Guest Pianist George Lopez to be Featured on Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) will swing to the biggest hits of the big band era at Big Band Meets the Symphony on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30pm at Hamden Middle School and Sunday, March 8 at 3:00pm at Shelton Intermediate School. Led by NHSO principal pops conductor Chelsea Tipton, the program will include Henry Mancini’s Moon River and Strings on Fire, W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues, Leroy Anderson’s Clarinet Candy featuring the NHSO clarinet section and conductor Chelsea Tipton on clarinet, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring guest pianist George Lopez.
George Lopez, Bowdoin College’s Robert Beckwith Artist in Residence, has been a dedicated and dynamic performer, educator, and lecturer for over 20 years. Known in Europe, South America and the US for his “…kaleidoscopic colors and clarity of conception…” (LA Times) in the standard repertoire as well as being a champion of newly written works, Mr. Lopez is comfortable in all styles of music including jazz, ragtime and more contemporary styles of improvisation. He recently had tours in Philadelphia and NYC. Mr. Lopez is scheduled to make his first visit to Cuba this May to give masterclasses and concerts with his trio. Mr. Lopez lives in Brunswick, Maine with his wife and two children.
American conductor Chelsea Tipton, II has won over audiences and critics alike with his vibrant musicality, accessibility, versatility and extraordinary commitment to education. As a sought after guest conductor, Chelsea has appeared with numerous major orchestras in the U.S., including Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Houston, and Atlanta, among others. During the summer of 2011, he was part of an extensive European tour with pop artist Sting that took him to 15 countries and to work with 19 different European orchestras.
Program: George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; Calvin Custer: A Salute to the Big Apple and A Salute to the Big Bands; W.C. Handy: St. Louis Blues; Henry Mancini: Moon River and Strings on Fire; Leroy Anderson: Clarinet Candy; Jeff Tyzik: Ellington Portrait
Tickets: Single Tickets are $35 or $49. Student tickets are $10 and KidTix (children ages 7-17) are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Blue Star tickets for active military personnel and their immediate families are free. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact the NHSO Box Office at 203.865.0831 x20 or visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.
The 2014-2015 Hamden Pops Series is sponsored by The Whitney Center. The 2014-2015 Hamden Pops Series Media Sponsor is WQUN. The 2014-2015 Shelton Pops Series is sponsored by R.D. Scinto, Inc. The 2014-2015 Season media sponsor is the New Haven Register.
