Albany Symphony to Present a Beautiful, Thought-Provoking January Program celebrating Beethoven's “Pastoral” Symphony, also including Beethoven-inspired works by Carlos Simon, and Daniel Roumain

Acclaimed Spoken-word artist and poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph appears as soloist/speaker in DBR’s Forgiveness

ALBANY, NY – The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is thrilled to present two concerts in January as well as an open rehearsal for students and symphony donors. The program will feature Beethoven’s glorious evocation of nature, his “Pastoral” Symphony (Symphony No. 6), and recent works by Carlos Simon and Daniel Bernard Roumain at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 12 at 3:00pm.  An open rehearsal will take place on Thursday, January 9 at 7:00pm. Educators and students interested in attending the open rehearsal should contact the Albany Symphony staff team at PatronServices@AlbanySymphony.com or (518) 465-4755.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, known as the Pastoral Symphony, was completed in 1808. Beethoven found solace in the natural world from the isolation he felt as a result of his deafness. He spent countless hours wandering the woods outside Vienna, conceptualizing his new works. The Sixth Symphony is his heartfelt, deeply emotional depiction of nature and of his personal struggle to come to grips with his disability. Beethoven’s first sketches of the Pastoral Symphony appeared in 1802 and the work was composed simultaneously with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. He premiered both symphonies in Vienna in 1808. The symphony’s five movements each evoke a different aspect of nature in this most programmatic of his symphonies.

Composer Daniel Bernard Roumain and spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph collaborated on Forgiveness, Suite for Spoken Word & Orchestra, which was presented at the Albany Symphony’s American Music Festival in 2023. The work, its texts, and the themes it explores, grew out of writing workshops Joseph led with members of the Capital Region community during the orchestra’s three-year Convergence Project. “This work is a marriage between Marc’s words, my music, and our ideas of how words and (orchestral) music can have impact and power as we navigate the roles we have to play within a culture in which we frequently have an inability to see, hear, and forgive one another. Each of the four movements presents Marc’s ideas on forgiveness (i.e., 'Redemption', Reconciliation', 'Discernment', and 'Grace'). The music responds to these concepts in various ways at different points: as underscoring; as commentary; as a raucous, percussive crowd; or as a 'Greek Chorus', where Marc’s call elicits a response from the brass, woodwinds and string sections,” said Roumain.

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) is a composer who sees his craft as a collaboration with artists, organizations and communities within the farming and framing of ideas. He is a prolific and endlessly collaborative composer, performer, educator, and social entrepreneur. Roumain has worked with artists from J’NaiBridges, Lady Gaga and Philip Glass to Bill T. Jones, Marin Alsop and Anna Deavere Smith.

Marc Bamuthi Joseph is Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. He is a 2017 TED Global Fellow, an inaugural recipient of the Guggenheim Social Practice Initiative, and an honoree of the United States Artists Rockefeller Fellowship. He is also the winner of the 2011 Herb Alpert Award in Theatre, and an inaugural recipient of the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award. In the Spring of 2022, he was elected into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was most recently welcomed into the 2023-24 Emerson Collective Dial Fellowship. An internationally renowned cultural strategist, Bamuthi is the co-creator of the paradigm-shifting allyship training HEALING FORWARD™. He has lectured in 25 different countries and his TED talk “You Have The Rite” has been viewed more than five million times.

“We are so proud to feature such thought provoking, socially committed composers and creators on our January programs,” said Albany Symphony Heinrich Medicus Music Director, David Alan Miller.  “The heroic spirit of Beethoven pervades these programs. Not only are we performing one of Beethoven’s most beloved and unique symphonies, but Daniel and Marc’s collaboration and Carlos’ Beethoven homage strongly reflect the Beethovenian ideals of truth, equality, and a celebration of the unquenchable power of the human spirit. I promise this will be an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience, especially for anyone who has not witnessed one of Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s mesmerizing spoken word performances.”  

Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers was inspired by a 1815 journal entry from Beethoven’s notebook, a quote from Homer’s Iliad. “Using the beautifully fluid harmonic structure of the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s 7th symphony, I have composed musical gestures that are representative of the unpredictable ways of fate. Jolting stabs, coupled with an agitated groove with every persona. Frenzied arpeggios in the strings that morph into an ambiguous cloud of free-flowing running passages depicts the uncertainty of life that hovers over us,” said Simon. “We know that Beethoven strived to overcome many obstacles in his life and documented his aspirations to prevail, despite his ailments. Whatever the specific reason for including this particularly profound passage from the Iliad, in the end, it seems that Beethoven relinquished to fate. Fate now conquers.”

The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, visit albanysymphony.com or call the Box Office at 518-694-3300

Albany Symphony to Present a Vibrant December Holiday Classical Concert to Dazzle and Delight, with music by Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi, plus a World Premiere Guitar Concerto by Nicky Sohn

Albany Symphony to Present a Vibrant December Holiday Classical Concert to Dazzle and Delight, with music by Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi, plus a World Premiere Guitar Concerto by Nicky Sohn 

 Concert Soloists Include Super-Star Guitarist Bokyung Byun and Karen Hosmer & Grace Shryock (Oboes)

 Albany Symphony Introduces New Musicians Including Concertmaster Christina Bouey 

ALBANY, NY – The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is excited to present two December concerts featuring holiday classical music and a world premiere guitar concerto at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy on Saturday, December 21 at 7:30pm and Sunday, December 22 at 3:00pm. 

The concert includes Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Symphony No. 35 by Mozart, Sinfonia from “Christmas Oratorio” by Bach, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Oboes and Nicky Sohn’s Guitar Concerto, which is a world premiere. The guitar soloist is Bokyung Byun and oboe soloists are Karen Hosmer and Grace Shryock, both long-time members of the Albany Symphony. 

“We are thrilled to present two gorgeous holiday concerts, featuring music by some of the greatest composers of all time,” said Albany Symphony Music Director, David Alan Miller.  “The concert features our phenomenal Albany Symphony oboists, Karen Hosmer and Grace Shryock, in Vivaldi’s fabulous Double Oboe Concerto, as well as TWO of Mozart’s most famous works, plus some radiant Bach to celebrate the season. We’re also extremely excited to present the world premiere of Nicky Sohn’s new Guitar Concerto.  It’s a unique blend of jazz and classical, think Bill Evans jamming with Debussy. We hope you’ll make this beautiful program part of your holiday schedule.” 

The program will begin with one of the most famous pieces of all time: Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, composed in 1787, when Mozart was 31 years old. The concert will also feature Mozart’s brilliant Symphony No. 35, the “Haffner” Symphony. It was written in 1782 as background entertainment for the ennoblement of Sigmund Haffner. Mozart liked the music so much that he later re-worked it into a full-scale symphony.

Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Oboes features Albany Symphony’s own Karen Hosmer and Grace Shryock. Principal Oboist Karen Hosmer also plays oboe and English Horn with the Springfield, MA Symphony and is principal oboe of the Kinderhook Broad Street Orchestra. She is a professor in the SUNY Schenectady School of Music where she was honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has been a concerto soloist in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and, in Lithuania, where she recorded Frank McCarty’s Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra. In addition to the Albany Symphony, Grace Shryock is also a member of the Boston Lyric Opera and the Springfield Symphony. Additionally, she was the Acting English Horn of the New York Philharmonic for four years and was the English Horn soloist in their performance of Aaron Copland's "Quiet City." She also served as the Acting Principal English Horn and Assistant Principal Oboe with the Richmond Symphony. She has made appearances with the Boston, St. Louis, Baltimore, New Jersey, and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, the Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Ballet, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and The Knights, as well as many other orchestras on the East Coast. 

The world premiere Guitar Concerto by Nicky Sohn evolved out of a long friendship with Bokyung Byun. It has been a dream project of theirs for years. Bokyung has been one of the most important people in Nicky Sohn’s life for almost a decade. She has not only been a major supporter and musical advocate, but also the musician who introduced Nicky to the beauties of the classical guitar. Nicky explains that when Bokyung enters the stage, it feels as if the whole world stops, and only Bokyung and her guitar exist. “Being a composer surely feels magical at times. I was incredibly lucky to have met and become best friends with one of the leading female guitarists in the world nearly a decade ago. Somehow, I got even luckier to have the chance to write for her and the fantastic Albany Symphony! I am so grateful to Maestro David Alan Miller for giving me the opportunity to make my dream come true and for trusting Bokyung's and my vision to come together for this special piece. It's been an absolute joy to grow together as musicians, finding our voices and spaces in this world. This collaboration has allowed us to expand our horizons like never before. Being part of a holiday concert is also very exciting for me. It will feel like celebrating our friendship and our love and passion for music with audiences, sharing such joy,” said Nicky Sohn. The three movements of the concerto each explore different moods, tempi, and atmospheres. They share recognizable original melodic components that recycle throughout the piece, transforming into different textures and motifs. This process resembles their lives and friendship throughout the years, constantly evolving yet always retaining a core essence. 

The Albany Symphony recently held auditions and invited ten brilliant musicians to join the orchestra, including Christina Bouey (concertmaster), Amelia Bailey (violin), Ariana Cappon (violin), Colin Laursen (violin), Eliane Menzel (violin), Alisa Wyrick (violin), Caleb Breidenbaugh (principal percussion), Lauren Henning (principal bassoon), Sarah Bobrow (second bassoon), and Daniel Ketter (principal clarinet). Learn more about the musicians of the Albany Symphony at albanysymphony.com/meet-the-orchestra.

The Albany Symphony’s new concertmaster Christina Bouey, has been hailed by the New York Times for playing “beautifully;” by the New York Post: “When violinist Christina Bouey spun out that shimmering tune, I thought I died and went to heaven;” and by Opera News, for playing “with exquisite, quivering beauty.” She is praised by Seen and Heard International, “Bouey responded with the kind of beguiling poetry that technical brilliance alone cannot liberate.” Christina most recently won 1st prize at the Waldo Mayo Violin Competition which resulted in her concerto debut at Carnegie Hall. Other prizes include the Grand Prize at the Vietnam International Chamber Competition, 1st Prize at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in the chamber division, Grand Prize at the Fischoff Competition, 1st place in the American Prize, and 2nd prize at the Osaka International Chamber Competition. 

“We are so excited to welcome these 10 extraordinary musicians to our orchestra family,” said Maestro Miller.  “They are all absolutely brilliant artists who won highly competitive auditions. We are particularly honored and delighted to welcome Christina Bouey as our new concertmaster; she is an absolutely world-class artist, as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. We can’t wait to share with you how beautiful our great orchestra sounds!”

The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, visit albanysymphony.com or call the Box Office at 518-694-3300.

Albany Symphony Thrilled to Welcome 10 New Orchestra Musicians – Including New Concertmaster Christina Bouey.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager 

(518) 694-3300 ex 110 · jimk@albanysymphony.com 

Albany Symphony Thrilled to Welcome 10 New Orchestra Musicians – Including New Concertmaster Christina Bouey. 

The Albany Symphony recently held auditions and appointed ten new talented musicians including Christina Bouey (concertmaster), Amelia Bailey (violin), Ariana Cappon (violin), Colin Laursen (violin), Eliane Menzel (violin), Alisa Wyrick (violin), Caleb Breidenbaugh (principal percussion), Lauren Henning (principal bassoon), Sarah Bobrow (second bassoon), and Daniel Ketter (principal clarinet). Learn more about the musicians of the Albany Symphony at albanysymphony.com/meet-the-orchestra. Headshots of new members are available here. 

“We are so excited to welcome these ten extraordinary musicians to our orchestra family,” said David Alan Miller, Heinrich Medicus Music Director. “They are all absolutely brilliant artists who won highly competitive auditions. We are particularly honored and delighted to welcome Christina Bouey as our new concertmaster; she is an absolutely world-class artist, as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. We can’t wait to share with you how beautiful our great orchestra sounds!” 

The Albany Symphony’s new Concertmaster, Christina Bouey, is hailed by the New York Times for playing “beautifully,” the New York Post, “When violinist Christina Bouey spun out that shimmering tune, I thought I died and went to heaven,” and by Opera News, for playing “with exquisite, quivering beauty.” She is praised by Seen and Heard International, “Bouey responded with the kind of beguiling poetry that technical brilliance alone cannot liberate.” Christina most recently won 1st prize at the Waldo Mayo Violin Competition which resulted in her concerto debut at Carnegie Hall. Other prizes include the Grand Prize at the Vietnam International Chamber Competition, 1st Prize at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in the chamber division, Grand Prize at the Fischoff Competition, 1st place in the American Prize, and 2nd prize at the Osaka International Chamber Competition. Christina graduated from Manhattan School of Music, studying with Glenn Dicterow (former New York Philharmonic concertmaster) among others, and earned her Bachelor of Music from The Boston Conservatory. As a violinist, she performs with the Ulysses String Quartet, in residence at WGBH, and is an assistant professor at Ithaca College. Christina is also a coloratura soprano and composer. 

Section Violinist, Amelia Bailey moved to NYC to attend the Manhattan School of Music, where she completed a Master of Music in 2023, studying under Sheryl Staples. A native of Virginia, she graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with degrees in Music Performance and Environmental Science. Amelia began violin at age 3 and studied with members of the National Symphony, as well as participated in the NSO’s Youth Fellowship program growing up. She has attended festivals such as the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute, Curtis Young Artist Summer Program, and others. Outside of music, Amelia enjoys plant-keeping, photography, and spending time on her family’s farm. 

Section Violinist, Ariana Cappon has actively performed as a recitalist and collaborator since her solo debut at age 14. She has been featured on series such as the Young Arts Showcase at Lincoln Center, Richardson Chamber Players at Princeton University, St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University, Downtown at Grace in White Plains, Riverside Arts, among others. She is currently a grant recipient of Chamber Music America as a member of the Ondine String Quartet. In 2019-2020, she toured in a quintet for Holland America’s “Lincoln Center Stage”. She has appeared in numerous festivals, including the Maine Chamber Music Seminar as a fellow, Orford Musique, Fontainebleau Academie, and the Heifetz Institute. As a New York City based freelancer, she performs regularly with Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the North-Eastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. In addition to classical violin, she enjoys playing baroque, tango, and Afro-Cuban Charanga.  

Section Violinist, Colin Laursen, originally from Durham, North Carolina, studied Violin and Composition at Cleveland Institute of Music, with William Preucil and Keith Fitch. Colin has won the Winston Salem Symphony concerto competition, Durham Symphony concerto competition, and second place in the North Carolina Symphony concerto competition. At CIM, Colin was awarded the Ernest Bloch scholarship for composer-performers, as well as the Women's Committee prize for Composition and Performance. In the summer of 2012, Colin was a semi-finalist in the second Buenos Aires International Violin Competition. As a composer, Colin was a national finalist for the MTNA Composition Competition in 2010 and 2011 and won first place at the state level in 2008 and 2009. In North Carolina, Colin studied violin with David Russell, and composition with Julie Harris and Lawrence Dillon. Colin has participated in masterclasses with Tim Fain, Cho-Liang Lin, Joseph Silverstein, Lawrence Dutton and Elisabeth Pitcairn. 

Section Violinist, Eliane Menzel was born and raised in Germany. A student of Prof. Katrin Scholz in the pre-college division at the Academy of Arts Bremen from 2008-2017, she was concertmaster of the German Youth String Orchestra from 2014-2018 with which she performed on concert tours throughout Europe. In 2015 she did a broadcast production of S.Saëns, Rondo Capricciso at the NDR Hamburg which was transmitted in 2016. In the same year she won the 1st prize at the VIII. International competition "Szymon Goldberg". 
Eliane has attended Festivals such as the "Young Artists Program" founded by Pinchas Zukerman, the “Heifetz International Music Institute" and the “Keshet Eilon Mastercourse“ as well as masterclasses with Rachel Podger, Rainer Honeck, Silvia Marcovici, Igor Ozim,Hagai Shaham, Shmuel Ashkenasy, Ilya Kaler and Itzhak Rashkovsky. She attended the Manhattan School of Music in the "Zukerman Performance Program" with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec from 2018 - 2022 and is now, after the completion of her Bachelor of Music degree pursuing her Master's Degree at the Juilliard School of Music with Joel Smirnoff. She is a scholarship recipient from the DAAD and a recipient of the Gluck Fellowship 2023-2024. 
As a soloist Eliane Menzel has performed with orchestras such as the Oldenburger Schlossorchester, Kammersinfonie Oldenburg, MainKammerorchester Frankfurt, the Ensemble Bremen-Frankfurt and the Oldenburg State Orchestra. In addition, she has also performed at the German Embassy in Ottawa as well as in the German Embassy in New York and recently in Weil Hall, Carnegie Hall. She regularly performs with her father, oboist Prof. Fabian Menzel. In 2017 they started their own concert series, the “Schlosskonzerte Neuenburg” in the Castle of Neuenburg with numerous performances every year.  

Section Violinist, Alisa Wyrick is both a violinist and violist as well as an active orchestral and chamber musician in the New York area. Most recently, Alisa has been playing as a guest with the New York Philharmonic since 2016. She has been a member of the New York City Opera Orchestra since 2006. She served as Concertmaster of the South Bend Symphony, and has performed a wide variety of chamber music around the world—playing with contemporary ensembles in Japan and Hawaii commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Pearl Harbor; performing orchestral music all over the US, South America, Europe, China, and Japan; as well as solo performances in the US and Italy. As a well-rounded musician, Alisa is familiar with orchestral, opera, ballet, contemporary, chamber and solo repertoire while having performance and teaching experience around the world. 

Principal Percussionist, Caleb Breidenbaugh is an active performer all along the East Coast. In addition to the Albany Symphony, he also holds positions in the New World Symphony, the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Caleb studied at Temple University with Chris Deviney, Phil O'Banion, William Wozniak, and Alan Abel. He enjoys disc golf, board games, and backpacking with his family. 

Principal Bassoonist, Lauren Henning is a bassoonist originally from Western New York, and is currently a freelance musician in the Pittsburgh, PA area. As an orchestral musician, she is currently the Principal bassoonist of the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and is the Second bassoonist in The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She is also an active substitute in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. She has performed with the Erie Philharmonic, West Virginia Symphony, Canton Symphony, and Youngstown Symphony, to name a few. In 2021 she participated in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and Symposium where she was named one of ten finalists in the competition. In 2024, she attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival as a New Horizons Fellow. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Bassoon Performance from SUNY Fredonia, a Master’s degree in Bassoon Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and an Advanced Music Studies Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University. Her primary teachers include Laura Koepke, Barrick Stees, and Nancy Goeres. 

Bassoonist, Sarah Bobrow is an active orchestral and chamber musician based in New York City. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic. She has also been heard in a number of festivals, most recently including Spoleto Festival USA, Music Academy of the West and National Repertory Orchestra. A passionate educator, Sarah maintains a private bassoon studio and was a Music Advancement Program fellow at The Juilliard School. In 2023, she was a winner of the Keston MAX Competition, and in 2021 she was a finalist in The Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition. Sarah earned her master’s degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with Kim Laskowski and her bachelor’s degree from The Eastman School of Music where she studied with George Sakakeeny. 

Principal Clarinetist, Daniel Ketter is a recipient of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada Award of Excellence, Italian Academy of Clarinet 2021 Clarinet online contest Second Prize, Interlochen Arts Camp Fennel Scholarship, and the New York Youth Symphony Vargas-Vetter/Ukena Fellowship. He holds the Principal Clarinet position with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and has played with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in the Aurora and Horizons Tour, NJSMA Region 1 Orchestra as Principal Clarinet, and the New Jersey All-State Band as First Chair clarinet. Daniel manages a private teaching studio as well as working as a mentor in the online Clarinet Transformation Community. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia where he studied with Jose Franch-Ballester and obtained his Bachelors in Clarinet Performance.   

The Albany Symphony’s Magic of Christmas Concert to Add Sparkle, Dazzle and Delight to the Holiday Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Susan Bardack, Buzz Media Solutions 

(518) 867-7940 · susan@buzzmediasolutions.com 

Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager – Albany Symphony 

(518) 694-3300 jimk@albanysymphony.com  

The Albany Symphony’s Magic of Christmas Concert to Add Sparkle, Dazzle and Delight to the Holiday Season

Magic of Christmas at Palace Theatre – Sunday, December 8th – 3:00pm

ALBANY, NY — The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony will provide a whole lot of extra sparkle this holiday season in one of the Capital Region’s favorite holiday musical traditions.

On Sunday, December 8, The Magic of Christmas fills The Palace Theatre with festive holiday music, family fun and special guests (Ho-Ho-Ho!). The Albany Symphony and its sleigh-full of hometown talent will delight and entertain audiences of all ages with an afternoon of holiday musical favorites, a carol sing-along and a visit from the big man in the red suit!

In keeping with the Albany Symphony’s longtime role as a collaborator, the orchestra is proud to be joined by community partners, including The Music Studio, Capital District Youth Chorale, Rince go Brach (formerly Boland) School of Irish Dance, Northeast Ballet, Saratoga Springs High School Choraliers, and Schalmont High School Concert Choir.

“The holiday season is such a special time of year, and the orchestra and I love sharing the stage and making music once again with so many amazing performers from across the Capital Region. With more than 150 young people joining us onstage, “Magic of Christmas” reminds all of us how fortunate we are to live in such a culturally rich community, with so many talented, passionate young performing artists in it,” said Music Director David Alan Miller.

Sponsored in part by Price Chopper and Market 32, the concert is jam-packed with holiday classics. Like everything the Albany Symphony does, the afternoon includes a medley of familiar and brand-new tunes, including Joy to the World, Sing Noel, Santa’s Holly Jolly Little Christmas, Nutcracker selections with dancers, and much more. In traditional joyful fanfare, audiences join in a Christmas sing-along to close the program.

The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, visit albanysymphony.com or call the Box Office at 518-694-3300.

Albany Symphony to present majestic program of Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, and a gorgeous new Cello Concerto by Joan Tower, featuring Cello Soloist, Raman Ramakrishnan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Susan Bardack, Buzz Media Solutions 

(518) 867-7940 · susan@buzzmediasolutions.com 

Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager – Albany Symphony 

(518) 694-3300 jimk@albanysymphony.com  

Concerts, November 16 and 17, will take place at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 

 ALBANY, NY – Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is thrilled to present a dazzling program which includes Smetana’s “Moldau”, Joan Tower’s Cello Concerto, “A New Day” and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” The concerts will take place at the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday, November 16, at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 17, at 3:00pm.   

“We are so excited to share this gorgeous program with you,” said Music Director David Alan Miller.  “When I heard Joan Tower’s new Cello Concerto, “A New Day,” an homage to her life partner, Jeff, who passed away recently, I knew I just had to share it with our Capital Region audience. It is such a luminous work, imbued with love, passion, and the wisdom of age. It is always such a joy to welcome Joan back to our community; she is not only one of the greatest composers of our time, but a dear friend of the Albany Symphony. For Joan’s work, we will be joined by a wonderful cellist, Raman Ramakrishnan, a professor and colleague of Joan’s at Bard College Conservatory of Music.  Our program also includes Dvořák’s iconic Symphony ‘From the New World,’ essentially the work that set American music on its course.  No orchestra plays this masterpiece more beautifully or authentically than our Albany Symphony, which is so steeped in American music.  Smetana’s ‘Moldau’ completes the program, and celebrates the ‘undercurrent’ of our season-long theme, Water Music. We can’t wait to share all this great music with you in the acoustically perfect Troy Savings Bank Music Hall!”  

The evening opens with the flowing, lyrical, “Moldau,” by Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, which evokes the Vlatava River (the Moldau). The piece evokes the composer’s deep love of his homeland. “This composition depicts the course of the Moldau. It sings of its first two springs, one warm the other cold, rising in the Bohemian Forest, watches the streams as they join and follows the flow of the river through fields and woods... a meadow where the peasants are celebrating a wedding. In the silver moonlight the river nymphs frolic, castles and palaces float past, as well as ancient ruins growing out of the wild cliffs. The Moldau foams and surges in the Rapids of St. John, then flows in a broad stream toward Prague.” 

 “A New Day,” written in 2021 by GRAMMY Award-Winning composer Joan Tower, will feature cellist Raman Ramakrishnan. It is inscribed "with love to Jeff—my partner of 48 years." In her program note, Tower reflected, "While composing this piece, I realized that our long time together was getting shorter, becoming more and more precious with each new day..."  “A New Day” is in four movements: “Daybreak,” “Working Out,” “Mostly Alone,” and “Into the Night.”  The piece has received rave reviews. Joan Tower is widely regarded as one of the most important American composers living today. During a career spanning more than 50 years, she has made lasting contributions to musical life in the United States as composer, performer, conductor, and educator. Her works have been commissioned by major ensembles, soloists, and orchestras across the country and the world.  In 1990, Tower became the first woman to win the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for her composition, Silver Ladders. She was the first composer chosen for the Ford Made in America consortium commission of 65 orchestras. She is a professor at Bard College Conservatory of Music.  

A member of the Horszowski Trio, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan, has performed across North America, Europe, India, Japan, and in Hong Kong, and recorded for Bridge Records and Avie Records. He was a  founding member of the Daedalus Quartet, and played with the quartet for 11 years.  Ramakrishnan was born in Athens, Ohio and grew up in East Patchogue, New York. His father is a molecular biologist and his mother is the children's book author and illustrator Vera Rosenberry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University and a master’s degree in music from The Juilliard School. He lives in New York City with his wife, the violist Melissa Reardon, and their young son. He plays a Neapolitan cello made by Vincenzo Jorio in 1837. 

 The evening concludes with one of the most beloved symphonies of all time, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” The piece was composed in 1893 while Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. It premiered at Carnegie Hall to ecstatic acclaim. Dvorak conceived the piece as a blueprint for future American composers to find their uniquely American voices.  It is an anthem to America, and reflects Dvorak’s great interest in Spirituals and Native American Music.  Astronaut Neil Armstrong took a tape recording of the symphony on the Apollo 11 mission, the first moon landing, in 1969. 

The 2024-2025 season runs through the American Music Festival in June. It includes the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a Symphony Side-by-Side with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Magic of Christmas, Tiny Tots concerts for young people, and more! Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, visit albanysymphony.com or call the Box Office at 518-694-3300. 

Albany Symphony to begin 2024-2025 Season on October 19 at Palace Theatre in downtown Albany, NY

Susan Bardack, Buzz Media Solutions

(518) 867-7940 · susan@buzzmediasolutions.com

 Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager - Albany Symphony

(518) 465-4755 x 110 - jimk@albanysymphony.com

Featuring Tchaikovsky’s mighty First Piano Concerto with soloist Yuval Chen, Multi-GRAMMY Award-Winning Composer, Michael Daugherty, and much, much more! 

 Celebratory After-Party to Follow Program 

 ALBANY, NY – The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is thrilled to open its 2024-2025 season, which features Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Michael Daugherty’s Passacaglia in Primary Colors, and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable.” The concert will take place at the Palace Theatre in Albany on Saturday, October 19, beginning at 7:30pm. A celebratory reception will follow:  tickets.albanysymphony.com 

 “We are thrilled to launch our 2024-2025 season with a gorgeous, passionate program celebrating the glory of great music,” said Music Director David Alan Miller. “We’ll open with a dazzling orchestral tour-de-force by our longtime friend, composer Michael Daugherty. We are so excited to welcome the brilliant young pianist, Yuval Chen, to join us for the centerpiece of our program, Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking Piano Concerto No. 1.  The program will conclude with Carl Nielsen’s amazing orchestral masterpiece, his Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable,” which captures in music the “life force” which makes all creation possible. Throughout the season, we invite everyone to join us for bold explorations of extraordinary, life-changing music. As we celebrate 95 years of glorious music new and old, we hope you’ll join us for the journey!”  

 Multiple GRAMMY Award-winning composer Michael Daugherty has achieved international recognition, and is currently one of the ten most-performed American composers of concert music. His orchestral music, recorded by Naxos over the last two decades, has earned six GRAMMY Awards, including Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 2011 for Deus ex Machina, and in 2017, for Tales of Hemingway. Daugherty was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and is the son of a dance-band drummer and the oldest of five brothers, all professional musicians. As a young person, Daugherty studied composition with many of the preeminent composers of the 20th century including Pierre Boulez, Jacob Druckman, and György Ligeti. Daugherty was also an assistant to jazz arranger Gil Evans. Daugherty is Professor of Composition at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where he is a mentor to many of today’s most talented young composers. 

 Passacaglia in Primary Colors began life as the final movement of Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol, which was commissioned and premiered by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2021 in celebration of the orchestra’s 125th anniversary. It now also exists as a stand-alone piece. “My work was inspired by the art of Andy Warhol, famous for being the world’s most recognizable proponent of Pop Art, and for his wry quotation: ‘In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes,’” said Daugherty.  Through his portraits of icons, celebrities and commercial objects, Warhol developed a provocative hybrid of realism and abstraction expressed through bright colors and repetition. In 1994, the Andy Warhol Museum opened in Pittsburgh with the most complete collection of Warhol’s artwork and artifacts. 

 Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, is arguably the most famous and most recognizable piano concerto in music history. It is famed for sequences of pounding chords and extraordinary virtuosity on the part of the soloist.  Its original dedicatee, Nikolas Rubenstein, refused to perform it, claiming it was impossible to play.  It was premiered instead in 1875 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Hans von Bülow. 

 Pianist Yuval Chen was born in Israel and has been performing as a soloist from a young age, including notable performances with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and at the esteemed Aspen Music Festival. His achievements include 1st prize at the Audience Award in the Aviv competition, and success at the International Dublin Piano Competition. Yuval's musical journey began at the age of seven, and he studied with Inna Rubin at the Ra’anana Music Center in Israel. Other teachers include Asaf Zohar at the Buchmann-Mehta School of music at Tel-Aviv University and Veda Kaplinsky at the Juilliard School, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is pursuing his Artist Diploma. 

 The program will conclude with Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable.” Composed against the backdrop of World War I, this symphony is widely considered Nielsen’s masterpiece, ending with a battle between two sets of timpani. Nielsen was thinking about a new symphony in 1914 and wrote this to his wife, Celle. “I have an idea for a new composition, which has no programme but will express what we understand by the spirit of life or manifestations of life, that is: everything that moves, that wants to live ... just life and motion, though varied – very varied – yet connected, and as if constantly on the move, in one big movement or stream. I must have a word or a short title to express this; that will be enough. I cannot quite explain what I want, but what I want is good.”  In his notes for the symphony, Nielsen refers to "the elemental will to live." 

 (Note: the world premiere of Tania León’s Pregón, commissioned by the League of American Orchestras in honor of Jesse Rosen, which was scheduled to be performed on this evening’s concert, has been postponed.) 

 The 2024-2025 season runs from October through the American Music Festival in June. It will include the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a Symphony Side-by-Side with the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Magic of Christmas, Tiny Tots concerts for young people, and more! Season subscriptions are available and offer flexibility, convenience, and price savings. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription or single tickets, visit albanysymphony.com or call the Box Office at 518-694-3300. 

Albany Symphony to present Water Music NY: More Voices

September 13, 2024

Susan Bardack, Buzz Media Solutions

(518) 867-7940 · susan@buzzmediasolutions.com

 Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager - Albany Symphony

(518) 465-4755 x 110

Project Details: www.albanysymphony.com/watermusicny

 Albany Symphony to Present Water Music NY: More Voices Festival, a Project 200 Years in the Making, Highlighting the Past, Present, and Future of the Erie Canal

State-Wide Creative Endeavor Commemorates the Bicentennial of the Completion of the Original Erie Canal.

 ALBANY, NY — The two-time GRAMMY® award-winning Albany Symphony, in partnership with the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation, presents a powerful commemorative and celebratory series of livestreamed pop-up concerts taking place along the Erie Canal, Water Music NY: More Voices. The 2024 concert series will span the state, with livestreamed concerts in unique venues in Lockport, Little Falls, Fort Hunter, Waterloo, and Savannah, NY between September 26 and November 2.

 The new three-year Water Music NY project takes inspiration from the orchestra’s original 2017 Water Music NY Festival, and opens a new chapter, exploring underrepresented voices, including those of women, immigrants, people of color, and indigenous peoples, to commemorate the bicentennial of the completion of the Erie Canal. Built between 1817 and 1825, the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo.

 “As the Erie Canal nears its third century of operation, we are excited to embark on a grand new adventure with our wonderful partners at the New York State Canal Corporation,” said Albany Symphony Music Director David Alan Miller. “We believe that by commissioning brilliant new works by some of the most compelling composers working today, and challenging them to look at the Canal through fresh eyes, the music they create will spark dialogue, expand perspectives, and energize canalside communities on what the Canal represents, and what it can become.”

 The Albany Symphony launched Water Music NY: More Voices in June at the 2024 American Music Festival. In Fall 2024, the project includes five free pop-up concerts, featuring small ensembles of Albany Symphony musicians and vocalists in unique Canal-adjacent spaces, highlighting unexplored stories of the 524-mile New York State Canal system’s past, present, and future. These free concerts will be viewable to all via online video livestream and used to promote the larger Bicentennial Commemoration events in 2025 and 2026. Through these events, Water Music NY: More Voices will shine a bright light on New York as the “State of the Arts.”

 The five pop-up concerts will take place at the Lock Tenders Tribute Monument in Lockport, Old Lock 36 (near Lock 17) in Little Falls, Schoharie Crossing State Historic

Site in Fort Hunter, Waterloo (livestream only), and the Montezuma Audubon Center at Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Featured composers Daniel Bernard Roumain, Clarice Assad, Francisco del Pino, Dai Wei, and Juhi Bansal will have their new works premiered at unique venues along the Canal.

 Daniel Bernard Roumain’s piece, Agrarian and Liquid, to be performed in Lockport, was created in partnership with librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The piece centers on abolitionist and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman and her relationship to the Erie Canal. (September 26)

 Francisco del Pino created Orenda, which is inspired by concepts of place and interconnectedness with nature. According to del Pino, this piece behaves like running water: a continuous stream of motion underneath which things change only imperceptibly over time. Floating above that tapestry, a singer chants words from the Oneida Nation’s motto: good mind, good heart, strong fire. (September 27)

 Clarice Assad’s world premiere, Earth and Water, will be performed overlooking the Schoharie Crossing Aqueduct, a New York State Historic Site. This coincides with another anniversary – the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation celebrates its centennial in 2024. This musical dialogue between earth and water explores themes of environmental change, human progress, and the relationship between nature and civilization, all centered around the construction of the Erie Canal. (September 28)

“I am deeply honored to be part of this meaningful program. The concept for this composition emerged from a conversation with Kay Olan, a celebrated Mohawk storyteller, teacher, and writer. During our discussion, Olan shared insights from the world's creation story, emphasizing the people's gratitude for the bounty of Earth and Water. She beautifully described Earth as our mother and Water as its lifeblood - an image that profoundly inspired this composition,” said Assad.

 A livestream of a no-audience performance in Waterloo features composer Dai Wei, whose piece explores the journey of Oong Ar Showe, a Chinese merchant who adeptly navigated the economic and social landscape of 19th-century America, emphasizing the crucial role of the Erie Canal in facilitating interregional trade. (November 1 via livestream)

 The mini-concert series concludes at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex where Juhi Bansal’s piece Refuge will be performed. A thriving expanse of marshes, the Montezuma Wetlands Complex has been a rich wildlife habitat for centuries, supporting many species, notably a wide variety of migratory birds. It was also a home to hunting and fishing grounds for the Haudenosaunee people. (November 2)

 Water Music NY: More Voices brings people together to explore new musical works that amplify voices that have been underrepresented. This project strives to elevate more aspects of local culture to weave an inclusive history and future of the Erie Canal.

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Albany Symphony and ESYO present: Symphony Side By Side

Albany Symphony 

19 Clinton Ave, Albany, NY 12207 

Jim Kelly, Marketing Manager 

(518) 465-4755 

jimk@albanysymphony.com 

September 4, 2024 

Albany Symphony and ESYO Present a Family-Friendly Afternoon of Music and Mentorship for all ages and abilities at the MVP Arena in Downtown Albany Monday, Oct. 14th   

ALBANY, NY – Following the success of last year’s “Movie Music Play-In,” which engaged more than 1,500 people, the Albany Symphony and the Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) are thrilled to announce an exciting afternoon of collaborative music, generously supported by the Innovation Partnership between Albany County and MVP Health Care. This special free family-friendly event, entitled “Symphony Side-by-Side,” is designed to engage and entertain audiences of all ages and will take place at the MVP Arena on October 14 at 3:00pm.   

In this unique opportunity, members of ESYO and high school and college students across the Capital Region will join forces with the Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony. Together, they will rehearse and perform, gaining invaluable experience in the professional symphonic performance process. An orchestra of Albany Symphony and ESYO students sitting literally side-by-side will perform a dynamic selection of music, ranging from blockbuster hits in film, television, and video games to beloved symphonic classics.   

The event will culminate in a grand finale featuring participation from community musicians of all ages, celebrating the uniting power of music. For the program finale, all participating audience members are invited to the stage with their own instruments in hand to add their voices to an uproarious performance of John Williams’ iconic “Imperial March,” and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”   

Adding to the day’s festivities, families are invited to enjoy a variety of activities, including an “instrument petting zoo” where children can discover and try out different musical instruments. This event promises to be a fun and enriching experience for the entire family.   

Students and community musicians can find more information, music to download and a sign-up form here: https://www.albanysymphony.com/upcomingconcerts/symphony-side-by-side. Sign up to participate by September 19!   

“The investment the Innovation Partnership made last year demonstrated that there was an interest and a need for us to make this happen again,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. “When Albany County and MVP Health Care made a commitment to open the arena for events that would encourage the community to join us for new engaging and educational experiences, we knew that by reaching out to other organizations to help us in this endeavor, we would attract new audiences. This Symphony Side-by-Side is an example of that.”   

“We are excited to open our doors for an event that brings together young musicians with the professionals in the industry.  It gives such an amazing opportunity to everyone involved, from the talented musicians who are a part of ESYO, to the seasoned professionals of the Albany Symphony,” said MVP Arena General Manager Bob Belber.  “With the generosity of the Innovation Partnership, MVP Healthcare and Albany County we are able to host this event and allow the general public to come in for free to witness all of this talent the capital region has to offer, and then to be able to let the people in attendance join in and play with them is really something to see.  We are honored to be able to be a part of this for a second year.”  

“MVP Health Care is passionate about leveraging the power of collaboration and innovation to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities,” emphasized Chris Del Vecchio, President and CEO of MVP Health Care. “To bring this vision to life, we are dedicated to forging impactful regional community coalitions that share our commitment to supporting whole-person health and well-being. Our partnership with Albany County exemplifies this commitment, and we take great pride in joining forces with the county in celebration of the extraordinary musical talent showcased by The Albany Symphony and the Empire State Youth Orchestra. This free concert will captivate people of all ages, serving as a gateway to celebrate the vibrancy and richness of our community.”  

“This event is especially meaningful in these times,” said ESYO Music Director Etienne Abelin. “In a world that can often feel divided, coming together—young and old, professional musicians, students, and music lovers—to create something beautiful is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity.”   

“The Albany Symphony and I are so excited to once again join our amazing ESYO friends, student musicians from public schools across our region, and amateur musicians from throughout our community in this thrilling celebration of the incredible power of great symphonic music,” said Albany Symphony Music Director, David Alan Miller.  “The highlight of last year’s concert was the final piece, in which more than 150 musicians from our community joined more than 150 musicians from our two orchestras in an unforgettable performance of John Williams’ “Imperial March” from Star Wars. So, dust off your violin, saxophone, trumpet, or whatever, and come on down!  We’ll also be playing lots of your favorite music from film, TV, and video games, along with some classical hits.  We want to give a big “thank you” to Albany County Executive, Dan McCoy, and all of our friends at MVP Healthcare and MVP Arena for making this incredible musical event possible again this year.”     

“It was so much fun last year,” said ESYO and Guilderland High School student musician Daniel Byon. “Playing with professional musicians, hearing the sound of this huge orchestra, performing all this great music, and making new friends was really cool. I can’t wait for this year’s concert!”   

About Empire State Youth Orchestra: Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) engages, inspires and empowers youth through music in a progressive learning environment leading to high-level performance opportunities. More than 500 youth from New York’s Capital Region and western New England are selected by audition each year to perform in ESYO. With 14 performing ensembles and orchestras suiting a range of playing levels, members receive training from outstanding conductors and coaches, and tutelage from extraordinary guest artists. In 2015, ESYO launched CHIME (Creating Harmony Inspiring Musical Excellence) in Schenectady to address fundamental inequities preventing universal access to high level music opportunities for young people. Today, this free music program serves more than 150 Schenectady students. Founded in 1979, ESYO is a not-for-profit organization that has been recognized as a premier music education/performance program for youth and has received three ASCAP awards. For more information, visit esyo.org.   

Albany Symphony appoints Emily Fritz-Endres as Executive Director

Emily Fritz-Endres Brings More Than a Decade of Orchestra Management Experience to the Symphony

ALBANY, NY – The two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning Albany Symphony is proud to announce the appointment of Emily Fritz-Endres as executive director. Emily has more than a decade of experience within the music industry, having worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

“We are thrilled that after a national search led by vice-chair of the board Daniel Kredentser and a dedicated search committee, Emily Fritz-Endres has been chosen as our new executive director. We were impressed by her proven leadership successes in financial management and strategic planning, and are excited to welcome her,” said Faith Ann Takes, chair of the board for the Albany Symphony. “Emily will be an excellent leader for the Symphony and together, we will ensure that the Albany Symphony will flourish even more throughout our region.”

“Emily’s creative and enterprising mind and her positive and collaborative approach to addressing challenges and opportunities stood out to our search committee. She has an engaging personality that energizes those around her; we knew she would be a great fit for the Albany Symphony,” said Daniel Kredentser. “She has proven leadership successes and we are excited to watch the organization grow toward our centennial year with Emily as our dynamic leader.”

During her time with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Emily focused on financial and facilities planning, bringing the organization into alignment with the diverse Atlanta community, artistic ambition, venue solutions, audience development, and an endowment campaign. At the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Emily served as director of board administration cultivating relationships with the orchestra’s 250 trustees and advisors. She organized projects including the opening of the Linde Center for Music and Learning at Tanglewood, two fundraising campaigns, and a governance restructure.

"We are so excited to welcome Emily Fritz-Endres to our Albany Symphony family," said Music Director David Alan Miller. “Emily is a rising star in the orchestral world, and we are very lucky to have her join us. Her great intelligence and broad experience will benefit our orchestra in countless ways in the years to come. She is such a dynamic, creative thinker, and an extraordinarily kind, thoughtful individual. I know that our brilliant Albany Symphony musicians and I will have a wonderful time working with her to chart the future of our great organization, especially as we head toward our 100th anniversary in 2030. It is a great tribute to our community, board of directors and musicians that we are able to attract an executive director of Emily's quality."

“We are thrilled and excited to welcome Emily Fritz-Endres to the Albany Symphony family and look forward to working with her to further our mission of artistic excellence, new music, diversity initiatives, and educational outreach and to reinforce our stature as a cultural gem of the Capital Region. We are confident that, through her leadership, the Albany Symphony will remain at the forefront of the national artistic landscape to enrich our cherished arts community in New York State and beyond,” said Paula Oakes, a violinist and chair of the orchestra committee.

Emily will take the helm as executive director beginning in August 2024 and continue the work that David Hyslop, Albany Symphony’s interim executive director, began in January 2024. The board of directors is deeply thankful to Hyslop for his invaluable service.

“I am honored to lead the Albany Symphony, an adventurous, future-looking orchestra devoted to championing the music of our time. I am grateful to my predecessor, Anna Kuwabara, a leader I admire for her talents in building enduring community partnerships and her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the organization nears its centennial, I am thrilled to work with the wildly creative David Alan Miller, and the talented orchestra, board, and staff as we expand how our music celebrates, educates, and transforms the people of the Capital Region and beyond,” said Emily Fritz-Endres

Emily earned her MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and her BA from Carleton College in Minnesota. When not in music venues, she loves playing clarinet, being in nature, and mentoring queer youth.

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Albany Symphony Announces Celebratory 2024-2025 Season, Featuring Timeless Masterpieces from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky, and the Most Exciting Composers of our Time

March 1. 2024

ALBANY, NY – The two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Albany Symphony is proud to unveil its 2024-2025 season, which features masterworks including Beethoven’s Pastoral, Mozart’s Symphony No. 35, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, as well as new works by a wide array of today’s most exciting composers. The programming for this season has been curated by 2021 and 2013 GRAMMY®-Award-winning conductor David Alan Miller.  Concerts will take place in a wide variety of the most exciting Capital Region concert venues, including the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Palace Theater, Proctors, and EMPAC.

“We are thrilled to share our new season with you,” said Miller. “In addition to many of the greatest classics of all time, we are looking forward to introducing you to some of the most beautiful and inspirational new and recent works by the most compelling living American composers. We also look forward to working with an amazing group of guest artists, including a brilliant up-and-coming guest conductor who graduated from Guilderland High School!  I promise you an absolutely unforgettable, thrilling journey of musical exploration. My brilliant Albany Symphony musician colleagues have never sounded more beautiful!”  

The season opens in October with Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto, famed for the sequence of pounding chords with which the soloist's part launches the first movement

The year will be include many beloved classics. These include Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable,” Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No 9, “From the New World,” Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Oboes, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and more. 

Many of the country’s most exciting composers will be featured and celebrated throughout the season. Joan Tower’s Cello Concerto, A New Day, will debut in November and was written in memory of her husband, who passed away last year. The season brings first-time and returning composers to the Albany Symphony stage, including old friends like Loren Loiacono, Reena Esmail, and Daniel Bernard Roumain. Bobby Ge’s orchestral tone-poem, Water Music, will be given its world premiere at the American Music Festival.  Ge is a Chinese American composer who explores the vivid beauty of the ephemeral. His work, often collaborative in nature, focuses on themes of home and communication. Additional high notes at the end of the season include Clarice Assad’s Percussion Quartet Concerto, with the amazing members of Third Coast Percussion, Sophia Jani’s What do Flowers do at Night?, and Christopher Theofanidis’ Clarinet Concerto. 

The 2024-2025 season features several brilliant soloists. Beloved Albany Symphony oboists Karen Hosmer and Grace Shyrock will perform at the Holiday Mozart and Vivaldi concert. Harmony Zhu, a teenage prodigy who made her debut with the Albany Symphony in 2020, will perform Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.  Kala Ramnath, a seventh-generation violinist specializing in Hindustani (Indian) classical music, will perform. Prize-winning guitarist, Bokyung Kim will premiere a new concerto written for her by Nicky Sohn. Amaryn Olmeda will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto under the baton of guest conductor, Lidiya Yankovskaya, Music Director of Chicago Opera Theater, who grew up in Guilderland, NY. 

The 2024-2025 season runs from October through the American Music Festival in June. Subscriptions offer patrons the opportunity to purchase their favorite seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. Season subscriptions offer flexibility and convenience. The deadline to renew is April 14. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription online, visit http://www.albanysymphony.com or call the Albany Symphony Box Office at 518-694-3300.