59th Season Announced for Clinton Symphony

A fifty-ninth season of concerts by the Clinton Symphony Orchestra was announced this week by Music Director Brian Dollinger.

The orchestra serves venues in Clinton, Morrison, Sterling, and this year in the new performing arts center in DeWitt. The orchestra is presently offering season tickets, and seeking support for the orchestra’s annual fund from individuals, businesses and foundations, according to Executive Director Robert Whipple.

The season opens September 29 and 30 with a program Dollinger has titled “Fate, Fantasy and Dance.” It includes a set of dances from Aaron Copland’s Rodeo, a piano solo piece by Hatian composer Justin Elie titled Tropical Fantasy, and Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 5. Dr. Joshua Russell, who is a student of Hatian music, is the piano soloist for the program.

The opening program will be performed Saturday, September 29 in Sterling’s Centennial Auditorium, and repeated on Sunday afternoon in DeWitt’s Central Performing Arts Center.

November 4 is the date for the annual performance of chamber music - small ensembles - by the Symphony’s musicians. The Sunday afternoon performance at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton is titled “The Music of Friendships,” and provides a more intimate setting with the musicians.

The Symphony’s Holiday Concert is scheduled for Saturday, December 8 in Vernon Cook Theater in Clinton. The festive performance seems to grow in size each season, and will include other area arts performers.

A young high school musicians will be chosen in January auditions to perform as featured soloist with the orchestra’s “Early Brilliance” concert on February 23 in the Morrison High School Auditorium. Alway a highlight of the season, the Young Artist will be on a program with the Petite Suite of British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and the Symphony in C of Georges Bizet, written when the composer was 17 years old.

“German Splendor” is the program title for Saturday, April 6, to be performed in Clinton’s Vernon Cook Theater. Featured will be Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Siegfried Idyl by Richard Wagner, and Robert Schumann’s third symphony, known as the Rhenish.

Season ticket orders and contributions to the annual fund may be mailed to Clinton Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 116, Clinton, IA 52733-0116. Season tickets as well as individual concert tickets will be available at the door on the first concert weekend.

Information is available on the Symphony’s website at www.clintonsymphony.org, or by telephone at 815-625-0922.