Unorchestrated

The Akron Symphony continues its 71st season on November 16th with a marquee pairing of two wonderfully bright and joyful pieces — Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, and Schubert’s Fifth Symphony.

On this episode of Unorchestrated, we’re excited to be joined by none other than our violin soloist tasked with taking on one of today’s most beloved pieces in the classical repertoire: The wonderfully talented Bethlehem Kelley!

The Akron Symphony continues its 71st season with Gustav Holst’s The Planets on October 19 at EJ Thomas Hall. The evening will also feature performances of Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question, Franz Liszt’s Les Preludes, and Methuselah, a co-commissioned work by Gity Razaz. 

Gity is an Iranian-American composer whose music has been referred to as “ravishing and engulfing” by the New York Times, and, of an “uncompromising beauty” by BBC Music Magazine.

In this episode, we sit down with Music Director Christopher Wilkins and Gity to discuss Methuselah, along with more about this celestial-packed concert evening. 

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Holst’s The Planets on October 19, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org. 

The Akron Symphony will open its new season with Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto on September 21 at EJ Thomas Hall. The evening will also feature a performance of George Chadwick’s Jubilee and Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3.

In this episode, we sit down with Music Director Christopher Wilkins and guest pianist Gabriela Martinez to discuss one of the most celebrated works in the piano repertoire. The concerto is renowned for its sweeping melodies, emotional depth, and technical demands, showcasing the pianist's virtuosity. This work not only solidified Rachmaninoff’s reputation as a composer but also redefined the Romantic concerto with its expressive power.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto, featuring Gabriella Martinez, on September 21 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

Musical excerpts are from a performance by Gabriela Martinez with the Simón Bolívar Orchestra  in 2023.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra and Akron Symphony Chorus will present Mozart’s Great Mass on May 11 at EJ Thomas Hall. The performance will include Lili Boulanger’s On a Spring Morning and Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin.

Mozart’s Great Mass stands as a monumental testament to his genius and devout faith. The work embodies the grandeur of sacred music with its intricate choral writing, lush orchestration, and profound emotional depth. From delicate soprano solos to thunderous orchestral passages, the Mass captivates with its sublime beauty and spiritual fervor. 

In this episode, Music Director Christopher Wilkins and Chorus Director Chris Albanese will discuss the upcoming performance, with musical excerpts from a 2006 performance of Mozart’s Great Mass by the orchestra and chorus.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra and Akron Symphony Chorus will present Mozart’s Great Mass on May 11, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony will present Tchaikovsky and Bowden with guest soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden on April 6 at EJ Thomas Hall. The performance will include Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on “Greensleeves”, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, Jennifer Higdon’s “Reel Time”, and Julia Perry’s Prelude for Strings.

The highlight of the evening will be the Ohio premiere of Bohemian Queen, a trumpet concerto composed by Clarice Assad and featuring classical trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden, who has been praised for her splendid, brilliant playing, and pure, refined, and warm tone.

In this episode, we are joined by Mary Elizabeth Bowden to discuss Bohemian Queen, which celebrates the surrealist painter Gertrude Abercrombie – “the queen of the bohemian artists” – whose life and art were entwined with such Chicago jazz scene legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan.

Classical trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden is a highly in-demand soloist, praised for her “splendid, brilliant” playing (Gramophone Magazine). A Gold Medal Global Music Award Winner, Opus Klassik Nominee, and Yamaha Performing Artist, Bowden works to establish a new repertoire for the trumpet through creative commissioning projects and award-winning albums. Learn more at maryelizabethbowden.com.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Tchaikovsky and Bowden on April 6, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony will present Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony, nicknamed Romantic, on March 2 at EJ Thomas Hall.

Bruckner’s composition, his first to receive widespread acclaim, showcases the composer’s unique style and is filled with lyrical themes, expressive contrasts, splendid orchestration, glorious climaxes, and dramatic developments. 

In the second episode of this two-part series, Music Director Christopher Wilkins and Matthew Mauro, acting principal horn, take a deeper dive into Bruckner’s music. 

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony, along with Wagner’s Lohengrin Prelude, on March 2, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm.

Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony will present Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony, nicknamed Romantic, on March 2 at EJ Thomas Hall. Bruckner’s composition, his first to receive widespread acclaim, showcases the composer’s unique style and is filled with lyrical themes, expressive contrasts, splendid orchestration, glorious climaxes, and dramatic developments. 

In the first episode of a two-part series, Music Director Christopher Wilkins and Matthew Mauro, acting principal horn, discuss Matt’s career, and Matt shares some of his experiences with the audition process for an orchestra.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony, along with Wagner’s Lohengrin Prelude, on March 2, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony and the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir will celebrate 30 years of music and fellowship during Gospel Meets Symphony on February 10 at EJ Thomas Hall.

Led by Maestro Christopher Wilkins and Gospel Meets Symphony Choirmaster Jonathon Turner, the evening will highlight the community spirit that has made GMS one of Northeast Ohio’s most enduring musical traditions.

In this episode, Christopher, Jonathon and Brenda Justice,  coordinator of choral programs at the Akron Symphony, discuss what the program means to Akron, share some memories of past performances, and talk about the upcoming concert.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra and the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir will present Gospel Meets Symphony on February 10, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony will open the second half of the season with a performance featuring Mozart’s 29th Symphony on January 13 at EJ Thomas Hall. The evening will also fully embrace Akron as the Orchestra performs Jake Gunnar Walsh & Jon Sonnenberg’s Conflagration - featuring EarthQuaker devices - and Mary Lou Williams’ jazz-infused Zodiac Suite, featuring longtime friend of the ASO and Akron’s own Theron Brown and his quartet.

In this episode, Music Director Christopher Wilkins and Theron discuss the program, emphasizing the career and influence of composer Mary Lou Williams.

Theron resides in Akron, where he is a Professor of Practice at The University of Akron teaching jazz piano, artist coordinator for the I Promise School, and is immensely involved in promoting the music scene and the arts. He is the founder of the Rubber City Jazz & Blues Festival, which takes place in Akron’s downtown historic district. Theron frequently tours and plays with his trio including Zaire Darden on drums and Jordan McBride on bass.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present EarthQuaker & Mozart on January 13, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.

The Akron Symphony will present Dvořák’s warm-hearted, ecstatic, and deeply lyrical Cello Concerto with guest soloist Khari Joyner on November 18 at EJ Thomas Hall. The performance will also include William Grant Still’s Festive Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.

Like the New World Symphony, the Cello Concerto is another work hailing from Dvořák’s American period and is therefore infused with the same sense of homesick longing that pervades the symphony. 

Khari Joyner has a following both nationally and abroad as a versatile concert cellist, chamber musician and ambassador for the arts. He has made numerous guest appearances with orchestras and ensembles across the world, and is a passionate advocate for the music of the 21st century. He is also currently an assistant professor at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

Learn more about Khari’s career at kharijoyner.com.

The Akron Symphony Orchestra will present Dvořák’s Cello Concerto on November 18, 7:30 pm, at EJ Thomas Hall. The Preview from the Podium begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at akronsymphony.org.