Tag Archives: George Frideric Handel

Free concert by ASO musicians this afternoon as part of Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series at UAMS

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The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presents the fall concert in the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series at UAMS. Musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra are featured in the UAMS Hospital Lobby Gallery on Wednesday, November 20 at 4:30 p.m.

The free-to-the-public performance showcases the Rockefeller String Quartet, ASO Concertmasters Andrew Irvin and Kiril Laskarov, and ASO musicians; Jordan Coleman, bass, and Leanne Renfro, Lorraine Duso Kitts, and Beth Wheeler, oboes performing a program of music by Michael Fine and Mozart.

“It is my hope that these concerts will promote the beautiful music of the ASO,” said series founder Dr. Ruth Marie Allen. The concerts also aim to provide the opportunity for celebration and renewal to hardworking UAMS students, staff, and faculty, according to Allen.

Concerts in the Dr. Ruth Marie Allen Concert Series at UAMS are free and open to the public. Parking is available for a fee in Parking Deck 1. For more information please contact the ASO Box Office at (501) 666-1761, ext. 1.

Program
MOZART – Quartet for Oboe and String Trio, K. 370
Leanna Renfro, oboe; Linnaea Brophy, violin, Katherine Reynolds, viola, Jacob Wunsch, cello

FINE, Michael – Double Violin Concerto with String Quartet and Bass
Andrew Irvin, Kiril Laskarov, violin; Rockefeller String Quartet, Jordan Coleman, bass

FINE, Michael – Concerto for Oboe Section with String Quartet and Bass
Lorraine Duso Kitts, Leanna Renfro, Beth Wheeler, oboe; Rockefeller String Quartet, Jordan Coleman, bass

HANDEL – Passacaglia for Violin and Cello
Linnea Brophy, violin and Jacob Wunsch, cello

Artists
Andrew Irvin, violin
Kiril Laskarov, violin
Jordan Coleman, bass
Leanne Renfro, oboe
Lorraine Duso Kitts, oboe
Beth Wheeler, oboe
Rockefeller String Quartet
-Trisha McGovern Freeney, violin
-Linnaea Brophy, violin
-Katherine Reynolds, viola
-Jacob Wunsch, cello

First Hall High School graduation – May 28, 1958

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Another historic high school graduation took place on May 28, 1958.  It was the first graduation ceremony for Little Rock Hall High School.

The school opened in September 1957 as Little Rock’s newest high school, located in “west” Little Rock.  (It is sometimes listed as the second Little Rock high school, ignoring the fact that Horace Mann and the Vo Tech high schools existed.)

The first graduating class was smaller than future classes would be.  Because they had attended Central High School for their sophomore and junior years, many seniors who were zoned for Hall High chose to attend Central for their senior year.

Instead of processing in to Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the Hall High seniors entered to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Procession of the Nobles.”  The music for ceremony also included “The Star Spangled Banner,” Scarmolin’s “My Creed” and Handel’s “Sarabande and Bouree.”

Principal Terrell E. Powell (who would be tapped as superintendent of the district in a few months) presided over the ceremonies.  Superintendent Virgil Blossom (whose daughter had graduated from Central High the day before) spoke briefly to introduce the School Board members.  One of them, R. A. Lile, presented the students with their diplomas.

There were 109 seniors listed in the graduation program, seven were honor graduates.  The senior class officers were: Redding Stevenson, president; Amanda Jeanne “Toppy” Cameron, vice president; and Karl E. Stahlkopf, secretary. Porter Briggs was the first student body president. Linda Overstreet was student body vice president and Linda Neathery was 12th grade representative on the student council.

The Senior speakers were:  Anita Kluglose (“Toward a Pathless Wood”), Karl Stahlkopf (“Toward the Mysterious Stars”), Linda Neathery (“Toward Majestic Mountains”) and Thomas York (“Toward Unlimited Horizons”).  Other students participating were Redding Stevenson presenting the senior gift, Mary Ellen Lenggenhager giving the invocation, and Michael Ebert giving the benediction.

Little Rock Look Back: First Hall High Graduation in 1958

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Another historic high school graduation took place on May 28, 1958.  It was the first graduation ceremony for Little Rock Hall High School.

The school opened in September 1957 as Little Rock’s newest high school, located in “west” Little Rock.  (It is sometimes listed as the second Little Rock high school, ignoring the fact that Horace Mann high school existed.)

The first graduating class was smaller than future classes would be.  Because they had attended Central High School for their sophomore and junior years, many seniors who were zoned for Hall High chose to attend Central for their senior year.

Instead of processing in to Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the Hall High seniors entered to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Procession of the Nobles.”  The music for ceremony also included “The Star Spangled Banner,” Scarmolin’s “My Creed” and Handel’s “Sarabande and Bouree.”

Principal Terrell E. Powell (who would be tapped as superintendent of the district in a few months) presided over the ceremonies.  Superintendent Virgil Blossom (whose daughter had graduated from Central High the day before) spoke briefly to introduce the School Board members.  One of them, R. A. Lile, presented the students with their diplomas.

There were 109 seniors listed in the graduation program, seven were honor graduates.  The senior class officers were: Redding Stevenson, president; Amanda Jeanne “Toppy” Cameron, vice president; and Karl E. Stahlkopf, secretary. Porter Briggs was the first student body president. Linda Overstreet was student body vice president and Linda Neathery was 12th grade representative on the student council.

The Senior speakers were:  Anita Kluglose (“Toward a Pathless Wood”), Karl Stahlkopf (“Toward the Mysterious Stars”), Linda Neathery (“Toward Majestic Mountains”) and Thomas York (“Toward Unlimited Horizons”).  Other students participating were Redding Stevenson presenting the senior gift, Mary Ellen Lenggenhager giving the invocation, and Michael Ebert giving the benediction.

Go for Baroque with the ASO Neighborhood season finale

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TASO_revhe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Philip Mann, Music Director and Conductor, presents the finale of the 2014-2015 Intimate Neighborhood Concerts series with Baroque by Candlelight on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 7:00 PM at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 321 310 W 17th St, Little Rock. The candlelit concert features masterpieces of the baroque era by Handel, Bach and Vivaldi with piccolo soloist Gabriel Vega. The Intimate Neighborhood Concerts series is sponsored by the Stella Boyle Smith Foundation.

Originally written for “small flute” and probably performed on the high-pitched sopranino recorder, Vivaldi’s concerto is a perfect fit for the modern piccolo. Vivaldi puts the instrument through paces of extreme virtuosity in the outer movements and features a lyrical central largo.

Tickets are $25; active duty military and student tickets are $10 are can be purchased online at www.ArkansasSymphony.org; at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral beginning 60 minutes prior to the concert; or by phone at 501-666-1761, ext. 100.

The Stella Boyle Smith Intimate Neighborhood Concerts Series is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fantastic music in gorgeous, acoustically unique venues around Little Rock. The concerts offer a special, intimate performance where patrons can get up-close and personal with musicians in chamber orchestra ensembles performing pieces in the settings intended by the composers. In addition to hearing these beautiful works, concertgoers are invited to mingle with the musicians after the concerts.

PROGRAM:
HANDEL: Entrance of the Queen of Sheba from Solomon, HWV 67
BACH: Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068
VIVALDI: Concerto for Piccolo in C Major, Op. 44, No. 11, RV 443
Gabriel Vega, piccolo
HANDEL: Water Music: Suite No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349

Originally written for “small flute” and probably performed on the high-pitched sopranino recorder, Vivaldi’s concerto is a perfect fit for the modern piccolo. Vivaldi puts the instrument through paces of extreme virtuosity in the outer movements and features a lyrical central largo. Piccolo soloist, Gabriel Vega, hails from Los Angeles and graduated from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. Gabriel joined the ASO in 2009, and performed movements from Vivaldi’s piccolo concerto on the ASO’s Children’s Concerts in the 2013-2014 season.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 49th season in 2014-2015, under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann. ASO is the resident orchestra of Robinson Center Music Hall, and performs more than sixty concerts each year for more than 165,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, ACXIOM Pops LIVE! Series, Landers FIAT River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series, and numerous concerts performed around the state of Arkansas, in addition to serving central Arkansas through numerous community outreach programs and bringing live symphonic music education to over 26,000 school children and over 200 schools.

Handel’s MESSIAH presented tonight by the Arkansas Choral Society

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Arkansas Choral SocietyFor some, it just isn’t the Christmas season without a performance of Handel’s oratorio Messiah.

Tonight the Arkansas Choral Society and the University of Arkansas at Monticello Concert and Chamber Choirs will will present the 84th Annual Presentation of Handel’s Messiah. This is the longest running continuous holiday celebration in Central Arkansas.

The performance will begin at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door. The performance will take place at the First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock.

Handel’s MESSIAH tonight

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PhotoThe Arkansas Choral Society’s annual presentation of selections from Handel’s MESSIAH takes place tonight.

Tonight’s performance of will consist of the Christmas portion of Handel’s oratorio Messiah plus some selected other choruses and solos. The ACS will be joined by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Vesper Choir.  They will be accompanied by musicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the First Pentecostal Church, 1401 Calvary Drive (off Interstate 40), North Little Rock. Tickets: $15, $10 students. Call (501) 376-8484 for more information.

The Arkansas Choral Society is under the direction of Dr. Kent Skinner.  He is currently the Director of Choral Activities for the University of Arkansas at Monticello. In this capacity, Dr. SKinner leads the choral program and serves as both stage and music director for the university’s opera and music theatre.

The Arkansas Choral Society is central Arkansas’s oldest continually operating musical organization. Best known for performing Handel’s Messiah in whole or in part every year since 1930, the Society’s repertoire includes both classical and contemporary works. Historically the group has traveled Arkansas performing concerts and has also performed at special events such as the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1986.

The Arkansas Choral Society partners with high school and college choirs throughout Arkansas for its performances, and offers scholarships for college students. The mission of the Arkansas Choral Society is to further and improve choral singing in Arkansas, by performing Handel’s Messiah on an annual basis; by partnering with Arkansas college and high school choruses; and by awarding scholarships to choral singers who are or will be college students, while inviting everyone to join us and to attend our concerts.

Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestras Concert Tonight

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The Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestras program will present a concert tonight at Pulaski Academy at 7pm.

There are four youth orchestras featuring over 150 young musicians.  Each of the orchestras will be featured on the program.

The Preparatory Orchestra, under the direction of Casey Buck will perform British Grenadiers by John Caponegro, Sword Dance by Bob Phillips, and Dragonhunter by Richard Meyer.

The Prelude Orchestra is led Kiril Laskarov and Drew Irvin.  Maestro Laskarov will conduct Del Borgo’s Concertino in G while Maestro Irvin will conduct Joseph Haydn’s Finale from Symphony #47.

The Academy Orchestra is under the baton of Thomas McDonald.  Their selections will be Concerto Grosso in G. Major, op. 3 no. 3 by G. F. Handel; Symphony No. 104 – London by F. J. Haydn; and Chicago by John Kander and Fred Ebb.  Angela Wang, violin and Philip Kim, oboe will be soloists on the first selection.

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Geoffrey Robson is the conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra.  Under his direction, those musicians will play Bizet’s Carmen Suite, No. 1 and Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor.