July 1, 2025

The Chautauqua Institution's Music School Festival Orchestra kicked off its summer season last night with a program of Mozart, Patrick Harlin and William Grant Still.
 
It is an MSFO tradition to have a classical era work on the opening program. We played the Mozart Symphony 31 “Paris”. Aside from being great music, nothing brings an orchestra together more quickly than the classical style. In many ways it sets the tone and unspoken musical protocols for the summer.
 
Patrick Harlin’s “Earthrise” is a work we premiered in Lansing. That first performance was just off the Covid lockdowns and as a result, Patrick wrote it for a fairly modest size orchestra. He knew our resources here at CHQ and revisited the orchestration, adding several more voices to the instrumental color palette that enhanced an already wonderful piece of music. It was great to have Patrick with us at the concert to speak with the audience and bring them into backstory that inspired the work.
 
The Second Symphony of William Grant Still “Song of a New Race” is one of the great American symphonies. It immediately invites the listener into the symphony’s sound world, a place of beauty, optimism, joy and high spirits. The work was written in the 1930’s and has many elements that reflect that era, but it is also much more--a truly profound and authentic American work
 
Once again, the MSFO is in fine form. It is a great joy and privilege to be a part of this program. This year we had over 540 applicants for our 83 positions.
 
NEXT UP
 
July 7, 2025
 
Music School Festival Orchestra
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
8:15 p.m.
Sean Yang, piano
Hannah Schendel, MSFO conducting fellow
 
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
BARBER First Essay*
DEBUSSY La Mer
 
*Ms. Schendel

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