THE PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RAVINIA FESTIVAL CONCERT SELLS OUT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2018
THE PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RAVINIA FESTIVAL CONCERT SELLS OUT
PEORIA, IL –
The PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, under the direction of MAESTRO GEORGE STELLUTO, will be performing LEONARD BERNSTEIN: 100 YEARS YOUNG — A NEW YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT at RAVINIA FESTIVAL to a sold-out audience this Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Bennett Gordon Hall.
The concert was produced by JAMIE BERNSTEIN, published author, musician, speaker, and daughter of the late LEONARD BERNSTEIN. Leonard Bernstein conducted his first Young People’s Concert in January of 1958 as part of his educational mission as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. During his lifetime, Bernstein led 53 such concerts. In this spirit, JAMIE BERNSTEIN, who will also narrate the concert, came up with the idea to recreate her father’s famous Young People’s Concerts by using his own music in celebration of his 100th birthday.
Regarding this performance, MAESTRO GEORGE STELLUTO says:
“It’s a real honor for the PSO to be invited to perform with Jamie Bernstein and our wonderful guest artists, and to help Jamie celebrate her father’s legacy and inspiration as the consummate American musician—part classical, part jazz, part Broadway—and completely American!”
The program is part of Ravinia’s season of concerts for young people, which MAESTRO GEORGE STELLUTO has conducted three times in years past. The PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (PSO) was asked to perform this special concert after Welz Kaufmann, President and CEO of the RAVINIA FESTIVAL, heard the PSO perform with Ramsey Lewis during their 2016-17 Season.
The RAVINIA FESTIVAL, founded in 1904, is the nation’s oldest outdoor music and has been the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for over 80 years. The Ravinia Festival features hundreds of performers each summer with the world’s major musical artists in the classical, jazz, and popular genres. This performance is the PEROIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’s debut at the Ravinia Festival.
ERIK SODERSTROM, Artistic Producer at Ravinia Festival, says he is excited to see his hometown’s symphony orchestra perform at the festival:
“It’s a dream come true to have the Peoria Symphony perform at the Ravinia Festival as part of a year-long celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s life and music. Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts reached many throughout the country and catapulted a new appreciation for classical music. What a joy to see George Stelluto conduct alongside Jamie Bernstein’s narration in this most popular of programs!”
Several young guest artists will perform at the concert with the PSO, including HARMONY ZHU, piano, 9, who performed participated in a PSO RESIDENT ARTIST WEEK (RAW) and performed in the PSO’s October 2016 “PRODIGIES” concert.
The PSO is entering its 121st Season, featuring classics like Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy, Beethoven’s Symphony #1 and Handel’s Messiah with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ In Concert and the annual Romance concert and After Party. Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now. A special 50% discount is being offered to new subscribers on full concert subscriptions. Purchases can be made by visiting the PSO Box Office at 101 State Street in Peoria during normal Box Office hours, by calling 309.671.1096, or by visiting the PSO website at peoriasymphony.org.
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If you would like more information, interviews, or higher resolution photographs, please contact:
Mae Gilliland Wright, PhD
Director of Marketing and Communications
309.671.1096
mgwright@peoriasymphony.org
