Courtney Lewis, Music Director of the Jacksonville Symphony, Haskell Endowed Chair On April 28 and 30, the Jacksonville Symphony will present one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most beloved and famous operas, “The Magic Flute.” The two performances will be the culmination of several years of planning and preparation, and the Symphony’s largest production of the season. This is the story … Read More
Silence is Not Golden: Amplifying Student Voices in JSYO
Grant O’Brien, JSYO Music Director and Assistant Conductor, Winston Family Endowed Chair When I accepted the position to be Music Director of the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO), I was determined to create rehearsal environments that differed from that which I had in high school band. This is not to say I had a negative experience. I have so much … Read More
Program Notes: 1,001 Nights: Scheherazade
Program Notes: 1,001 Nights: Scheherazade Jacksonville Symphony 2022/23 Florida Blue Classical Series Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes, Symphonic Poem No. 3: (World Premiere February 23, 1854; Weimar, Germany) (16 minutes) Franz Liszt is celebrated as one of the 19th century’s greatest virtuoso pianists. He is credited with inventing the piano recital as we know it. Music historians also regard him as … Read More
Performance Review: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody
Performance Review: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody The Jacksonville Symphony presented “Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody” this weekend, a luxurious program featuring three of the most important composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. A Game of Cards (Jeu de cartes) by Igor Stravinsky The concert opened with Igor Stravinsky’s A Game of Cards. Of the three works offered on the evening’s program, this was likely … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony Celebrates Black History Month
Marianne Rice, Lory Doolittle Endowed Vice President of Music Education & DEI Initiatives The Jacksonville Symphony shines a spotlight on the artistic innovations of African Americans who have left a resounding impact on symphonic music. Discover more about how the Symphony celebrates Black History Month by following our weekly posts on Instagram, @jaxsymphony. From Then Creating History Through New Music: … Read More
Q&A With Guest Pianist Natasha Paremski
Last year, you joined Vice President & Artistic Administrator Tony Nickle, Music Director Courtney Lewis and President and CEO Steven B. Libman in New York to select the David M. Hicks Steinway Grand Piano. How do you feel about returning to the Jacksonville Symphony and performing on the piano? “I am very excited to return and hear the David M. … Read More
Program Notes: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody
Program Notes: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody Jacksonville Symphony 2022/23 Florida Blue Classical Series Igor Stravinsky’s A Game of Cards (Jeu de cartes): Stravinsky was an international figure. He lived in France and Switzerland before settling in the United States. He was arguably the most important ballet composer of the 20th century. Traditional folk music remained a source of inspiration throughout his career. … Read More
Performance Review: Copland’s Rodeo
Performance Review: Copland’s Rodeo The Jacksonville Symphony presented “Copland’s Rodeo” this weekend, a generous and energetic program featuring four works by American and Mexican composers under the baton of guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto. Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes by Aaron Copland Opening the evening was the Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes by Aaron Copland. Extracted from the 1942 ballet Rodeo, these … Read More
Program Notes: Copland’s Rodeo
Program Notes: Copland’s Rodeo Jacksonville Symphony 2022/23 Florida Blue Classical Series Aaron Copland’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes: Copland was a native New Yorker but studied extensively in Europe. Four years of study in France with Nadia Boulanger, famous music instructor and conductor, solidified his compositional mastery. He found his distinctly American voice composing ballets and patriotic music. An important teacher, … Read More
Reflections on Success: A Shining Season at the Jacksonville Symphony
Steven B. Libman, President and CEO of the Jacksonville Symphony As we approach the end of 2022, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the successes and triumphs the Jacksonville Symphony has achieved over the last twelve months. Before I begin the journey of describing these important milestones, it’s crucial to recognize upfront that these accomplishments were only possible because … Read More