PORTLAND, Maine –Portland Symphony Orchestra Music Director Robert Moody announced yesterday that Norman Huynh (pronounced “When”) has been named Assistant Conductor and Community Liaison for the PSO.  Huynh is the first to hold this newly-created position.  He will conduct on various concerts cycles for the symphony, most notably on “Discovery,” “Pops,” and Education/Outreach concerts, and will provide leadership for the PSO in broadening community involvement and engagement.

Chosen from a field of nearly ninety applicants, Huynh will be an advocate for educational and community engagement vision and initiatives, specifically assisting the Music Director in planning, programming, and executing the Discovery and Youth Concerts, and offering creative input for Discovery Concert activities and PSO education program development. In addition, he will participate in the planning of PSO community events including the PSO Music Lovers’ Luncheons and Conductor’s Circle Onstage Events.

“I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to have Norman join our team,” said Music Director Robert Moody.  “We were looking for a person with energy, expertise, and potential for just the right chemistry with both the orchestra and community, and we found him!  I think that in no time at all, Norman will become an invaluable asset for the arts in Portland.”

PSO Executive Director Lisa Dixon said, “It is fitting that we share this news first with the attendees of our Discovery Concert because this is exactly the kind of program that he will be involved in going forward. The Discovery Concerts were generated from our desire to connect more with the community and provide affordable access to symphony performances. We look forward to continuing to work to fulfill that part of our mission with Norman’s help.”

Prior to joining PSO, Huynh was a cover conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra where he had the opportunity to work with renowned conductors Marin Alsop, Juanjo Mena, Vasily Petrenko, and Christoph König. He co-founded the Occasional Symphony in Baltimore to expose orchestral music to the community by performing in non-traditional venues across the city.

A native of Alabama, Huynh earned his bachelors degree from the University of Alabama, where he was a euphonium player and member of the Alabama marching “Million Dollar Band.” He completed his master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University where he was the assistant conductor for the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Peabody Concert Orchestra, Peabody Singers, and the Peabody-Hopkins Chorus.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:
Founded in 1923, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine and is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Made up of more than 80 professional musicians, the PSO is renowned for its critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents the second in its yearlong series of KinderKonzerts; this group is focused on an introduction to the Strings instruments. “Four Seasons” begins Thursday, January 31 at Crooker Theater, Brunswick HS. Eleven additional performances will take place through early March at various locations.

Inspired by and incorporating Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” the KinderKonzert will explore the sounds of weather – plucking violin strings sounds like gentle rain while the deep sounds of the double bass may conjure up a thunderstorm. The PSO String quintet will demonstrate how different kinds of weather can be recreated in music.

KinderKonzerts are designed to introduce children to live symphonic music through fun and interactive programs with PSO musicians. The series allows children to explore the different families of orchestral instruments, including brass, strings, woodwinds and percussion.

The concerts are 35-40 minutes in length and geared toward children ages 3-7. Tickets are priced at $4 per person.

For concerts held in Brunswick, Lewiston, Portland, and Saco, register online. For concerts held in other communities please contact the designated reservation coordinator for individual sites online. If you have any questions, please call (207) 773-6128 ext. 308 or email education@portlandsymphony.org.

Additional KinderKonzerts for the 2012-2013 season include Woodwinds: Carnival of the Animals and Percussion: Goin’ to the Zoo.

The KinderKonzert series is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories, Delta Dental, Elizabeth Ann Leach Foundation and education sponsors Macy’s and the Simmons Foundation.

The PSO’s 2012-13 season is sponsored by Wright Express. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights visit www.portlandsymphony.org.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:

Founded in 1923, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine and is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Made up of more than 80 professional musicians, the PSO is renowned for its critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement.

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KinderKonzert Four Seasons Schedule:

Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM
Crooker Theater, Brunswick HS

Friday, February 1, 2013 at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM
East End Community School, Portland

Friday, February 1, 2013 at 1:15 PM
Reiche School, Portland

Friday, February 8, 2013 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM
Eastman Performing Arts Center, Fryeburg

Friday, March 1, 2013 at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM
Olin Arts Center, Bates College, Lewiston

Friday, March 8, 2013 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM
Dyer Library, Saco

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) celebrates Mozart’s 256^th birthday with a special one-time concert: Happy Birthday Mozart! on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium.

The Mozart birthday celebration, led by conductor Robert Moody, will feature Serge Prokofiev’s lighthearted homage to the Classical era and PSO concertmaster and violinist Charles Dimmick in the soloist spotlight. The Happy Birthday Mozart! concert highlights the consummate craftsmanship of one of Mozart’s final symphonies. Featured selections include Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, “Classical,” Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 and Mozart Symphony No. 39.

Guests are invited to join artists for the Concert Conversation an hour and 15 minutes before the concert and a post concert Q&A directly following the performance. To preview concert extras, visit www.portlandsymphony.org.

In anticipation for the show, PSO is hosting a Music Lovers’ Luncheon on Friday, January 25th at 12:00 pm. PSO Concertmaster Charles Dimmick and Flautist Rachel Braude will discuss the upcoming “Happy Birthday Mozart!” concert and talk about their lives as PSO musicians. Lunch is $20 for Cumberland Club members and $25 for non-members. Reservations are required in advance. To register please contact Lindsay Stanley at (207) 773 6128 ext. 318 or lstanley@portlandsymphony.org

Tickets for the concert range from $26-$64 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors, and groups may be available. Subscriptions (up to 20% off single ticket prices) and Compose Your Own packages (10% off single ticket prices) are available all season long.

The PSO’s 2012-13 season is sponsored by Wright Express. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes, and Online Insights visit www.portlandsymphony.org.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:
Founded in 1923, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine and is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Made up of more than 80 professional musicians, the PSO is renowned for its critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra’s 84^th season opens with two performances featuring music of three centuries on Sunday, October 7 at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, October 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Music Director Robert Moody conducts the rousing opener featuring music from Mason Bates, Tchaikovsky and Aaron Copland, with guest pianist Andrew Russo.

The concert opens with Mothership by Mason Bates, a piece that was recently commissioned by the YouTube Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas and has received almost 1.8 million views to date. Following Mothership is a performance of Tchaikovsky’s much-loved Romantic Era piece, Piano Concerto No. 1.  Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 concludes the program with the famous “Fanfare for the Common Man” theme. For more information on these pieces, including audio clips and performance extras, visit portlandsymphony.org.

The PSO welcomes pianist Andrew Russo to the stage for his rendition of Tchaikovsky’s classic concerto. The Syracuse, New York native has performed all over the world as a representative pianist for American composers, and is an active member of the non-profit organization of his own creation, Music Journeys Inc., which supports musical education in his hometown public school district. He comes to Merrill Auditorium with more than ten commercial recordings and a 2007 Grammy nomination under his belt.

Both performances are preceded by a Concert Conversation in the Rehearsal Hall at Merrill Auditorium with Robert Moody and Andrew Russo an hour and 15 minutes prior to the concert’s starting time, and are followed by a PostConcert Q&A on stage with Robert Moody and Andrew Russo.

Tickets range from $26-$64 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors, and groups may be available. Subscriptions (up to 20% off single ticket prices) and Compose Your Own packages (10% off single ticket prices) are available all season long.

The PSO’s 2012-13 season is sponsored by Wright Express. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights visit www.portlandsymphony.org.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) 2012-13 season focuses on a wide-ranging variety of great works from classical and contemporary genres, featuring orchestral masterworks, guest artists from far and near (including a pianist from Brunswick), as well as collaboration with local performing arts organization, the Choral Art Society.

The Tuesday and Sunday Classical concerts showcase some of the best in classical works with cornerstones of orchestral literature like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 and Mozart’s Symphony No. 39. The season will conclude with a tribute to Mahler and a performance of his intense Symphony No. 5.

The PSO Pops! season includes a new show from Music Director Robert Moody inspired by Puccini’s opera La Bohème, a program highlighting American music of the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s, a concert featuring great film music, and a salute to the pop music of the 1980’s.

Guest artists gracing the stage for the 2012-13 season are pianists Andrew Russo, Martin Perry (based in Brunswick, Maine), jazz vocalist Banu Gibson and the New Orleans Hot Jazz band, violinist Andrea Segar,cellists Joel Noyes and Brian Thornton, and hornist Jeff Nelsen. Also added to the bill are three prominent guest conductors, Carl Topilow, Donald Neuen and Timothy Myers.

Music Director Robert Moody spoke with enthusiasm about the upcoming season, saying, “From the opening concert featuring the stirring chords of the “Fanfare for the Common Man,” and my good friend Mason Bates’ piece Mothership, to the closing concert featuring one of the most moving and powerful symphonies in the repertory, Mahler’s 5th, this season in particular reaches a really interesting range of works that I’m excited to share with our audience.” Moody added, “Also, on a personal note, I’m honored to have so many connections to artists from our own community. There is a lot of impressive talent in and from Maine, and we really celebrate that this season.”

For the 2012-13 subscription season, the Sunday Classical comprises five concerts and the Tuesday Classical series comprises six concerts, while PSO Pops! has two performances each of four programs, for a season total of 19 performances of 13 programs (not including 11 performances and one preview performance of Magic of Christmas). A Classical Complete subscription package includes all six Tuesday concerts plus the three additional Sunday Classical concerts. All Classical concerts are preceded by Concert Conversations and conclude with a Post-Concert Q&A with the artists.

Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale, details are available through PortlandSymphony.org or by calling PortTIX at 207-842-0800.

The Portland Symphony Orchestra 2012-13 Season at a Glance
Programs and artists subject to change.

Season Opening Celebration
Sunday and Tuesday Classical
Fanfare for a New Season
Sunday, October 7, 2012 | 2:30 PM
Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Andrew Russo, piano

• Mason Bates – Mothership
• P.I. Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1                                   
• Aaron Copland -  Symphony No. 3                                   

PSO starts off the season with three centuries of great music and three works defined by both bold virtuosity and exquisite tenderness. Tchaikovsky’s first Piano Concerto is one of the most beloved showpiece works of the Romantic Era, and Copland’s Symphony No. 3 culminates in the famous “Fanfare for the Common Man” theme.

PSO Pops! La Vie Bohème
Saturday, October 13, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 14, 2012 | 2:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Operatic Soprano, Jessica Cates
Operatic Tenor, George DeMott
Broadway Soprano, Mia Gentile
Broadway Tenor, Mike Eldred

Music Director Robert Moody presents his brand-new show, featuring music from Puccini’s opera “La Bohème,” its subsequent contemporary Broadway counterpart “Rent” and the film Moulin Rouge.

Tuesday Classical
Cello-bration!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Joel Noyes and Brian Thornton, cello

• Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Two Cellos                                                                       
• David Ott – Concerto for Two Cellos                                               
• Gioachino Rossini – William Tell Overture
• Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 1

Each piece in the program showcases the deep, rich tones of this fascinating instrument. The pleasant ensembles are both parts playful and evocative – a must see for all cello lovers. Joel Noyes is the Assistant Principal at the Metropolitan Opera and son of two PSO musicians, Richard (cello) and Clorinda (violin) Noyes. Brian Thornton is a long-time member of the Cleveland Orchestra. 

PSO Pops! Swingin’ the American Songbook
Saturday, November 3, 2012 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, November 4, 2012 | 2:30 PM
Guest Conductor to be announced
Banu Gibson, vocalist
Jason Rogers, tap dancer                       

Banu Gibson and the New Orleans Hot Jazz band take center stage in this tribute to the sounds of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Tap your toes to the musical stylings of classic American artists such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Harry Warren and Hoagy Carmichael.

Sunday Classical
Strauss and Stravinsky
Sunday, November 18, 2012 | 2:30 PM
Timothy Myers, guest conductor
Jeff Nelsen, horn

• C.M. von Weber – Euryanthe Overture
• Claude Debussy – Printemps
• Richard Strauss – Horn Concerto No. 1
• Igor Stravinsky – The Firebird: Suite (1945)

The PSO welcomes guest conductor Timothy Myers, a young dynamo in American opera, and longtime hornist Jeff Nelsen of the Canadian Brass for this vibrant ensemble dedicated to two outstanding composers.

Magic of Christmas
Friday, December 14, 2012 | 2:00 PM (preview) | 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2012 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 16, 2012 | 1:00 PM | 5:00 PM
Friday, December 21, 2012 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 22, 2012 | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 23, 2012 | 1:00 PM | 5:00 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Lyn Dillies, illusionist
Magic of Christmas Chorus
Windham Chamber Singers

Robert Moody strikes up the biggest band in town for Maine’s greatest holiday extravaganza. The PSO’s Magic of Christmas is an unforgettable performance filled with heartwarming traditions, the story of the season and the spirit of the holidays.

Sunday Classical
Happy Birthday, Mozart!
Sunday, January 27, 2013 | 2:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Charles Dimmick, violin

• Serge Prokofiev – Symphony No. 1, “Classical”
• W.A. Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 3
• W.A. Mozart – Symphony No. 39           

Celebrate Mozart’s 256^th birthday with PSO as it pays homage to one man’s craftsmanship and impact on the classical era.

Tuesday Classical
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Andrea Segar, violin

• Ludwig Van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
• Béla Bartók – The Miraculous Mandarin Suite
• Chen Gang & He Zhanhao – Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto

Tour the world with this program of East-meets-West classical music. With his fifth symphony, Beethoven created one of the most simplistic yet innovative musical works in history. Featuring an extraordinary violin solo by Andrea Segar, the Butterfly Lovers concerto is among the best-known works of Chinese music.

PSO Pops! A Night at the Movies
Saturday, February 23, 2013 7:30 PM
Sunday February 24, 2013 2:30 PM
Carl Topilow, guest conductor

Just in time for the Oscars, guest conductor Carl Topilow, the “clarinet-toting conductor,” takes lead in this captivating program featuring music from The Wizard of Oz, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many other famous films.

Tuesday Classical
Haydn’s Creation
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Donald Neuen, guest conductor
Lisa Saffer, soprano
Mary Gayle-Green, mezzo-soprano
John McVeigh, tenor
Lawrence Albert, bass
Masterworks Chorus of The Choral Art Society

• Franz Joseph Haydn – The Creation

This acclaimed piece of choral writing, featuring a group of talented vocalists from The Choral Art Society in Portland, leads listeners through the perils of chaos and darkness to the divine creation of an earthly paradise, the Garden of Eden.

Tuesday Classical
Enigma Variations
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Martin Perry, piano

• Alan Hovhaness – Symphony No. 2, “Mysterious Mountain”
• Samuel Barber – Piano Concerto
• Edward Elgar – “Enigma” Variation
  

“Mysterious Mountain” is the best-known work of Armenian-American Hovhaness: exquisite, prayerful, and serene. Brunswick-based pianist Martin Perry joins the PSO in Barber’s exuberant Piano Concerto, and the program concludes with Elgar’s intriguing musical tribute “to friends pictured within.”

Sunday Classical
Mathis der Maler
Sunday, April 14, 2013 | 2:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor
Benjamin Robinette, saxophone

• G.F. Handel – Concerto a due cori No. 1
• Henri Tomasi – Concerto for Saxophone
• Paul Hindemith – Mathis der Maler

This eclectic ensemble features something for every classical music lover. Each piece reflects a different musical spirit, from the title traditional German folksong, to an awe-inspiring Alleluia.

PSO Pops! Totally Awesome ‘80s
Saturday, April 27, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 28, 2013 | 2:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor

Indulge in some “totally awesome” nostalgia as the PSO salutes all things 80’s. From MTV to Madonna, from Cyndi Lauper to Pac Man, take a walk down memory lane with some of the decade’s most memorable hits.

Sunday and Tuesday Classical
Mahler’s Fifth Symphony
Sunday, May 5, 2013 | 2:30 PM
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 | 7:30 PM
Robert Moody, conductor

• Bach arr. Schoenberg – Prelude and Fugue on “St. Anne”
• Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 5

From the opening funereal trumpet solo to the frequently performed Adagietto, the fourth movement featuring harps and strings, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is considered to be Mahler’s most complex and has been called a transformative experience and breathtaking.

Portland, Maine – Four major Portland arts organizations are partnering on a new educational initiative to connect students to the arts. Culture Club-Portland is a collaborative program between the Portland Museum of Art, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Ovations and Portland Stage to deliver accessible, consistent, diverse, high quality arts experiences to students. Funded by an anonymous donor, the goal of Culture Club-Portland is to provide consistent access to the partnering institutions and their programs to every K-12 student in the Portland Public School district to build a lifelong relationship with the arts and to embrace these vital resources. As Mark Bessire, Director of the Portland Museum of Art, states: “Donors are always eager to see organizations collaborate with one another, and this partnership is an ideal way for us to work together on an educational initiative which we strongly support.”

The anonymous donor is a Portland resident who has been tremendously supportive of the arts and has offered to support Culture Club-Portland through the first three years of the program in order to allow the partnering organizations time to focus on building a great program rather than worrying about fundraising.

Culture Club-Portland will advance arts education and make Portland Public Schools a model for other districts. The project will inspire students by providing them access to quality arts and will build community by making the arts and these institutions a consistent part of students’ lives. As Anita Stewart, Executive & Artistic Director at Portland Stage, states: “Culture Club is new not just to Portland but nationally as well. We are working to develop a program model that can be replicated by other cities around the country. We are thankful that an individual has stepped forward to help us realize this visionary project.”

The partnering organizations believe that losing the arts in education is devastating to our culture, our community and our future. As organizations bringing high quality art and artists into our community, they recognize their potential to impact the learning environment of students in public schools. As Aimée Petrin, Executive Director of Portland Ovations, states: “Over the past decade, we have seen funding for arts in education continue to fall while study after study details how this loss of funding is contributing to a decline in student ability across all disciplines. Culture Club is a way we can help impact arts learning and have a positive effect on the entire learning experience.”

Culture Club-Portland will ensure that each student in the Portland Public School district can participate in at least one program per year offered by each of the partners, resulting in each student in the district having four unique arts experiences every year— Every Child, Every Year. As Lisa Dixon, Executive Director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, states: “Through this program students currently in Kindergarten will have the opportunity to participate in 13 art events with each of the four partnering organizations, building a strong connection to these arts institutions as a part of their lives.”

Portland Education Foundation, a foundation focused on supporting the Portland Public Schools, is administering Culture Club-Portland for the 2012 school year. “The Portland Education Foundation is pleased to help connect the schools with our vibrant arts community through this innovative and exciting program,” says Mary Gross, PEF board president.

David Galin, chief academic officer for Portland Public Schools, echoes this enthusiasm: “Portland Public Schools welcomes the opportunity provided through Culture Club- Portland for our students to build on the wonderfully rich cultural opportunities in the city.”

Culture Club-Portland commences September 2012 in conjunction with the new school year. In the first year of Culture Club-Portland, the partnering arts organizations plan to reach 50% of the Portland Public School population through the program. In the second year, they anticipate reaching 75% of the population with 100% participation reached in the third year.

About the Partner Institutions’ Education Programs:
The Portland Museum of Art offers K-5 students Focus Tours featuring sketching activities, storytelling, and gallery games designed to connect students with works of art in the Museum’s collection and exhibitions. Focus Tours are grade specific. Students in grades 6-8 are invited to participate in Access PMA tours, curriculum-based tours inspired by the Museum’s 19th-century American art collections connecting social studies, language arts, and visual arts. Students in grades 9-12 can take part in Art in Process tours, which focus on the creative process, connecting art to other classroom disciplines as well as other art forms. All PMA school tours feature online lessons and suggested assessments.

Portland Ovations’ School-Time Performance Series connects Maine students and educators with the performing arts in significant ways both on and offstage. Performances, study guides, and web-based resources complement existing curriculum, connect to Maine Common Core State Standards and promote arts integration in our schools, communities, and alternative learning spaces. Performances include nationally
and internationally acclaimed dance, theater, and music presented at Merrill Auditorium and Hannaford Hall.

Portland Stage provides students and teachers with access to professionally produced theater through grade-appropriate programming both in school and at our facility. Play Me a Story is an interactive, literature-based, school outreach performance/workshop program that connects elementary school students to theater while teaching literacy. Early Show performances bring middle and high school students to Portland Stage for Mainstage productions which connect to Common Core Standards through post-show discussions with artists and in-depth show-specific resource guides, plus exposure to the art and magic of professional theater.

The Portland Symphony Orchestra offers grades K-3 KinderKonzert ensemble performances, brought directly into each elementary school along with online pre-concert materials for teachers. For students in grades 3-6, attendance is available at one of four morning Youth Concerts at Merrill Auditorium along with online pre-concert materials for teachers. Students in grades 5-12 are also invited to attend one of several daytime Open Dress Rehearsals at Merrill Auditorium.

For more information, you can contact the executive directors of each of the organizations:
Mark Bessire, Portland Museum of Art: portlandmuseum.org
Aimée Petrin, Portland Ovations: 207/773.3150
Anita Stewart, Portland Stage: 207/774.1043 ext 106
Lisa Dixon, Portland Symphony Orchestra: 207/773.6128 ext. 303

To register for any of the programs, Portland Public School teachers should contact:
Portland Museum of Art: tours@portlandmuseum.org
Portland Ovations: offstage@portlandovations.org
Portland Stage: theaterforkids@portlandstage.org; or dburson@portlandstage.org
Portland Symphony Orchestra: education@portlandsymphony.org

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will partner with seven Maine libraries this summer to take their popular KinderKonzert performance The Story of Abbie Burgess on the road. PSO’s KinderKonzerts are fun and interactive concerts for young children and are designed to educate and entertain, working to develop a love of music at a young age. The summer concerts, which are free of charge to the public, will be funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Story of Abbie Burgess tells the true tale of a courageous young girl who tended Maine’s Matinicus Rock lighthouse on her own, braving the treacherous month-long Nor’easters throughout the winter of 1856. Her strength and determination attracted much attention and she became a renowned local heroine. Today, her story is featured in several popular children’s books.

“This program will serve to energize the PSO’s youngest audiences – and Maine’s youngest readers – around music and literacy, and will hopefully help instill in them a lifelong love of music and reading,” said Heather Summer, education and community engagement manager for the Portland Symphony Orchestra.

Children are encouraged to sing, dance and wiggle while they listen and watch the orchestra members tell the inspiring story of Abbie Burgess. The concert has a 40-minute running time and is meant for children aged 4-8. The PSO has made teaching materials pertaining to Abbie’s story available for download online to help prepare library staff and parents for their child’s concert experience.

Concert Dates for Summer 2012:

• Wednesday, June 20^th – Bath, Patten Free Library (2:00 pm and 3:00 pm)
• Thursday, June 21^st – Farmington, Farmington Public Library (10:30 am and 11:30 am)
• Monday, July 16^th – Portland, Portland Public Library (10:30 am)
• Monday, July 30^th – Kennebunk, Kennebunk Public Library (6:30 pm)
• Saturday, August 4^th – Chebeague, Chebeague Recreation Center (2:00 pm)
• Tuesday, August 7^th – Damariscotta, Lincoln Theatre (10:00 am)
• Tuesday, August 7^th – Rockland, Rockland Public Library (1:30 pm)

For additional information contact the libraries directly or visit portlandsymphony.org.

About Portland Symphony Orchestra’s KinderKonzerts:
KinderKonzerts are a wonderful way for kids ages 3 through 7 to gain exposure to symphony music as they explore the different families of musical instruments. Each performance is part of a series of programs that feature the four families of instruments: woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. Attendees are encouraged to sing, smile, and engage with the musicians while they learn about classical music and symphony performances.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) completes its season of KinderKonzerts with its final production for the 2012 school year, Cowboy Ed. The concert features the PSO Percussion Ensemble in a fun and educational program for kids ages 3 through 7. The programs will run from Tuesday, May 15 through Friday, May 25 throughout the state.

Cowboy Ed will teach children about different instruments in the percussion family and a variety of rhythms and beats.  This concert will feature a trio of PSO percussionists with demonstrations and musical examples, narrated by Laura Harris.  The PSO Musicians will lead the young audience members on an exciting journey across the western frontier with Cowboy Ed.

It is the final program in the series of four different KinderKonzerts, each one having featured one of the four families of instruments: the woodwinds, brass, strings, and now percussion. The goal of KinderKonzerts is to introduce children to the instruments through amusing stories with musical illustrations, entertaining narratives and interactive components. The attendees are encouraged to sing, dance, wiggle and giggle along with the musicians as they learn the basics of orchestra music. The concerts serve as an important means of exposure to the arts, helping children develop an appreciation for live music and actively engaging them with the symphony performers.

Tickets are $4 per person for both children and adults. For concerts held in Brunswick, Lewiston, Portland, and Saco visit http://www.portlandsymphony.org/content/education/programs-and-reservations/.

For concerts held in other communities please contact the designated reservation coordinator for individual sites. For additional information, reservations and ticketing information, visit www.portlandsymphony.org, email education@portlandsymphony.org or call (207) 773-6128 ext. 308.

About Portland Symphony Orchestra’s KinderKonzerts:
KinderKonzerts are a wonderful way for kids ages 3 through 7 to gain exposure to symphony music as they explore the different families of musical instruments. Each performance is part of a series of programs that feature the four families of instruments: woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. Attendees are encouraged to sing, smile, and engage with the musicians while they learn about classical music and symphony performances. KinderKonzerts are supported by PSO’s education sponsors: Macy’s, The Simmons Foundation, The Elizabeth Ann Leach Foundation, Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, and The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation.

Full Schedule for the KinderKonzert Series Cowboy Ed:

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 9:30 AM (SOLD OUT), 10:30 AM
Crooker Theater, Brunswick HS

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM
Olin Arts Center, Bates College, Lewiston

Monday, May 21, 2012 at 9:30 AM (SOLD OUT), 10:30 AM
Dyer Library, Saco

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM
East End Community School, Portland

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Reiche Community School, Portland

Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM
Waldo Theatre, Waldoboro

Friday, May 25, 2012 at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:15 PM
Windham Primary School, Windham

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) dedicates its final performances of the 2011-2012 season to honoring the centennial year of the Kotzschmar Organ. Music Director Robert Moody conducts two festive programs celebrating the city’s mighty organ, which will be played by Ray Cornils, the Municipal Organist for the City of Portland. The Kotzschmar Centennial Celebration performances are Sunday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium.

The program begins with Richard Danielpour’s Toward the Splendid City, a musical portrait of New York City and a tribute to its Philharmonic Orchestra. The piece grapples with the composer’s understanding of humanity within the complexities of urban living.  Joseph Jongen’s lyrical and colorful while simultaneously tranquil and mysterious Symphonie Concertante for Organ and Orchestra follows. Camille Saint-Saëns’ composition, Symphony No. 3 in c minor, “Organ,” closes the program, and the PSO season, with a fittingly triumphant finale.

The Kotzschmar Organ is one of two remaining municipal organs in the country and was installed as a gift to the city of Portland in 1912. Today it is considered one of the city’s greatest treasures. Audience members will experience the musical power of the organ matched with the equally powerful symphony selections. Ray Cornils is a regular performer with the PSO, and is a member of the music faculties of Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine. In addition, he teaches at the Portland Conservatory of Music, and is the Minister of Music at Parish Church in Brunswick.

There will be a Concert Conversation with Robert Moody an hour and 15 minutes prior to each concert, and a PostConcert Q&A on stage. Following both Sunday and Tuesday concerts there will be a season finale reception in the rehearsal hall at Merrill Auditorium.

This concert is sponsored by LL Bean and will be broadcast on MPBN’s Maine Stage at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 2012.

Tickets are available through PortTIX.com, 207-842-0800 or at the box office at 20 Myrtle St.; box office hours are noon – 6 PM Monday through Saturday. Single ticket prices range from $20 to $70 with special pricing available for students, seniors and subscribers. All ticket prices include a $2 Merrill Restoration fee, and phone and internet orders are subject to a $6-per-ticket PortTIX handling fee.

The 2011-2012 PSO season is sponsored by IDEXX Labs and Wright Express. Please visit portlandsymphony.org. for complete information on artist biographies, program notes and Online Insights, provided with support from Digital Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint Communications.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:

Founded in 1923, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine and is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Made up of more than 80 professional musicians, the PSO is renowned for its critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement.

PORTLAND, Maine – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) Pops! will pay tribute to the music of Queen in the final Pops concerts of the season. The classic rock of this legendary band meets a different kind of classic style in the sounds of the symphony orchestra, accompanied by a tribute band led by vocalist Michael Shotton. Music Director Robert Moody conducts two performances on Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m. at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium, with guests the USM Chamber Singers.

The famous hits of Queen will entertain and rock the audience through the vocal stylings of Michael Shotton and the USM Chamber Singers. Selections include favorites such as Another One Bites The Dust, Under Pressure, We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, and Bohemian Rhapsody, among others. The USM Chamber Singers are chosen by audition, and are USM undergraduate students.

Tickets range from $20-$65 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors, and groups may be available. Subscriptions (up to 20% off single ticket prices) and Compose Your Own packages (10% off single ticket prices) are available all season long.

The 2011-2012 PSO season is sponsored by IDEXX Labs and Wright Express. For complete season information, including artist biographies, program notes and Online Insights, provided with support from Digital Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint Communications, visit www.portlandsymphony.org.

About the Portland Symphony Orchestra:    
Founded in 1923, the Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is the largest performing arts organization in Maine and is widely regarded as one of the top symphony orchestras of its size in the country. Made up of more than 80 professional musicians, the PSO is known for its critically acclaimed performances and broad community engagement.