Ashland Symphony Orchestra

“The Jewel of Ashland County”

40th Anniversary Season

Arie Lipsky, Music Director/Conductor

“Ruby Slippers & Emerald Cities”

Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 4:00 p.m. - Hugo Young Theatre

“Classical Jewels”

Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 7:30 p.m. - Hugo Young Theatre

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Ashland Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Arie Lipsky, continues its 40th anniversary season with two concerts Saturday, March 27, 2010.   “Ruby Slippers & Emerald Cities,” the annual free Young People’s Concert, will begin at 4:00 p.m., and the subscription series concert “Classical Jewels” will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Both performances will be held in the Hugo Young Theatre at Ashland University.

“Ruby Slippers & Emerald Cities” will transport the audience over the rainbow to the Land of Oz with music from The Wizard of Oz, Wicked and The Wiz.  Excerpts from the evening’s concert will also be performed.  Local educator and story-teller Dave Kowalka will emcee the performance.

Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Wizard of Oz or other character.  All children who attend in costume will be eligible for a prize drawing.

All seating is general admission.  This concert is free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of the Ashland Times-Gazette and the Hugo Young Foundation, underwriters for the concert.  Additional support is provided by Home Savings and an anonymous donor.

“Classical Jewels” is the fifth subscription concert of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra’s 40th anniversary season.  The evening will open with Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, op. 25 (Symphony No. 1).  World-class harpist Primor Sluchin will join the ASO in a performance of Boieldieu’s Concerto for Harp in C Major.  Ms. Sluchin commissioned a new orchestration of the concerto, which will be performed for the first time with the ASO.  The concert will conclude with Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 (“Italian”) by Mendelssohn.

Ms. Sluchin has been the principal harpist for the Opéra Royal de Wallonie since 2003.  She performs as a chamber musician and soloist with orchestras such as the Tel Aviv Chamber Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and Louis Poulet Chamber Orchestra in Belgium.  She is a member of the Multilateral Ensemble which promotes French musical creation, and regularly plays in the Duo Sluchin with her brother, violinist Naaman Sluchin.  Ms. Sluchin is Maestro Arie Lipsky’s niece.

Primor Sluchin’s performance is sponsored by Ann Guthrie, and program printing is sponsored by Agnes Dinsmore.  Patrons are invited to join Maestro Lipsky, Ms. Sluchin, musicians and friends in the foyer for a reception immediately following the concert.

All seats for the evening concert are reserved.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the AU box office at 419-289-5125 noon-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, or they may be purchased at the box office the evening of the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Season ticket holders who are unable to attend are urged to release their seats by calling the symphony office at 419-289-5115.

Please notify the symphony office if you need assistance parking or entering the theatre, to discuss special needs or to request additional information concerning the facilities.  For additional information please visit the Symphony’s website at www.ashlandsymphony.org.