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BSO performs ‘Turkish’ program with guest violinist Noe Inui
(COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 6, 2012) – The appeal of the “Turkish sound” in classical music dates back centuries – and remains relevant today among young composers. The next performance of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Tech University explores that phenomenon with a program ranging from Haydn’s mighty “Military Symphony” to a Rossini overture and a 20th-century nocturne by Turkish-American composer Kamran Ince. Also on the program is Mozart’s “Turkish Concerto,” featuring guest artist Noe Inui, a young award-winning violinist from Brussels. The concert begins at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, in Wattenbarger Auditorium, the concert hall of TTU’s Bryan Fine Arts Building. Tickets are $30 for adults, $26 for seniors 65 and up, and $8 for students. Call 931-525-2633 for reservations. The performance is sponsored by Albert and Rosemary Ponte and Angelo and Jennette Volpe. READ MORE
BSO violist, friends give Cookeville recital Jan. 29
(COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 26, 2012) -- Bryan Symphony violist Idalynn Besser, who teaches at Tennessee Tech and plays frequently with the Nashville Symphony, will perform works by Brahms, Telemann and Prokofiev in a recital beginning at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 29, in Wattenbarger Auditorium. Besser will be assisted by BSO principal violist Bruce Christensen and BSO violinists Jessica Blackwell and Amy Helman, as well as Sari Reist on cello, and Rachel Fogarty on piano. The program includes the Brahms String Quintet in G Major, Sonata in E minor from “Essercizi musici” by Telemann, and selections from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” suite for viola and piano. Before moving to Tennessee, Besser played with the Alabama Symphony, Victoria Symphony of Canada, and the Louisville Orchestra; currently, she directs the Bryan Symphony's Community Youth String Orchestra education initiative.
BSO maestro on tour with chamber music ensemble
(COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 16, 2012) -- As part of a short Tennessee chamber music tour, the Oak Ridge Chamber Players, alongside BSO Maestro and cellist Dan Allcott, will give a free concert of the Schubert Quintet in C Major beginning at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23, in Wattenbarger Auditorium. Considered one of Schubert’s masterpieces, it’s a unique work requiring an additional cellist for the traditional string quartet structure. Among the chamber musicians are several familiar faces to Bryan Symphony audiences, including Ihsan Kartal, principal cellist with the BSO, and Karen Kartal, who plays violin with the BSO. Rounding out the quintet will be Sue Eddlemon, violin; Sarah Cho, viola; and Allcott, cello. Wattenbarger Auditorium is the concert hall of the Bryan Fine Arts Building on the TTU campus. Admission to Monday’s recital is free and everyone is invited. Learn more about faculty and student recitals at TTU.
A musical lineage: Former BSO conductor makes recording of mentor’s orchestral work
(COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 21, 2011) -- From the beginning, the relationship between TTU resident composer Robert Jager and student John Thomas Dodson fulfilled a need in each man to understand music: how to write it, how to play it, how to share it. For 36 years (and counting), their relationship has evolved from teacher-student to academic peers to contemporaries in the music recording industry. This summer, the record label Naxos released a collection of five Jager orchestral compositions conducted by his former student, who went on to serve as music director of a number of orchestras, including the Bryan Symphony from 1993 to 2001. ••• READ MORE
MUSIC MATTERS: BSO contributes to music education for children
(COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 1, 2011) -- It had to be one of the most memorable musical moments in Cookeville ever: The morning when 500 fourth-graders conducted the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Tech University. It didn’t happen just once, either. On Monday, Nov. 14, three different sets of schoolchildren got a lesson in conducting from BSO Music Director Dan Allcott. Down, left, right, up – the enthusiastic students in the audience led 50 professional musicians onstage in a rousing performance of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Altogether, nearly 1,400 fourth-graders took part in this year’s education concerts. ••• READ MORE
Honoring our roots: Bryan Centennial a fascinating look back at early American music
Dulcimer expert charms Cookeville audiences with presentations, performances
When the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and Tennessee Tech University celebrated the centennial of composer Charles Faulkner Bryan this fall, scholars and musicians gathered on campus to learn more about this regrettably obscure contributor to American music. Among Bryan’s passions was the mountain dulcimer, whose origins he helped discover. One of the nation’s most esteemed authorities on the instrument, Ralph Lee Smith of Virginia, gave presentations and performances during the Bryan Centennial on the very instruments Bryan collected in the 1930s and 1940s. Here’s a short video of Ralph Lee Smith made during the celebration.
• Spanish clarinetist returns to Bryan Symphony stage on Nov. 13 (COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 24, 2011)
• BSO's Oct. 9 performance a celebration of place (COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2011)
• TTU commemorates life, music of Charles Faulkner Bryan during centennial celebration (COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 22, 2011)
• Bryan Symphony performs free concert under the stars Sunday, Sept. 4 (COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 22, 2011)
• Bryan Symphony's 49th concert season a mix of young artists, timeless masters (COOKEVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 1, 2011)
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