Passions & Reveries – The 69th season of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association

The Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Bruce Briney, is preparing its 69th season: Passions & Reveries. The 2016-2017 series of orchestral and chorus concerts include a broad collection of works from the Romantic period with a sprinkling of modern and newly commissioned pieces.

“Russian Exhibition” opens the season on Sunday, Oct. 9.  The orchestra will perform “Capriccio Espagnol” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and two pieces by Modest Mussorgsky:  the beloved “Pictures at an Exhibition” and the lesser-known Prelude to “Khovanshchina: Dawn Over the Moscow River.”

The Quincy Symphony Chorus, conducted by Dr. Phyllis Robertson, will present “American Spirit” on Saturday, Nov. 5. This concert celebrates the genius of songwriters from the United States and includes a wide variety of musical styles. A special feature is the performance of “The World Beloved:  A Bluegrass Mass” by Carol Barnett. This piece blends the classical mass, modern choral sophistication and traditional bluegrass instrumentation into an exhilarating experience. The musicians join with the choir to create a sound that is both playful and joyful, melodic and rhythmic.

The “Holiday Festival Family Concert” on Saturday, Dec. 3 will include a variety of jolly songs and traditional carols. The Quincy Symphony Chorus and Quincy Area Youth Chorus will join the orchestra for a glorious production of music and song.  A special part of the concert will include the winner of Encore’s “Battle for the Baton” contest conducting Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.” The audience is asked to bring non-perishable items for The Crossing Food Pantry. This glorious concert has become a Quincy tradition.

“Shakespeare’s Vision” highlights the love of Romeo and Juliet on Sunday, Feb. 12. The orchestra will perform both the Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev versions of this tragic love story. The winners of our annual Young Artist Competition will be showcased and a side-by-side performance of Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dance No. 1” with the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Richard Cangro, will add to this exciting event.

The “Songs of our History” choral concert will be held Saturday, March 4, in Salem Evangelical UCC.  This event traces American music through eras including the Old West, the Civil War, World War I and II. Spirituals, Ragtime and Broadway tunes will also be included.

“Dance Party” will be the theme of the 46th Young Peoples concerts to be performed in March at Baldwin Intermediate School. 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!

Our season ends with the grand “Symphonie Fantastique” concert on Saturday, April 29. This jam-packed event includes our newly commissioned piece by Missouri composer Stephanie Berg and a virtuosic piano performance by Culver Stockton College’s Dylan Marney. The concert concludes with Hector Berlioz’s epic “Symphonie Fantastique.”

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 offer allows first-time season ticket holders to get two season tickets for the price of one before October 9. Single tickets will be available throughout the season at the door, or in advance from Sturhahn Jewelers and Quincy HyVee stores. 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 Passions & Reveries are Blessing Health System and 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. Call 217-222-2856 for more details or a brochure.