Greeley Philharmonic Reaching for the Stars in Space: The Symphonic Frontier
For Immediate Release: November 11th, 2019
Contact:
Nick Kenny, Executive Director
(970) 356-6406 | nick@greeleyphil.org
Greeley, CO – The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) continues its 109th concert season, Frontiers: Discovering Land, Sea, Sky, Space, and Beyond, with Space: The Symphonic Frontier on Friday, November 15th at 7:30 pm at the Union Colony Civic Center. Sponsored by UCHealth, the GPO is the region’s premier professional orchestra committed to presenting the highest-quality live symphonic performances to Northern Colorado.
Space: The Symphonic Frontier will take our audience on an adventure through the galaxy and will hear just how, without Korngold’s Kings Row Fanfare and Gustav Holst’s The Planets, John Williams’s Star Wars may not have sounded the way we know it. Join us for a pre-concert talk with music director finalist Adam Flatt at 6:30 pm in Hensel Phelps Theatre for an inside scoop of what to listen for during the concert.
Executive Director Nick Kenny reports “If you liked our production of Jurassic World LIVE, this concert only adds to the magic that is live symphonic music. In addition to some of the finest music ever created, the GPO will use two big screens to showcase incredible NASA images of the planets in our solar system, combined with artwork by local artist David Newton, to capture the beauty and majesty of Holst’s The Planets. This performance is rounded out by the explosive Star Wars Suite by John Williams in anticipation of the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated Star Wars film in December.”
Featuring conductor finalist Adam Flatt, GPO Principal Trombonist Nat Wickham, and a crew of characters from a galaxy far, far away, enjoy an evening in the stars with your Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance is presented thanks to the generous sponsorship of Auto Collision Specialists.
What’s Interesting About this Concert:
Kings Row is one of Korngold’s most notable works and was also written for the film of the same name. John Williams drew very specific inspiration from this piece for the opening theme to his Star Wars soundtrack.
John Williams uses leitmotifs, musical themes or phrases that represent a specific character or object, throughout his scores to Star Wars (think Imperial March = Darth Vader).
Holst’s work depicts ideas and emotions of each planet in our solar system, all except for Earth. His own alleged favorite of the suite was Saturn.
The 2019-20 Season is generously sponsored by UCHealth, with additional support by Tower 56 Distilling and Ehrlich Toyota.
Information for tickets and pricing may be found at www.greeleyphil.org or by calling 970-356-5000.
About Nat Wickham
Nat Wickham’s first musical inspirations were experienced in his childhood home where both parents were professional performers and music teachers, and all four siblings have enjoyed professional careers in music. Today, Wickham is a dynamic trombonist who enjoys a career as a classical and jazz solo artist, recording artist, clinician, adjudicator and educator, and performs throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.
About Conductor Finalist Adam Flatt
Adam Flatt, conductor, enjoys a busy and versatile musical presence in three different regions of the United States. In Denver, he serves as Music Director of the Colorado Ballet; in Oregon, Music Director of the Newport Symphony at the Ocean (the Oregon coast’s professional orchestra); and in Alabama the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra.
His prominent presence in the musical life of Colorado extends back many years. When Marin Alsop invited him to join the Colorado Symphony as Associate Conductor in 2001, he began a five-year tenure during which he conducted over 250 performances with the orchestra, including classical subscription, parks, outreach, special event performances, and live broadcasts for radio and television. He created and hosted family and educational concerts that reached tens of thousands of children and families in the region. Mr. Flatt also served a highly acclaimed tenure as Music Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra from 2001-2007 and returned many summers to lead productions with Emerald City Opera, a festival in Steamboat Springs. Adam was also Music Director of the Denver Philharmonic for three years.
Adam is well-known for his inspiring work with music students at the highest level. In recent years he has served on the faculty of Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Rocky Ridge Music Center. He has previously held positions with two of America’s most prominent youth orchestras: the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and conducted a springtime residency with the Landes-Jugend-Sinfonie-Orchester Saar. He has led performances with many excellent university and conservatory orchestras and has taught at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Denver.
Mr. Flatt’s professional career began as Apprentice Conductor to the Oregon Symphony and Music Director James DePreist.
Adam Flatt has guest conducted dozens of symphony orchestras, opera, and ballet companies all over the United States, including the major orchestras of Houston, Saint Louis, and Dallas. In 2019, in addition to the Greeley Philharmonic, he debuts with the Breckenridge Festival Orchestra at the Vail Dance Festival.
Adam Flatt has his bachelor’s degree with honors in music from the University of California at Berkeley, and his master’s degree in conducting from the Indiana University School of Music. He studied music for two years in Austria and Germany, and was a fellowship conducting student at the Aspen Music Festival.
Adam Flatt lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and two young children.
About the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1911, the GPO is the oldest continually operated professional orchestra west of the Mississippi River. The organization provides the highest degree of music and cultural enrichment in Northern Colorado. Education initiatives continue to engage and inspire youth, promoting an interest in classical music. All musicians have auditioned and been contracted by the GPO. Over 70% of the GPO’s orchestra members hold a Master’s Degree or higher, and many have made successful careers performing for the GPO and other professional orchestras throughout the Front Range and beyond.
Concerts feature repertoire spanning hundreds of years, showcasing composers from across the globe. The GPO is invested in the future of classical music and its relevance in its community, presenting annual Fifth Grade concerts, outreach to schools, side-by-side coaching sessions, and a Junior Ambassador program.
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