June 3, 2023

Season finales are often times of mixed emotions. There is the “relief” factor of having gotten through another season. There is the sense of sorrow in its ending and wanting to do it all over again, and then there is the excitement of the season to come.

This season’s Lansing Symphony finale was especially bittersweet. We said official goodbyes to some retiring long-time members of the orchestra (one of which was an old college buddy of mine, timpanist Andrew Spencer. We were at Eastman together back in the previous century). There were also other departures, not officially recognized last night but still sad for me, of some of our top-notch young talent who have been with us just a few years, now moving on in their careers. I wish them well and will miss their artistry and commitment.
 
Another farewell was to Patrick Harlin, LSO’s first-ever Composer-in-Residence. His three-year residency (which was Covid-extended to four years) ended last night with the world premiere of his uplifting piano concerto he called “The Fourth Pedal.” I can’t say enough good things about Patrick’s work with us over that time. He exceeded all expectations in this role and had a wonderful and memorable impact on this community.
 
Pianist Clayton Stephenson was the soloist for the premiere. Clayton played Florence Price’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with us last season on a program that also featured a premiere of Patrick’s. The two got to know each other during that time, and Patrick was so taken with Clayton’s artistry that it was a no-brainer for Patrick in deciding who would premiere his new concerto. Clayton knocked this unique, and engaging concerto out of the park and the audience went wild for it. I think this work will have an interesting life ahead as it gets discovered.
 
We opened the program with Grieg’s Lyric suite, a Nordic balancer for the Sibelius Second Symphony that finished it. The players of the Lansing Symphony were in their usual top form all night. It was a great pleasure to share the music with them.
 
My operations move to New York State soon where I begin my summer series at the Chautauqua Institution. As always, I look forward to my time there.
 
NEXT UP
 
Chautauqua Institution
Music School Festival Orchestra
July 3, 2023, 8:15 p.m.
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
Chautauqua, New York
 
STRAUSS  Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
VALERIE COLEMAN   Umoja: Anthem of Unity
HAYDN   Symphony No. 100 “Military”

#patrickharlin #claytonstephenson #lansingsymphony #thefourthpedal