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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (Nov. 3, 2011) — The Milligan College Concert Choir, under the direction of Noah DeLong, will return as a featured guest of the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Memorial Chapel at Milligan College.
Milligan’s Concert Choir is an auditioned mixed chorus with a varied repertoire of classics, spirituals, hymn arrangements and musical theater. Milligan’s Choir has invited the choir from King College in Bristol, directed by Dr. Patrick Flannagan, to join them at the concert. Maestro Rob Seebacher, in his third season with the JCSO, will conduct the concert.
This second concert in the JCSO’s 42nd season also will feature two returning musicians, Aryn Sweeney and Chih-Long Hu. Sweeney served as principal oboist with the symphony the last three seasons. She will perform Eric Ewazen’s “Down a River of Time.”
Ewazen, one of America’s most prolific modern composers, has written music for a wide range of instrumental combinations. “Down a River of Time,” originally commissioned for oboist Linda Strommen, reflects a journey that encompasses the emotions of losing a loved one—both happy and sad memories—and focuses on the importance of dreams and ideals.
Chih-Long Hu performed on piano with the orchestra last February. Hu and the choirs will be featured in Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy, Op. 80, Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra.”
Written at the last minute for an encore to a benefit concert for Beethoven himself, the “Choral Fantasy” opens with the solo piano, which is later joined by the orchestra. The piano comes in again later with a melodic line similar to the “Ode to Joy” in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. This theme is the basis for the variations that follow. The choral text was written by an unidentified author and reflects the change from darkness to light that is characteristic of Beethoven’s style.
Sweeney, who was on the faculty of East Tennessee State University while she played for the JCSO, is presently a faculty member at Ball State University School of Music and is a member of the Musical Arts Wind Quintet. She has a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Michigan and has won numerous prizes in international competitions. She has performed with many prominent artists and symphony orchestras, and has given solo recitals throughout the United States and Europe. She has been a member of several established ensembles, including the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Windsor Symphony, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains and the American Youth Symphony.
Chih-Long Hu remains on the faculty of the music department at ETSU. His honors include awards from many international piano competitions. A native of Taiwan, Hu has performed extensively in Asia, Europe, and North America. He has toured as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, and has collaborated with many conductors. He received a doctor of musical arts degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan.
The November concert is sponsored by Fred and Roberta Simerly and Ralph and Deborah Van Brocklin.
The concert is free for Milligan faculty, staff, and students (present Milligan ID at door for ticket). For other ticket pricing and reservations, please contact the JCSO at 423.92-MUSIC or visit www.jcsymphony.com.