ProMusica Celebrates 30th Season

13 year old rising star pianist Conrad Tao returns to open the season with a special gift: the world premiere of his new piece aptly titled Fanfare, composed in celebration of ProMusica’s 30th Anniversary. Fanfare was commissioned by the Szykowny Family to honor board member Lee Szykowny’s 50th birthday. In addition, he will dazzle audiences with his technical virtuosity performing Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 2.

Audiences will enjoy a whole season of musical evenings with Beethoven, Bach and Brahms, displayed by renowned guest artists including Gary Hoffman, cello, and Vadim Gluzman, violin; pianist Yuja Wang, violist Paul Neuabuer, flutist Carol Wincenc. Karl Pituch, horn, and Donald Berman, piano, also return to join the orchestra onstage at the Southern Theatre.

The schedule also includes an unforgettable birthday celebration on Jan. 10 and 11, 2009. The music of Peter Schickele, the art of James Thurber and the incredible technology of OSU’s Advanced Computing Center for Arts and Design come together to present Thurber’s Dogs in an evening that fuses music, animation and technology. Thurber’s Dogs was commissioned by ProMusica back in 1994 in honor of James Thurber’s 100th Birthday – and only seemed fitting to bring back this favorite work for such a celebratory occasion.

In December, the orchestra will celebrate the holiday season that includes with a special addition of a 4th added concert at the Pontifical College Josephinum. This weekend kicks off on Friday, Dec. 12 as ProMusica returns to the Southern Theatre for its annual Side-by-Side Sing Along. On Saturday, the Pontifical College Josephinum will host two performances featuring The Lancaster Chorale, and four acclaimed vocal soloists. They will first present an hour-long Family Messiah concert at 2 p.m; and a second Best of Handel’s Messiah later that evening at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday at 7 p.m., ProMusica celebrates the holidays with traditional seasonal favorites, spiced with a few new twists at the Southern Theatre.

The Josephinum Series continues in February, March, and April of 2009. The March performance will help inaugurate the new organ recently installed at the St. Turibius venue, and will feature a variety of works for organ and chamber orchestra. -- www.promusicacolumbus.org