EXPLORATIONS – The 68th season of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association

The Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Bruce Briney, is preparing to celebrate its 68th season. EXPLORATIONS, the 2015-2016 season of orchestral and chorus concerts, includes premiere performances along with well-known works that audiences love.

Beethoven 5 opens the season on Sunday, Oct. 11. This unique concert spans the centuries with music from 1805 to 2015. Guest soprano Penelope Shumate will join the orchestra for Beethoven’s concert aria “Ah perfido.” The orchestra will also perform the monumental Beethoven “Symphony No. 5” and “Lazulian Circuits,” a newly commissioned work by James Caldwell for orchestra with electronic sound.

Lights, Camera, Action! on Saturday, Nov. 21 includes guest performers Ben Bumbry and the Messengers joining the orchestra for classic movie music. Orchestra selections include John Williams’ music from the Harry Potter series and Leonard Bernstein’s score from “On the Waterfront.”

The Symphony Chorus, conducted by Dr. Phyllis Robertson, will present Glorious Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 5.  This holiday celebration includes the beautiful Pinkham “Gloria” Christmas Cantata, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “Sing We Now of Christmas” as well as many other sounds of the season. A highlight of the evening will be a sing-along of favorite choruses from Handel’s “Messiah.”

Winter Daydreams sets the theme for a Valentine’s Day concert on Feb. 14, 2016. The orchestra demonstrates their exceptional talent as they perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1. The concert will also feature winners of the Young Artists Competition. In its 61st year, the competition is open to area 10th-12th grade musicians. A side-by-side performance of excerpts from Prokofiev’s “Lieutenant Kije” with the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra will add even more energy to this exciting event.

The Cinema Classics choral pops concert will be held Saturday, March 5.  Music from the silver screen gives the chorus a chance to have some fun! Selections include “Hooray for Hollywood,” “Anything Goes,” music from Disney’s “Frozen” as well as many others.  Minor Detail women’s a cappella singers will be guests of the chorus.  This concert is always full of fun, popular music that audiences love.

Adventure is Out There is the theme for the 45th Young Peoples concerts to be performed in March at Baldwin Intermediate School. The 11:30 a.m. performance is free and open to the public. These concerts give area third through sixth graders the opportunity to experience live symphonic music in a setting just for them, but the 45 minute performances are enjoyable for grown-ups too!

The season concludes on April 17 with Shostakovich 5. The concert opens with Karl Jenkins’ inspiring collection called “The Peacemakers.” A major collaborative effort between the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus, this piece offers inspiration through the words of Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Anne Frank, Mother Teresa and others.  The concert, and season, concludes with Shostakovich’s triumphant “Symphony No. 5.”

Season tickets offer a great savings over single ticket prices. Season tickets are available now, and include all of the concerts described above, plus the concerts of the Quincy Area Youth Chorus and the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra. The price of a season ticket is $70 for adults and $60 for seniors. A special promotional offer allows first-time season ticket holders to get two season tickets for the price of one. Single tickets will be available throughout the season at the door, or in advance from Quincy HyVee stores, Sturhahn Jewelers and the QSOA website. Single ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts and are encouraged to attend.

Season sponsors for EXPLORATIONS are Blessing Hospital, Gardner Denver, and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. In-depth information, including program notes and soloist biographies, will be posted throughout the season on the QSOA website, www.qsoa.org and our Facebook page. Call 217-222-2856 for more details or a brochure.