Shoals Symphony at UNA 2012-13 season

FLORENCE – From Gershwin to Tchaikovsky to a world premiere, the 2012-2013 season of the Shoals Symphony at UNA promises to be spectacular, said Viljar Puu Weimann, the symphony’s music director and conductor.

The upcoming performances also mark the symphony’s 30th anniversary season.

“To open the season, Yakov Kasman, a silver medalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will play Rachmanioff’s ‘Paganini Variations’ in October,” Weimann said. “To celebrate our 30th anniversary, we have commissioned a symphony and will premiere it at the December concert. In March, we have a special family concert planned which will feature Britten’s ‘The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.’ Our season will close in May with a concert extravaganza when we bring to you Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’.”

Here are the details:

•  “Music & The Musician Extraordinaire,” 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14, Norton Auditorium at the University of North Alabama, Florence. Featured pieces are Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 and Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” Op. 43. Kasman, the Van Cliburn winner, will perform.
•  “Celebration Concert,” 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9, Norton Auditorium. Florence native Roger Briggs will conduct the world premiere of his Symphony No. 2, “The Shoals.” The Shoals Symphony at UNA commissioned the piece to celebrate its 30th anniversary. In addition, the program includes “Le Corsaire,” overture, Op. 21, by Hector Berloiz; Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Prologo” from “Pagliacci” and Puccini’s “Si mi chiamano Mimi” from “La Boheme” and “O mio babbino caro” from “Gianni Schicchi.”
• “A Family Concert,” 2 p.m., Sunday, March 10, Norton Auditorium. Featured pieces are Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” Op. 34; George Gershwin’s “Cuban Overture;” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” and Irving Berlin’s “A Symphonic Portrait.” Also, the winner of the UNA Concerto Competition will perform.
• “Choral Extravaganza!”, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4, Norton Auditorium. The UNA Combined Chorus, directed by Ian Loeppky, will join the symphony for Schubert’s No. 8 in B minor, “Unfinished,” and Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” Soloists are Terrance Brown, baritone; Tiffany Bostic-Brown, soprano; and Roderick George, tenor.

Season tickets are $50 for adults and include one ticket for each of the four performances. FlexPass tickets that include four tickets to be used in any combination are $50 for adults and $20 for ages 18 and under. In addition, those who make donations at various levels become members of the symphony’s Director’s Circle and receive benefits such as free FlexPass tickets and invitations to special concerts and events.

Individual tickets also are sold in advance of each performance and at the door.

For details, call UNA’s department of music and theatre, 256.765.5122 or visit www.una.edu/shoals-symphony.