Musicians of the Clinton Symphony Orchestra and their friends will present their annual “Music of Friendships” concert of chamber music at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clinton. The concert is the fourth event in the Symphony’s 70th anniversary season.
On the program are a piano trio (piano, violin, cello) by Antonin Dvorak, five madrigals from the 16th century sung by a quartet of musicians from RiverChor, and a woodwind quintet by Afro-American composer William Grant Still.
The trio performers are pianist Nadia Wirchnianski of Lanark, violinist Asa Church of Sterling, and cellist Ann Balderson of Rock Island. All three are regular performers with the Clinton Symphony. The trio was composed in January of 1876 and first performed with the composer at the piano.
The madrigal quartet is composed of soprano Brooke Logan, alto Sara Dunne, tenor Noah Strausser, and bass Karl Wolf. All four are members of Clinton’s RiverChor. Wolf is RiverChor’s conductor, and is secretary of the Symphony’s board of directors. Logan is RiverChor’s manager, and a member of the Symphony’s trumpet section. They have chosen five spirited madrigals for this performance.
William Grant Still broke many barriers, including being the first Afro-American to write orchestral works and have them performed by major symphony orchestras, as well as being the first to lead a major American symphony. Flutist Crystal Duffee, oboist Tamara Byram Mahl, clarinetist Elizabeth Matera, bassoonist Thomas Wood, and French hornist Bianca Sierra will perform his Miniatures for Woodwind Quintet. All are regular musicians of the Clinton Symphony Orchestra. The “Miniatures” include three folk melodies from the USA, one from Mexico, and one from Peru.
“It’s a wonderfully warm way to spend a cold January afternoon,” Robert Whipple, the Symphony’s Executive Director, said. “It’s music written for friends, to be played by and heard by friends.”
Tickets are available at the door at $20 for adults. All students are admitted free of charge, and an adult accompanying a student is admitted for half-price. Season ticket holders are also admitted at no additional charge.
Full information, including program notes for the music to be performed and biographical sketches of the performing musicians, is available on the Symphony’s website at www.clintonsymphony.org.
Clinton Symphony Orchestra musicians (from left) violinist Asa Church, pianist Nadia Wirschnianski, and cellost Ann Balderson prepare for Sunday’s “Music of Friendships” concert at 2:00 p.m. in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Clinton. (Photo by Clinton Symphony Orchestra)
