The Quincy Symphony Orchestra, directed by Dr. Bruce Briney, offers its second concert of 76th season with “Secrets of the Rhine” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 in Quincy Junior High’s Morrison Theater. QSO Principal Trumpet Aren Van Houzen shines as featured soloist on Alexander Arutiunian’s “Concerto for Trumpet.”
Van Houzen works as an educator and freelance performer throughout eastern Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. He is Principal Trumpet of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and 2nd Trumpet of Orchestra Iowa. Aren is an Assistant Professor of Music at Culver-Stockton College, teaching applied brass lessons, jazz studies and other courses. He earned a B.A. in Trumpet Performance from Hope College, Holland, Mich, an M.A. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Iowa, Iowa City and a Ph.D. in Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance, University of Iowa. Aren began soloing at age 17 with a performance of Haydn’s trumpet concerto with the Holland (Mich.) Youth Symphony and has continued to be featured at several Midwest performing organizations.
The QSO has performed three of Johannes Brahms’ four masterful symphonies during Briney’s tenure as music director. The group completes the cycle with the triumphant “Symphony No. 3.” At a time when many composers and performers adopted personal mottos, Brahms chose “Frei aber froh” (Free but happy) and used the pitches of its initials — F-A-F — as the motif for his Symphony No. 3. Those notes hit you immediately and the stride intensifies the pace of this richly romantic piece.
The concert opens with the dashing overture from the mysterious tale of “Russlan and Ludmilla” by Mikhail Glinka.
Single tickets will be available throughout the season at the door, or in advance from Quincy HyVee stores, Sturhahn Jewelers, and the QSOA website. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Thanks to support from the Community Foundation and the Tracy Family Foundation, children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts and are encouraged to attend.
The Secrets of the Rhine concert is sponsored by Quincy Recycle. The Arthur & Lela Lindsay Family is the Guest Artist Sponsor and Winters LLP is the Music Sponsor. The 2023-24 Season Sponsors are Blessing Hospital and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. Program notes and soloist biographies are available at www.qsoa.org. Call 217-222-2856 for more information.
