BY WESLEY SCHULZ
One of my favorite aspects of Bainbridge Island is the sense of community and togetherness, especially with respect to art and culture.
For a small town, Bainbridge Island has a remarkable number of musical groups, theater troupes, visual artists and more. At the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra we have made it a core part of our mission to collaborate with as many of these arts organizations as we can.
This year we look forward to performing with the Shakespeare Society, the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra, the winner of the Young Artist Competition, and in late February, the Amabile Choir led by Anne Pell.
Our concerts on Feb. 28 and March 1 are very special for the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra. These performances celebrate the incredible gift of a new set of Yamaha timpani funded by the Fletcher Bay Foundation, a longtime supporter of the orchestra.
The cornerstone of the program is Michael Daugherty’s timpani concerto entitled “Raise the Roof!” in which the new set of timpani will be showcased with Gunnar Folsom serving as soloist.
The work was commissioned and premiered by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2003 to commemorate the opening of the Max Fisher Music Center. A rare instrument to be featured as a concerto soloist, this work will highlight the timpani both as an expressive, melodic instrument as well as a tour de force of passion and rhythmic energy. This work lives up to its name, I promise; so don’t be surprised if the roof of BPA is slightly ajar after these performances!
The remainder of the program continues to highlight the timpani but will also present works by some of America’s greatest composers.
We will perform two short works by Aaron Copland including his “Variations on a Shaker Melody,” a powerful opening number by Pulitzer Prize-winner Kevin Puts called “Millennium Canons” and Dvořák’s “American Suite,” which was written during an extended stay of his in the United States in 1894.
The final work on the program is Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” featuring Mark Salman on piano and Anne Pell and the Amabile Choir. I selected this work thoughtfully – envisioning it as the ideal finale for a program conceived from the idea of community spirit. As an orchestra we are grateful to all of our supporters: sponsors, grant foundations, donors, volunteers, musicians, and especially our audience. Beethoven’s grand homage to music brings together an army of musicians (orchestra, pianist, and chorus) in unity and strength. Bainbridge Island is an incredible place to make music, and this program is our gift to you.
Wesley Schulz is music director and conductor of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra.
‘Raise the Roof!’
Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra presents “Raise the Roof!” Performances are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1 (A pre-concert chat is 2:15 p.m. Sunday.)
This special program is one of celebration, community and the American spirit. Through the generous support of the Fletcher Bay Foundation we are showcasing our new set of timpani in American composer Michael Daugherty’s thrilling concerto, “Raise the Roof!” performed by Gunnar Folsom. Kevin Puts won the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 and his work for orchestra, “Millennium Canons,” will have its Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra debut.
Closing the performance in grand fashion is Beethoven’s “Chorale Fantasy” featuring the BSO, Mark Salman on piano, and the Amabile Choir with director Anne Pell.
Tickets are $19 for adults, and $16 for seniors, students, military and teachers; each youth receives free admission when accompanied by a paying adult at 206-842-8569 or www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org.
