Idaho State-Civic Symphony announces 2013-14 officers and season

The Idaho State-Civic Symphony announced its new board members and its upcoming season.

The new board members are Paul Link, president; Rayna Valentine, president-elect; Kate Fornarotto, vice-president; Joel Phillips, secretary; and David Green returning as treasurer.

Joining them on the Executive Committee are Immediate Past-President Carol Burnett, new Artistic Director/Conductor Dr. Grant Harville, and Executive Director Heather Sandy.

"To celebrate the first season with our new conductor, we are launching a colorful 'kaleidoscope' season with a great mix of music and styles to appeal to a variety of musical tastes," Link said. "Selections range from deFalla's 'Sombrero de tres picos,' to an Irish rhapsody, concertos by Brahms, Bruch, and Mozart, even the rousing 'Triumphal March' from Aida—minus the elephants, of course." 

The Joy to the World Christmas concert is again scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday performances, as will the season series finale, Verdi's "Requiem.'

Guest artists will include ISU faculty members and performing artists, pianist Mark Neiwirth and clarinetist Shandra Helman. The opening concert will feature acclaimed South Korean violinist, Chee Yun.

"We believe this will truly be a gem of a season and have nicknamed each concert accordingly,"Sandy said.

Season tickets are now available from the ISU Box Office at the Stephens Performing Arts Center at a cost of $130 for adults, $118 for ISU faculty/staff members, and $70 for students through high school age, plus applicable handling and credit card fees.

Two separately priced concerts are scheduled in addition to the classical concert series.  The first is a Family Concert matinee performance on Saturday Oct. 26. Pre-concert activities for children will begin at 1 p.m. in the Stephens Performing Arts Center Rotunda, with the concert following in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall. Maestro Harville has chosen an entertaining program with selections from "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Indiana Jones," as well as the musical story of "Peter and the Wolf" and the dramatic "Masquerade Suite." Tickets are $27 for a family of up to 6 individuals, $12 for adults.

The annual POPS Concert fundraiser and pre-concert raffle activities will take place on Valentine's Day, Friday, Feb. 14. This gala event features Mariachi Champa᷈᷈na Nevin, a union of world-class mariachi musicians with the finest classical string players, trumpet players and vocalists to create a "symphonic mariachi." Their artistic director, trumpet virtuoso Jeff Nevin, has developed a large canon of original music scored for mariachi and symphony orchestra.  All seats are $32. 

For complete programming information, biographical notes, photos, donation opportunities, and pre-concert activities, visit www.thesymphony.us or follow The Symphony on Facebook. For ordering information contact the Box Office at 282-3595 or visit www.isu.edu/tickets.

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