[NEohioPAL] Big Weekend for the Akron Symphony

[ilbasso at hotmail.com]

Akron Symphony to Launch New Odyssey Series on November 18

 Interactive concert to explore ‘fabric’ of American Music
November 5, 2007 
Akron—Who are you? And where do you come from? The Akron Symphony
wants to know as they prepare to launch Odyssey, a brand new concert
series premiering Sunday, November 18th at E.J. Thomas Hall at 3 p.m.
The first concert, titled American Quilt, will feature a
cavalcade of collaborators, guest artists, and everyday members of the
community in a concert exploring the colorful and complex “quilt” of
American music. Partners include Hale Farm and Village; the Akron Art
Museum; drummer, Roland Jackson; soprano, Tiffany Jackson; the Urquhart
School of Scottish Dance; Old Trail School; Steven Ostrow; and jazz
saxophonist, Jimmy Noel. They will all join Christopher Wilkins and the
musicians of the Akron Symphony in an examination of the rich fabric of
American musical and visual art— in a program appropriate for music
lovers of all ages.
“An Odyssey concert takes its audience on an excursion,” says Akron
Symphony Music Director, Christopher Wilkins. “A concert is no longer a
bunch of pieces played in sequence—it is an experience.”
The experience of American Quilt is built on a theme that
operates on several levels. Wilkins explains: “It is first used as a
metaphor for different strands coming together to make the whole. We go
from the sacred songs composed under slavery, to Jewish folk wedding
traditions, to Scottish dancing, to music of our own time. We’ll have
real quilts from Summit County Historical Society and on screen from
Hale Farm and Village, so there is also a literal meaning to our use of
the word quilt. In addition, there has been some research suggesting
quilts served as maps, or that they contained messages, used in the
Underground Railroad on which Hale Farm and Village was a stop. So
that’s really the third meaning: the messages contained in these
quilts.”
Soprano Tiffany Jackson will perform two pieces during the program:
a traditional spiritual, “Jesus Lay Your Head at the Window,” and the
classic, “Summertime” from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Two selections from composer Stella Sung’s Rockwell Reflections
will also be heard, timed to a multi-media display of Norman Rockwell’s
illustrations, courtesy of the Akron Art Museum. The visuals continue
with performances by Christie Walsh’s Urquhart School of Scottish Dance
and traditional Jewish folk dancers from Old Trail School, led by
teacher Natalie Mallis. Musician Steven Ostrow (also on the faculty of
Old Trail School) has provided an arrangement of traditional klezmer
music to accompany the Jewish dancers. American jazz will be
represented by local saxophonist Jimmy Noel in an arrangement of Duke
Ellington’s “I’m Beginning to See the Light.”
An Interactive Experience

American Quilt will conclude with a piece by Daniel Bernard Roumain, Human Songs and Stories.
During the piece, many of the afternoon’s artists will come back on
stage and give personal responses to the questions, “Who are you? And
where do you come from?” The entire community is also being asked to
participate by e-mailing photos of the people and places that best
answer those same questions. The collection of photos will then be
displayed on screen during the finale, creating what Wilkins jokingly
referred to as “a quilt of our own so large that it will keep everybody
warm.” Those wishing to send their photos can do so by e-mailing them
to ASOConnect at AkronSymphony.org. Photos must be received by November 15
in order to be considered.
For the Kids

Children attending American Quilt will receive a free activity book and the chance to get three exclusive,

limited-edition trading cards of Akron Symphony musicians. Each Odyssey
concert will offer three different cards out of a ten-card set. Only by
attending all three Odyssey concerts can the entire set be collected. A
special Christopher Wilkins conductor “chase card” will be given out at
the final Odyssey concert to those who can show that they have
collected all nine other Odyssey trading cards. Each concert will also
feature pre-concert activities in the E.J. Thomas lobbies beginning at
2:00 p.m.
Education Initiative

As part of the Akron Symphony’s ongoing mission of cultivating the next
generation of music lovers, each Odyssey program will be previewed by
ASO chamber ensembles presenting workshops and concerts at selected
Akron Public Schools, area libraries and community centers. The public
is welcome to attend the library presentations free of charge, while
the school programs are private and for students only. This initiative
is made possible through the generous support of the John S. &
James L. Knight Foundation and Target.
Tickets available now

To purchase tickets, or for more information, please call the Akron
Symphony ticket office at 330.535.8131 or visit AkronSymphony.org.
Subscriptions to all three Odyssey concerts are still available for
$24. Single tickets for the November 18 concert are $15 for adults and
$10 for children age 12 and under.
Support

Odyssey is sponsored by The Mary and Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable
Trust. The Odyssey outreach series is sponsored by the John S. &
James L. Knight Foundation. The November 18 Concert Sponsor is Omnova
Solutions Foundation. Odyssey pre-concert activities are made possible
by Davey Tree and Lawn Care, and the Akron Canton Airport. PBS 45 &
49 is the Akron Symphony’s official Odyssey media partner, along with
WAKR 1590 AM and Akron Life & Leisure magazine. The Ohio Arts
Council helps fund the Akron Symphony with state tax dollars to
encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural
enrichment for all Ohioans. The University of Akron also supports the
Akron Symphony and its programs.
Mark your calendars

Sunday, November 18, 2007 – Odyssey: American Quilt

Explore the colorful and complex “quilt” of American music

E.J. Thomas Hall – 3:00 p.m.

Akron Symphony Orchestra

Christopher Wilkins, conductor

2:00 p.m. – Pre-Concert Activities begin in the E.J. Thomas Hall lobbies

Tickets available: $15 – adults; $10 children 12 and under
Odyssey Outreach Series Schedule

Akron Public Schools:

 November 5 – Helen E. Arnold Comm. Ctr. 5:30 pm

November 6 – Firestone Park Elementary 9:30 am

November 6 – Findley Academy 10:45 am

November 7 – Sieberling Elementary 9:30 am

November 7 – Windemere Elementary 10:45 am

November 9 – Lawndale Elementary 10:15 am
Public Presentations:

 November 5 – Ellet Branch Library 7:00 pm

November 7 – Northwest Branch Library 5:30 pm

November 7 – Maple Valley Library Branch 7:00 pm

November 8 – West Hill Library Branch 5:30 pm

November 8 – North Hill Library Branch 7:00 pm
Artist biographies and photos are available in digital
format by visiting the Akron Symphony Press Room at
www.AkronSymphony.org. This online resource offers journalists and the
public access to the latest information about the Akron Symphony,
including news releases, downloadable high-resolution photos and media
kit materials.





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