The Allentown Symphony Orchestra salutes \u201cAmerica250\u201d and the Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir presents \u201cRaise Your Voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO) presents \u201cFamily Concert: \u201cAmerica250!,\u201d 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program tells one of many stories of America using Benjamin Franklin as the narrator,\u201d says ASO Guest Conductor Brent Chancellor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take audiences on a musical journey through early American history, combining classical pieces, historically grounded songs and even Broadway favorites to share about our nation\u2019s beginnings,\u201d Chancellor says.<\/p>\n
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra presents \u201cFamily Concert: \u201cAmerica250!,\u201d 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.<\/p>\n
The Allentown Symphony Orchestra opens with John Williams\u2019 \u201cLiberty Fanfare\u201d (1986), a commissioned work to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.<\/p>\n
Says Chancellor, \u201cFor me, one of the most fascinating and memorable elements of this program is the inclusion of Benjamin Franklin\u2019s own musical invention, the glass harmonica, aka the glass armonica.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t something you hear every day. It\u2019s a direct connection to American history itself, since Franklin invented it in the 18th century. Featuring a specialist performer on the glass armonica adds a layer of curiosity and wonder that perfectly complements the historical narrative woven through this program.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI first became aware of glass instruments at about the age of 6 while visiting the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia,\u201d says glass armonica player Dennis James.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can still recall being mesmerized by the appearance of the original Benjamin Franklin armonica, then on display in its own showcase in the entry rotunda of the city\u2019s famed science museum.\u201d<\/p>\n
James performs the \u201cRondo\u201d movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart\u2019s \u201cAdagio and Rondo for Glass Harmonica in C minor, K. 617\u201d (1791).<\/p>\n
\u201cI also love how the concert brings history to life through storytelling, particularly with the narrator portraying Benjamin Franklin,\u201d says Chancellor, adding, \u201cThat theatrical character-driven element makes the music more than just notes on a page and transforms the concert into a journey through America.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s deeply engaging, especially for young audience members who get to experience classical music in a narrative context.<\/p>\n
Narrator, writer, historian and historical interpreter Christopher Black portrays Benjamin Franklin, providing wit, wisdom and revolutionary spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thrilled and honored to have this wonderful opportunity to share the history of our country through the spirit of Benjamin Franklin and live music,\u201d says Black, adding, \u201cFranklin in so many ways represents what is best in our past, and what potential this country holds for all people, no matter how humble their beginnings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three student vocalists will grace the stage:<\/p>\n
Natalie Iwans from Emmaus High School performs an arrangement of Irving Berlin\u2019s \u201cGive Me Your Tired, Your Poor\u201d (1949).<\/p>\n
\u201cMomma Look Sharp\u201d from the film and Broadway musical, \u201c1776,\u201d features Parkland High School vocalist Deven Ruiz<\/p>\n
Olivia Gandre of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts performs Harry Burleigh\u2019s arrangement of \u201cDeep River.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ASO performs the second movement of Antonin Dvorak\u2019s \u201cSymphony No. 9 in E minor \u2018From the New World\u2019, Op. 95\u201d (1893), reflective of Dvorak\u2019s impressions of America, and closes the concert with two John Philip Sousa marches, \u201cLiberty Bell March\u201d and \u201cStars and Stripes Forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Says Black, \u201cThe music takes us on the journey that is the United States of America, including, Dr. Franklin\u2019s very own, Glass Armonica.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brent Chancellor is Assistant Conductor and Executive Director of the Reading Symphony Orchestra, Curator of New Music at Artpark, Founding Music Director of the LUX Initiative and a frequent guest conductor with leading orchestras.<\/p>\n
Christopher Black is Artistic Director of the Bachmann Players, Easton. He received a degree in Performing Arts from Bennington College and is a graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory.<\/p>\n
Dennis James is a performing and recording multi-instrumentalist, performing collector of rare historical instruments and a concert and silent film score organist. He has bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees in organ performance.<\/p>\n
Families attending the concert are invited to the Orchestra Lab in the Third Floor Rodale Room from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for a hands-on introduction to musical instruments. Ben Franklin will be present.<\/p>\n
Allentown Symphony Orchestra, \u201cFamily Concert: \u201cAmerica 250!,\u201d 2 p.m. Feb. 28, Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown. Free tickets for those 21 and under. Tickets: box office; 610-432-6715; https:\/\/millersymphonyhall.org<\/p>\n
The Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir presents \u201cRaise Your Voice,\u201d 7 p.m. March 5, Lamberton Hall, Lehigh University, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my second time organizing this concert, which includes not only the Dolce Treble Choir, but groups of the greater Lehigh University community, including the Lehigh Silver Flute Ensemble,\u201d says Liz Olson, Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir Conductor and Associate Director of Choral Activities.<\/p>\n
The event was founded about 10 years ago by former Dolce Director Sun Min Lee and includes dancers, artists and poets.<\/p>\n
Says Olson, \u201cThe music selections of this fundraiser concert are quite varied and tell a story amplifying a message of empowerment: you are beautiful; you are enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir, \u201cRaise Your Voice,\u201d 7 p.m. March 5, Lamberton Hall, Lehigh University, 690 Taylor St., Bethlehem. The concert is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required. Information: 610-758-2787 ext. 0; https:\/\/zoellner.cas.lehigh.edu\/content\/dolce-treble-choir-raise-your-voice<\/p>\n
\u201cClassical View\u201d is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com<\/p>\n
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGlass Harmonica, aka glass armonic, player Dennis James.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY VASMEEN ANDERSONAllentown Symphony Orchestra guest conductor Brent Chancellor.<\/p>\n
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOLiz Olson, Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir Conductor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Allentown Symphony Orchestra salutes \u201cAmerica250\u201d and the Lehigh University Dolce Treble Choir presents \u201cRaise Your Voice.\u201d The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":125032,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-125031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125031\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}