Alexei Plays Dvořák Program Notes    Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Angel Lam’s Please let there be a paradise… (Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Consortium Partner)  World Premiere April 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri  9 Minutes   “Please let there be a ... Read More The post Alexei Plays Dvořák Program Notes   appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

Rodrigo and Ravel’s Boléro Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Maurice Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso  World Premiere May 17, 1919; Paris, France  8 Minutes   Maurice Ravel is usually called an impressionist, but he was really a classicist. He ... Read More The post Rodrigo and Ravel’s Boléro Program Notes  appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

Sibelius’ Violin and Elgar’s Enigma Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Benjamin Britten’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra)   World Premiere October 15, 1946; Liverpool, England  18 Minutes     Benjamin Britten ... Read More The post Sibelius’ Violin and Elgar’s Enigma Program Notes   appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Brittany J. Green’s TESTIFY! (Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program World Premiere)     World Premiere September 27, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida  8 Minutes  “Many of my earliest musical memories are ... Read More The post Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto Program Notes appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”  World Premiere December 13, 1895; Berlin, Germany  90 minutes   Gustav Mahler was one of the great post-Romantic symphonists. He wrote ... Read More The post Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” Program Notes appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

The Jacksonville Symphony is set to launch its 75th Anniversary Season with two unforgettable programs that promise to make history. On September 13 and 14, the Symphony opens its Pops Series with the world premiere of Parrots + Palms: The Songs of Buffett & Fins—a vibrant celebration of Jimmy Buffett and “fins” that has been 18 months in the making. ... Read More The post Jacksonville Symphony kicks off 75th Anniversary Season with Mahler’s magnum opus and a world premiere appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

The Jacksonville Symphony honors Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting a few of the influential Hispanic composers whose works the Symphony performs this season, Hispanic musicians performing on the Jacoby Symphony Hall stage along with the Symphony’s exciting programs centered on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Making a lasting impact: Hispanic composers in history Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), a prominent Spanish ... Read More The post The Jacksonville Symphony Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

Can you share the backstory behind the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra? What work do you perform at this camp?  “The Golden Isles Youth Orchestra (GIYO), formerly called the Coastal Youth Symphony, was founded in 2005 by the Coastal Symphony of Georgia to introduce classical music to the children of Glynn County and the surrounding area. In 2014, GIYO outgrew its affiliation ... Read More The post Q&A with Jorge Peña appeared first on Jacksonville Symphony ..read more

How have you been preparing for the role of concertmaster at the Des Moines Metro Opera? What specific challenges do you anticipate while leading such a diverse repertoire of operas this summer?  “We have started rehearsals already, but in my preparation, I tried to focus a lot on the narratives and backgrounds of operas because there is always a story to tell. An opera is normally based on a play or a famous story. So, I watched the operas to get a feel for what’s happening when the music is being played and tried to incorporate that into the music and how to lead.   Regarding ..read more

The 2023/24 Season just ended. How do you feel about it? “I’m definitely sad about it. The season went by incredibly fast for me. When you come in, you often have to adjust to what’s happening in the orchestra, the new environment, new colleagues and a new ensemble nucleus where things function in a specific type of way. Becoming a part of that was an incredible experience, so it was a great year. I’m really happy to have had the opportunity to play with my colleagues, work with Courtney Lewis and be a part of the organization.”     We heard you have plans in Memphis, Tennessee ..read more