The Schumann Connection

The final concert of the 2009-2010 Season is two weeks away and will feature a number of national guest artists as well as a fantastic lineup of inspiring music. The evening begins with the "Tragic Overture" written by Johannes Brahms. The passion and fire ooze from within this fiery piece and the orchestra starts off with a bang. We then invite our first guest artist, Duane Funderburk, to the stage to play the opening movement of Robert Schumann's "Piano Concerto No.1 in A minor". Mr. Funderburk tours around the world as a soloist and in his famous duo, the Los Angeles Collaboration, featuring Duane on piano and Alex Russell on violin. The Schumann concerto is ripe with passion from the opening chord and Mr. Funderburk's piano playing takes us on a journey of emotional adventure until the final chord.

Following this concerto we invite our next guest artist, Darlene Matrone and her husband Tom Matrone, to the stage for the Bach "Concerto for two pianos and strings". Darlene is a fantastic piano player who is in high demand as one of the finest accompanist's in Southern Missouri. She plays for numerous community choirs and local schools and gives private lessons for excelling students. Tom Matrone resides in Springfield, Missouri where he serves in multiple positions of musical influence. He teaches at both Evangel University and Central Bible College working with various choirs and conducting students. He serves as the Music Director at Central Assembly of God, where his choir of one-hundred and forty is one of the finest choirs in the nation. He also currently serves as the National Music Director for the Assemblies of God where his influence on music in worship is helping numbers of churches stay relevant in their approach while using a variety of styles and programs such as the choir and orchestra. The Bach Concerto features two grand pianos and three movements of exciting back and forth drama between the pianos and strings.

After intermission our Chamber Chorale performs the recently written "Te Deum" by composer Mark Hayes. Tom Matrone will conduct this short but well written arrangement which uses multiple rhythmic settings and both English and Latin text to evoke various modes and emotions.

The final piece of the evening is Schumann's "Symphony No. 1" known as the Spring Symphony. Schumann composed the four movements in January looking forward to the Spring season and each movement gives a characteristic of a different longing for this change.

This final concert hosts a number of fabulous pieces all performed by incredible musicians hoping to inspire you to take on the challenges that come to you each and every day. This concert will also feature a public announcement for a new arts project in West Olympia that you won't want to miss out on!