MARCH 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, VA -- Cellist Jesús Morales will appear with the University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra in the final event of the 2002-03 Sonoklect season. The USSO and Sonoklect team up for this exciting performance on Saturday night March 22 at 8pm in the Lenfest Center. The free concert is sure to fill the hall, so plan to arrive early to ensure a seat.

The highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of Terry Vosbein’s “Masque for Cello and Orchestra.” Vosbein is the Sonoklect director and associate professor of music at W&L. The soloist for this work is Puerto Rican cellist Jesús Morales. Vosbein and Morales became friends a decade ago while students at the Cleveland Institute of Music. This marks the second Sonoklect appearance for Morales.

Vosbein began Masque while on sabbatical at Oxford University and completed it the following summer during a residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. It is a five-movement work, light-hearted in spirit and full of fun, adventure and romance. There are elements of jazz and overt romanticism with plenty of virtuosity in the solo cello as well as in the orchestra.

Morales is principal cellist with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico and also professor of cello at the Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico. A favorite of Puerto Rican audiences, he is also an active chamber musician, as cellist of the San Juan String Quartet and the chamber group Concerto.

The USSO is conducted by W&L associate professor of music Barry Kolman. When not leading the USSO and the University Wind Ensemble Dr. Kolman tours extensively guest conducting leading orchestras throughout the world.

In addition to Masque the USSO will perform the inventive second symphony of Charles Ives and a delightful short piece by Igor Stravinsky, Circus Polka. Ives wrote his second symphony in 1900-02, but it did not receive its premiere until Leonard Bernstein conducted it almost fifty years later. Stravinsky composed the Circus Polka in 1942 for the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus, where it was danced by “fifty elephants and fifty beautiful girls in an original choreographic tour de force.”

There will be a reception following he performance to meet and greet the performers. No tickets are required for this concert. For more information please call Sonoklect director Terry Vosbein at 458-8851.

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