Exceptional Americana
Minneapolis, MN: On Sunday, February 22 at 4 pm at the First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights, the Mississippi Valley Orchestra will present a free concert that honors American classical musicians. The concert, “Exceptional Americana", will be directed by Artistic Director Henry Charles Smith, and features several great reasons to get out on a Sunday afternoon in February.
First,Doug Wright, principal trombonist of the Minnesota Orchestra who previously played with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and appeared in an Aerosmith music video, will perform James Pugh's Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, a rarely performed work that is Hollywood in the best ways – exuberant, jazz-influenced, and, fun.
Second, Collin Jinks, this year’s winner of the St. Paul Piano Teachers Association Concerto Competition, will perform Beethoven's First Piano Concerto. Jinks is a fifteen-year-old sophomore studying with Dr. Jo Anne Link at the nationally recognized Crocus Hill Studios in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a member of the Studio’s Premier Class he is enrolled in the rigorous Performance Studies for the Gifted and Talented Pre-College Student program. Jinks was also awarded Honorable Mention in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition Senior Level State Division, and was a finalist in the Young Artist World Piano Festival Concerto Competition.
Third, Howard Hanson's "Romantic" Symphony no. 2. Howard Hanson was an accomplished American composer, conductor, educator, and champion of American classical music, winning numerous awards. His style of lush, rich orchestral singing lines was brilliant—along the lines of mentors Gustav Mahler and Ottorino Respighi. Hanson believed in training teachers to play and players to teach - a unique and effective method to engage musicians. He composed several piano concerti, and many singable melodies.
Fourth, but not least, Artistic Director Henry Charles Smith will be at the podium to present this exceptional concert at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights. This concert will warm the hearts of the audience on a winter’s day.
About Mississippi Valley Orchestra: The Mississippi Valley Orchestra is a civic orchestra with 60 talented musicians. They perform 4-5 concerts per year at several locations in the Twin Cities, including First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights. Its members are community members who are not paid, and do not pay dues to play. They sustain the orchestra on the good will donations of individuals and companies.
This activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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