and the 19th-century Russian
even shared a 1954 Tony Award for Best Musical. "These are
songs that people know," said Snow, "but they're pulled from
classical music." The program also includes excerpts from
West Side Story and from the classic shows of Rodgers and
Hammerstein. Some equally well-known opera and operetta
arias round out the night.
John and Nancy Williams Shuffle, who have collectively
played more than 150 lead roles in their combined careers,
sing the Broadway and light opera songs. John was a
"critic's pick" in Chicago for his starring role as the Poet
in Kismet there. Nancy counts leads in Guys and Dolls, The
Music Man, and Titanic among her favorites.
Another OVS tradition returns with the December 6 Christmas
show, a kickoff to the local holiday season. As usual,
Fowler has assembled a program that balances past and
present with traditional carols, purely classical pieces
with a Christmas theme, and upbeat popular songs of the
season. To take the fullest advantage of the wide sonic
range of a modern orchestra, Fowler turned to some of the
nation's greatest arrangers -- including Hershy Kay, Carmen
Dragon and Jeff Tyzik.
The season kicks off Oct. 4 with an all-American program.
Titled "America the Beautiful," it features Gershwin's
Concerto in F, one of
the first American pieces to secure its place in the concert
hall. In a nod to the incredible variety of American songs
-- from hymns to jazz -- the concert is rounded out by
arrangements of favorites including Amazing Grace and the
hits of Duke Ellington.
Pianist Richard Glazier performs the Gershwin concerto.
Glazier "has Gershwin in his soul," according to pianist and
singer Michael Feinstein, himself an expert on American
song. Glazier has the Midwest in his soul, too, having
studied piano both at the Indiana University School of Music
and the Cleveland Institute of Music. Beginning with the
1996 Gershwin centennial, Glazier has created and performed
four (so far) one-man, multimedia programs dedicated to the
American song, and particularly to the Gershwin brothers,
George and Ira.
The OVS saves two of the biggest guns of classical music,
Beethoven and Brahms, for the May 9 season finale.
Beethoven's exuberant and rustic Symphony No. 8 is paired
with Brahms' refined and passionate Concerto for Violin.
Soloist for the Brahms is Michi Wiancko, whose classical
prowess -- she has appeared with both the New York and Los
Angeles philharmonics -- is but one facet of her
wide-ranging musical talent. Her other interests include
country fiddle, gypsy violin and jazz. Her band, Kono Michi
(a string quartet, bass and drums) appears regularly in New
York's clubs.
Subscriptions for all five Ohio Valley Symphony concerts are
on sale now. Prices range from $50 for students -- "That's
about the same as five movie tickets these days," Snow says
-- up to $275 for a family pass which includes 2 adults and
as many children as they have. Adult season tickets are $100
and seniors are $90. For more information, call the
Ariel-Dater box office at (740) 446-ARTS (2787) or visit the
box office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
located at 428 Second Ave. in downtown Gallipolis OH. For
more information, visit our website at:
ohiovalleysymphony.org
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is provided by the Ann
Carson Dater Endowment. Further support is provided by the
Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that funds and supports
quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities
culturally, educationally and economically.
Return
to Top
What is HomeTownStation.Net?
Do you remember that local radio station you grew up
listening to? Big city or small town, most of us had a
local station that we relied on for information and
entertainment. If we didn't get to listen to our favorite
show or announcer, we felt like we missed out on
something! Fast forward to the 21st century. and a new
kind of "station" that offers both an audio and visual
experience.
Ohio Valley Symphony Maestro Ray Fowler is the
featured guest along with Ariel Founder and Ohio
Valley Symphony Manager, Lora Lynn Snow on “The
Chatterbox” with hostess “Dene” Wagner Pellegrinon.
Dene, Ray and Lora chatted about the upcoming
May 3 OVS concert and the 2008-09 subscription
series. You can hear Ray speak about his process of
choosing music and some information about Brahms
and Schumann, the composers featured on the May 3
concert. Ray and Lora discuss the impact of music
and music education in our lives.
To hear the program:
www.hometownstation.net
click on “Listen to Dene”
click on “Archives” and select Chatterbox 04/25/08
HomeTownStation.Net is "on the air" 24/7, with fresh
information and entertainment. The program is
updated frequently as Dene interviews people all across
the United States who are making a difference in their
hometowns. The first show Dene and Lora did on
January 22, 2008 was the highest rated show to date.
Tune in at your convenience.
The Ohio Valley Symphony’s Spring Finale
Dry out from this spring's rains by basking in the
warm glow of great music and the sound of a
Stradivarius at the Ohio Valley Symphony's
season finale. Led by music director Ray Fowler,
the OVS offers works by Brahms and Schumann
at 8:00 p.m. May 3 at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown Gallipolis.
Both Brahms' Symphony No. 2 and Schumann's
Cello Concerto have been audience favorites
since they premiered, thanks to their warmth
and the parade of beautiful tunes that will leave
concert-goers humming on their way home.
Schumann's concerto wasn't played until after
his death, but it was an instant classic with its
musical innovations and technical display for
the soloist. Brahms' second symphony is his
most pastoral, starting with the gentle breezes
of a summer afternoon and ending with a blazing
outburst of joy.
Soloist for the Schumann is Soo Bae, who began
studying cello at age 6 in her native South Korea.
She moved to Toronto two years later and eventually
enrolled in that city's Royal Conservatory of Music.
She earned her bachelor's degree from Philadelphia's
Curtis School and an artist diploma from the
Juilliard School in New York, where she now teaches
as an assistant to Joel Krosnick.
Soo Bae in 2006 was awarded first prize in the Canada
Council of the Arts Instrument Bank Competition, which
earned her the three-year loan of a cello made in 1696 by
the legendary Stradivarius. She thrives on innovative
collaborations, and she has performed with jazz clarinetist
Paquito D'Rivera well as with Grammy-winning fiddler-
violinist-composer Mark O'Connor. In 2004, she founded --
and, with her fiance Jason Suh, continues to direct --
Angelos Mission Ensemble, a music academy for string
students which aims to educate and mold future Christian
musician leaders.
Tickets to the 2007-08 OVS finale are available through
the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre at
426 Second Ave. in Gallipolis Ohio. The box office is open
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 90 minutes
prior to the concert. Call (740) 446-ARTS (2787). Prices are
$22, $20 for seniors and $10 for students. Tickets are also
available online at www.ohiovalleysymphony.org.
The public is also encouraged to attend OVS rehearsals
for free at 7-10 p.m. Friday, May 2, and 1-4 p.m. Saturday.
Open rehearsals are an excellent way for new audiences
to grow comfortable with symphonic music.
The May 3 corporate sponsor is Baker & Hostetler.
Funding for the Ohio Valley Symphony is provided by
the Ann Carson Dater Endowment. Further support is
provided by the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that
funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen
Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
Ohio Valley Symphony Pulls at the
Heartstrings
As presidential hopefuls vie for support in both Russia
and the United States this spring, concert-goers in both
countries can agree on two perennial winners:
Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.
The Ohio Valley Symphony offers a program of
masterpieces by the two musical giants that have tugged
at the heartstrings of generations of
audiences. The March 29 performance of “The Romantics”
is at 8:00 p.m. at the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown Gallipolis. OVS Music
Director Ray Fowler conducts.
Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, known as the
Pathètique, scales the depths and heights of human
experience — painted in the elegant lilt of a waltz, a
sparkling march, and a despondent finale. A parade of
beautiful and beloved melodies mark what turned out to
be Tchaikovsky’s final work.
By the time Sergei Rachmaninov moved to the United
States to avoid the chaos following the 1917 Russian
Revolution, he already was one of the world’s most
famous composers and piano virtuosos. The Piano Concerto
No. 2 was an immediate hit at the turn of the last
century and cemented Rachmaninov’s reputation. It has
remained an audience favorite, thanks to ravishing
melodies and harmonies that have even inspired
generations of U.S. popular performers from Frank
Sinatra to Celine Dion.
LORI SIMS, piano
Soloist for the Rachmaninov is Lori Sims, an
internationally-known pianist who has performed
throughout the United States, Europe, and China. Now the
John T. Bernhard Professor of Music at Western Michigan
University, Sims is a graduate of the Yale School of
Music, where she was named most outstanding graduating
student. Her 2000 debut at New York’s Alice Tully Hall
earned a rave review from the New York Times.
FREE DANCE CLASS
Audience members will be treated to a reception
immediately after the concert in the second floor
banquet hall. There will be dancing to live music by
Gene France in the second-floor ballroom. Don't know how
to dance? You can warm up your feet before the
performance with a free dance class from 7-7:30 p.m led
by Ballroom Dance Instructor Gerald Powell. Admission is
with your OVS ticket.
TICKETS
Tickets to “The Romantics” are available through the
Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre at 426
Second Ave. in Gallipolis Ohio. The box office is open
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through
Fridays and 90 minutes prior to the concert. Call (740)
446-ARTS (2787). Prices are $22, $20 for seniors and $10
for students.
OPEN REHEARSALS
The public is also encouraged to attend OVS rehearsals
for free at 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 28, and 1-4 p.m.
Saturday. Open rehearsals are an excellent way for new
audiences to grow comfortable with symphonic music.
SPONSORSHIP
Corporate sponsor for “The Romantics” is the Gallia
County Medical Society. Funding for the Ohio Valley
Symphony is provided by the Ann Carson Dater Endowment.
Further support is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, a
state agency that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally,
educationally and economically.
FEATURED ON NEW INTERNET SHOW
What is HomeTownStation.Net?
Do you remember that local radio station
you grew up listening to?
Big city or small town, most of us had a
local station that we relied on for information and
entertainment. If we didn't get to listen to our favorite
show or announcer, we felt like we missed out on something!
Fast forward to the 21st century. and a new kind of
"station" that offers both an audio and visual experience.
HomeTownStation.Net is "on the air" 24/7, with fresh
information and entertainment. The first of several features
will be "The Chatterbox", with hostess "Dene" Wagner
Pellegrinon. The program is updated frequently as she
interviews people all across the United States who are
making a difference in their hometowns.
Ariel Founder and Ohio Valley Symphony
Manager, Lora Lynn Snow, was the featured guest as Dene
kicked off the second week of her new show. Lora and Dene
chatted about the earliest days of the Ariel from the vision
Lora had 21 years ago to create a symphony orchestra in our
hometown of Gallipolis, Ohio to it’s current day status as a
polished professional orchestra that calls The Ariel-Ann
Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre “home.”
To hear the program:
click on “Listen to Dene”
click on “Today’s Program” (if you are checking on January 22)
After Jan. 22: click on “Archives” and select show # 012208
April 22, 2006 Columbus Dispatch article about
the Grand Re-Dedication of the Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre.
Columbus Dispatch Article.
Return to Top
November 25, 2007
OVS POPS PROGRAM KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON
The elves of the Ohio Valley Symphony are ready to deck the hall -- in
the historic Morris & Dorothy Haskins Theatre of The Ariel-Ann Carson
Dater Performing Arts Centre in downtown Gallipolis, Ohio -- with the
sounds of the holiday season. Join the orchestra, under the direction
of Music Director Maestro Ray Fowler, at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 1,
for a program of traditional and familiar Christmas songs.
The evening starts with a grand flourish as the brass section of the
orchestra ring in the season with Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and Joy
to the World. Antiphonal brass quartets will perform Canzon Septimi
Toni by Gabrieli. Selections by Corelli and Bizet provide a classic
touch as well as Respighi’s hauntingly beautiful Adoration of the
Magi.
Seasonal favorites such as O Tannenbaum and The First Noel are offered
up in arrangements by the well loved pops arranger Carmen Dragon. Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is the evocative tune sung by Judy
Garland in “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The brass are featured again in
A Canadian Brass Christmas. The program is rounded out with Winter
Wonderland and I’ll Be Home for Christmas.
For the child in all of us, the OVS will perform selections from the
popular movie “The Polar Express.” No pops program would be
complete without the crack of a whip as the orchestra dashes out
Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride.
The Ohio Valley Symphony’s “Christmas Show” is the perfect way to
set your mood for the holiday season. Enjoy the ambiance of our
Victorian opera house with the beautiful holiday decor tastefully
designed and displayed by Michael Brown.
Funding for the symphony is provided by Holzer Clinic and The Ann
Carson Dater Endowment as well as by a grant from the Ohio Arts
Council, a state agency that funds and supports quality arts
experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally
and economically.
The public is encouraged to attend rehearsals for free on Friday, Nov.
30, from 7-10 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 1-4 p.m. OVS Saturday
dress rehearsals are an excellent way to introduce young children to
symphonic music.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are $22, $20 for seniors and $10 for
students, and are available at the Ariel Dater Hall box office at 428
Second Ave. Box office hours are Tuesday-Friday 9 am to 4 pm and 90
minutes prior to the show. For more information call (740) 446-2787
(ARTS).
Return to Top
GRACEFUL GHOSTS
November 3, 2007
Link to Graceful Ghosts Pictures
Ghosties, goblins and witches are all part of the brew when
The Ohio Valley Symphony presents “Graceful Ghosts”
Saturday, November 3 at 8 pm. The Morris & Dorothy
Haskins Theatre will host a variety of spectres as the
costumed musicians take the stage at the Ariel-Ann
Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre at 426 Second Ave.
in Gallipolis, Ohio. Music Director, Ray Fowler, promises
you an evening of hauntingly beautiful and ghoulishly
familiar music that will stir your emotions and fire your
imagination.
“Graceful Ghosts,” is a program of music that will send
more shivers down your spine than a chilly November
night. Venture onto Bald Mountain to sneak a peek at a
witches’ sabbath in Modest Mussorgsky’s classic tone
painting, so real that Walt Disney chose it for the original
“Fantasia.” Alfred Hitchcock would smile at his TV theme
song, Funeral March of a Marionette by Charles Gounod.
The program also includes excerpts from Mussorgsky’s
Pictures at an Exhibition in their spectacular
orchestrations by Maurice Ravel. The percussion section
is featured in the title selection, Graceful Ghosts.
At the end of the evening the 2007 Maestro for a Moment
will be “unmasked” and escorted to the stage to conduct
John Phillip Sousa’s Stars & Stripes Forever. Campaigning
for the honor are William Beegle and Dr. Nicholas Economides.
The annual event is a good natured competition to see who
can raise the most funds to help support the orchestra
throughout the year. Every dollar is a vote for your favorite
and patrons are urged to vote early and vote often.
Funding for the symphony is also provided by Holzer Medical
Center and The Ann Carson Dater Endowment as well as a
grant from the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council is a
state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences
to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally
and economically.
The Ariel-Dater box office is open Tuesdays through
Fridays 9-4 and 90 minutes prior to shows. Tickets for
Graceful Ghosts are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and
$10 for students. Tickets can be purchased online
at www.ohiovalleysymphony.org. For more information,
call 740-446-ARTS (2787).
Return to Top
BROADWAY AND BEYOND
September 26, 2007
Ohio Valley Symphony bound for Broadway in season opener
There's nothing like autumn in New York, but there's no need
to wait in an airport line, drive for hours or negotiate cabs
and subways. Let the Ohio Valley Symphony take you to
the Great White Way for "Broadway and Beyond," opening
concert of the orchestra's 18th season.
Broadway star Mark McVey joins the OVS — southeast Ohio's
only professional orchestra — at 8 p.m. Oct. 6 on the stage of
the historic Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre in downtown Gallipolis. The Huntington, W.Va.,
native joins the orchestra, under music director Ray Fowler,
for a tribute to America’s own music. He will perform
songs by some of the stage’s greatest composers, from
Irving Berlin to Andrew Lloyd Webber and from Leonard
Bernstein to Richard Rodgers. Audiences will leave the
Ariel humming such classics as “All the Things You Are,”
“Anything Goes,” “Music of the Night,” “One,” “Somethings
Coming,” and “The Way We Were.”
Mark McVey made his Broadway debut as Jean Valjean in
"Les Miserables" — after having won the Helen Hayes
Award for Outstanding Actor while on tour with the
show. He has sung the stirring role nearly 3,000 times,
and he was the first American to perform it in London's
West End. McVey has appeared in nationally-televised
performances with the Boston Pops and the National
Symphony, under Marvin Hamlisch, in a Christmas
special for U.S. troops overseas.
McVey has released three CDs, "Broadway and Beyond,"
"If You Really Knew Me," his crossover into the adult
contemporary world, and the inspirational "One
Among Few."
After the concert, come to the Dater Centre's ballroom
for a reception, featuring dancing accompanied by
live music. Have two left feet? Dr. Joe Li offers a
beginner lesson in ballroom dancing from 7-7:30 p.m.
Admission to both is included with the price of an OVS
concert ticket.
McVey will be offering a Masterclass 10-11 am the day
of the concert on the Ariel stage. Tickets are $5 for
students and $7 for adults. McVey will be discussing
vocal techniques, working in musicals, the business
aspects of working on Broadway, etc.
The Morris & Dorothy Haskins Theatre of the Ariel-
Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre is at 426
Second Ave. in Gallipolis, Ohio. Tickets for
"Broadway and Beyond" cost $25 for adults and $23 for
seniors and are available at www.ohiovalleysymphony.org
or by calling the theatre's box office at (740)446-ARTS
(2787). The box office is open Tuesdays through
Fridays 9 am to 4 pm and 90 minutes prior to the
show.
Funding for the symphony is provided by The Ann
Carson Dater Endowment.
The OVS is also supported by the Ohio Arts Council.
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds
and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen
Ohio communities culturally, educationally
and economically.
Return to Top
OHIO VALLEY SYMPHONY
2007-08 SEASON
From Baroque to Broadway and from goblins to Christmas cheer,
join the Ohio Valley Symphony for the 2007-08 subscription
season. The 18th season of southeast Ohio’s only professional
orchestra lights the stage of the historic Ariel-Ann Carson Dater
Performing Arts Centre in downtown Gallipolis for five programs —
all under the direction of music director Ray Fowler — that will
stir your emotions and fire your imagination. All concerts take
place on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. in the Morris & Dorothy
Haskins Theatre of the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts
Centre at 426 Second Avenue in Gallipolis, Ohio.
You’ll hear young and exciting guest artists ranging from
Broadway’s Mark McVey to award-winning Canadian-Korean
’cellist Soo Bae and pianist Lori Sims. They’ll bring to life
beloved, familiar music by favorite composers from the 17th
through the late 20th century.
Mark McVey joins the OVS on Oct. 6 for “Broadway and
Beyond,” a season-opening tribute to America’s own music:
Broadway. He and the orchestra will perform songs by some
of the stage’s greatest composers in works from the Great
White Way’s Golden Age and its current heyday.
From Irving Berlin to Andrew Lloyd Webber, from Leonard
Bernstein to Richard Rodgers, audiences will leave the
Ariel humming such classics as “All the Things You
Are,” “Anything Goes,” “Music o the Night,” “One,”
“Somethings Coming,” and “The Way We Were.”
Let your Halloween last — at least until Nov. 3, when the
OVS offers a night of “Ghostly Hallows,” music that will
send more shivers down your spine than a chilly November
night. Venture onto Bald Mountain to sneak a peek at a
witches’ sabbath in Modest Mussorgsky’s classic tone
painting, so real that Walt Disney chose it for the original
“Fantasia.” Alfred Hitchcock would smile at his TV theme
song, “Funeral March of a Marionette” by Charles Gounod.
The program also includes excerpts from Mussorgsky’s
“Pictures at an Exhibition” in their spectacular
orchestrations by Maurice Ravel.
Then get an early start on happier holidays with “A
Christmas Show” on Dec. 1. Brass music from the late
1600s by Giovanni Gabrieli and the “Farandole,” including
the “March of the Kings,” by Georges Bizet start the
program with a classic touch. Then, the OVS warms you
up with a variety of favorite modern holiday carols and songs.
In Spring, it’s not just a young man’s thoughts that turn to
romance. Join the OVS and pianist Lori Sims on
March 29, 2008, for “The Romantics,” a program of titans
of classical music. Triumph meets tragedy in two pillars
of symphonic music as Sims solos in Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto No. 2, and Fowler leads the orchestra through
Tchaikovsky’s final masterpiece, the Symphony No. 6,
“Pathetique.”
Soo Bae helps the OVS celebrate the end of the season
May 3, 2008, performing Robert Schumann’s soulful
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra. Fowler then brings
the year to a sunny, rousing end with Johannes
Brahms’ massive Symphony No. 2.
Season tickets are $100 and Senior Citizens are $90.
Student tickets are $50 or the entire family can
purchase a season ticket for $275. Select balcony
tickets with limited leg room are available for $50.
Call 740-446-ARTS (2787) for more information.
Return to Top
THE OHIO VALLEY SYMPHONY
The Ohio Valley Symphony, the only
professional orchestra in the Ohio River Valley encompassing Gallipolis,
Ohio and Point Pleasant, West Virginia, is the resident ensemble of the
1895 Ariel Dater Hall. In 2005, benefactor Ann Carson Dater purchased
and donated the building to provide a permanent home for the symphony,
the youth orchestra and the performing arts. Designed around the Ariel
Theatre's magnificent acoustics, the OVS,
under the direction of Maestro Ray Fowler, performs
a wide variety of music selected to satisfy every musical appetite.
In 2008 The OVS helped dedicate the new state of
the art Lillian and Paul Wedge Auditorium located at the Point Pleasant
Junior/Senior High School Complex.
OVS musicians hail from six states and play with
a number of other prestigious orchestras such as the Columbus,
Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, West Virginia, Roanoke, Toledo and
Pro Musica Symphonies. Some of the musicians are freelancers who play in
more than one ensemble; many also teach at various institutions such as
Ohio University, Marshall University, Ohio State University, Cincinnati
Conservatory, West Virginia University, Shenandoah Conservatory and
Capitol University.
World class soloists, such as pianist Cecile Licad,
baritone Reginald Pindell, pianists Richard Syracuse and Brian Ganz, jazz
artists Chris Vadala (of the Chuck Mangione band),
Roger Hines (Music Director for Ray Charles
and Diane Schurr) and most recently, Broadway star Mark McVey,
join the OVS in making its music.
Several OVS members live close
enough to commute, while others come and stay for the two- or three-day
period that takes the orchestra from the first rehearsal to the concert.
Local residents provide housing for one or two musicians which gives
them the opportunity to become acquainted and often results in a lasting
friendship.
The OVS has the unusual policy of "open" rehearsals which means that
anyone can walk in during a rehearsal and listen to the music-making as
it unfolds...the only request is that visitors remain quiet during their
visit. On concert weekends, full rehearsals are Friday from 7-10 p.m.
and Saturday from 1-4 p.m. Open rehearsals benefit those whose schedules
or circumstances preclude their attending the 8 p.m. Saturday concerts.
Saturday afternoon rehearsals are an ideal opportunity for parents to
bring children who may be too young to sit through an entire concert but
who can benefit from hearing live, professional music. The OVS offers a
five-concert subscription series with one or two concerts in the fall
and two or three in the spring sandwiched around a Holiday Concert which
is the first weekend in December. Return to Top
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