The Masters
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra began 26 years ago with the purpose of offering an unparalleled concert experience to the Hilton Head Island area residents and visitors. Each year our accomplished conductor, musicians, soloists and distinguished guest artists put their heart and soul into each and every concert to bring you a new and exciting season.
The Symphony’s 27th season repertoire focuses on music of the Masters, with major pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Sibelius, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky in eight classically themed concerts which includes a month-long festival of Mozart and a tribute for Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday, along with two “milestone” Pops Concerts marking Leroy Anderson’s and Benny Goodman’s 100th birthdays
Maestra Green, currently in her 11th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra is providing us with masters of the clarinet, flute, marimba, piano, trumpet, viola, violin and outstanding singers and choruses as featured guest artists.
This year we welcome Mary M. Briggs as the HHSO’s new Executive Director. Ms. Briggs was formerly Assistant Superintendent of the Beaufort County School district, a position she has held since 2005. She began her tenure with the school system eleven years ago as the Executive Principal of Hilton Head Elementary School and has been active in Rotary and the Chamber, developing relationships with County leadership. She has a passion for classical music, beginning her teaching profession in Music Education, and has performed with the Symphony Orchestra in the past. Welcome, Mary!
Of course, we never forget the people behind our success, our generous sponsors, the HHSO’s visionary Board, and the tireless administrative staff. Most important of all, however, is you - our audience. It is you who make it possible. We invite you to take the opportunity of sharing our passion for the music to create an unforgettable experience in the upcoming season.
Your support of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra helps to enrich our community and sustain the many programs that the HHSO has established. The HHSO Education and Outreach Program provides a variety of music programs in area schools to introduce students to classical music, encourage participation in school instrumental classes and to support educational activities that foster self esteem. The HH Youth Orchestra takes that initiative one step further and provides young musicians with challenging rehearsal and performance experiences in a professional environment. The HH International Piano Competition’s mission is to encourage and support excellence in the performance of classical piano music by showcasing the talents of young pianists on the threshold of their careers. Lastly, The League of the HHSO is an organization of women and men who enjoy symphonic music and are dedicated to supporting and promoting the HHSO through special events, fund-raising and volunteer services. Established in 1997, their members now number over 490!
Please be as generous as you can with your contribution this year. Your generosity enables us to grow, offer you the finest in Symphony Music and support the enrichment of arts and culture in our community.
Our program for the year is as follows:
Gala Opening Concert
Master Series - Monday, October 6, 2008 8 pm
Our season opener begins and closes with Verdi’s dramatic “Force of Destiny” Overture and Tchaikovsky’s electric Fourth Symphony. Guest artist Miles Hoffman, violist and author of “The NPR Classical Music Companion”, will play Alan Shulman’s lush “Theme and Variations” and a Bach classic.
Miles Hoffman, Viola
Verdi Overture La Forza del Destino
Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Shulman Theme and Variations for Viola and Orchestra
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F Minor
Symphonie Fantastique
Prelude Series - Sunday, October 26, 2008 8pm
Master Series - Monday, October 27, 2008 8 pm
This autumn concert is about color: Georges Enescu’s popular “Romanian Rhapsody”, Brazilian Ney Rosauro’s dazzling marimba piece played by Principal Percussionist Steve Primatic and Berlioz’ “Fantastic Symphony”, inspired by his passionate love for the actress Harriet Smithson.
Steven Primatic, Marimba
Enescu Romanian Rhapsody No 1 in A major
Rosauro Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra Strings
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
DAVID KIM AND SIBELIUS
Master Series - Monday, November 17, 8 pm
Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster and internationally known soloist David Kim returns to Hilton Head to play Chausson’s romantic “Poème” and Ravel’s fiery “Tzigane” (Gypsy). Walton’s energetic prelude opens the program and Sibelius’ Second Symphony provides the epic conclusion.
David Kim, Violin
Walton Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
Chausson Poème
Ravel Tzigane
Sibelius Symphony No. 2, Op. 43 in D Major
Holiday Pops
Master Series - Monday, December 8 8 pm
Joe Hoffman, Narrator
A Centennial tribute to the Boston Pops’ favorite composer Leroy Anderson including his fabulous “Christmas Festival” and “Sleigh Ride”, with Savannah’s Joe Hoffman telling Clement Moore’s “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”, Seasonal Favorites, Carols galore and a festive Holiday Reception.
Anderson A Christmas Festival
Anderson Fiddle-Faddle
Anderson The Typewriter
Anderson Plink, Plank, Plunk
Rubinstein, Anton Reve Angelique
Bryan Kelly (b. 1934) Improvisations on Christmas Carols
Bach/Ormandy Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Anderson Bugler’s Holiday
Waldteufel Skater’s Waltz
Arr. Holcombe ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Anderson Sleigh Ride
Holcombe Christmas Medley
MozartFest #1
Prelude Series - Sunday, January 11, 2009 8 pm
Master Series - Monday, January 12, 2009 8 pm
ForteString Quartet From The Oberlin
Conservatory of Music
The first of two Master Series concerts celebrating the music of Mozart includes Josef Lanner’s Viennese quodlibet of Mozart favorites, virtuoso solo pieces with members of the ForteString Quartet from America’s oldest Conservatory, and his last and most powerful symphony, the “Jupiter”.
Lanner/Trsek Mozartisten, Op. 196
Mozart Concert-Rondo, K. 371 E-flat major
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, K. 364: I
Mozart Violin Concerto #5: I K. 219
Mozart Symphony No. 41 in C Major “Jupiter” K.551
MozartFest #2
Prelude Series - Sunday, January 25, 2009 8 pm
Master Series - Monday, January 26, 2009 8 pm
Two major works by Mozart: a late Piano Concerto with the 2008 Hilton Head International Piano Competition Winner, the majestic “Grand Mass in C Minor”, written as a wedding gift for his wife Constanze, and which rivals the power of his great “Requiem”.
Ran Dank, Piano 2008 Hilton Head IPC Winner
SATB Soloists
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Mary Woodmansee Green, Director
I Cantori, Robert Harris, Director
Mozart Piano Concerto #26 in D Major K. 537 “Coronation”
Mozart Grand Mass in C Minor K. 427
Benny Goodman At The Symphony
Prelude Series - Sunday, February 8, 2009 8 pm
Master Series - Monday, February 9, 2009 8 pm
Ken Peplowski, Clarinet
Lynn Roberts, Vocalist
Bob Alberti, Piano
A Centennial Salute to The “King of Swing”. Ken and Lynn both worked with the incomparable Benny Goodman and are favorites of Hilton Head audiences. Our own Bob Alberti will join our orchestra at the keyboard to perform original arrangements from the BG library, many written by the legendary Fletcher Henderson. Enjoy such favorites as “Let’s Dance”, “Don’t Be that Way”, “The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”, and the incomparable “Sing, Sing, Sing”!
Mulligan Plays Mendelssohn
Prelude Series - Sunday, February 22, 2009 8 pm
Master Series - Monday, February 23, 2009 8 pm
Internationally known British pianist Simon Mulligan joins the HHSO for two keyboard masterpieces celebrating Mendelssohn’s 200th Birthday. We open with an overture by his beloved sister Fanny, and conclude with his “Fifth Symphony” based on Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress”.
Simon Mulligan, Piano
Mendelssohn Bicentennial Tribute
Hensel (Fanny Mendelssohn) Overture in C major
Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor
Mendelssohn Capriccio Brilliant in B minor
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5 in D major “Reformation”
Beethoven Seventh
Monday, April 6, 2009 8 pm
Music by Italian, American, Austrian and German Masters: a sparkling overture by Rossini, Griffes’ impressionistic “Poem” performed by Principal Flutist Lorraine Jones, Mahler’s emotional “Adagietto” and Beethoven’s “Dance” Symphony No. 7.
Lorraine Jones, Flute
Rossini Overture to L’Italiana in Algerie
Griffes Poem for Flute and Orchestra
Mahler Adagietto
Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major
Season Finale
Monday, May 4, 2009 8 pm
A trumpet Proclamation, Brahms’ majestic “F Major Symphony” and Stravinsky’s exotic ballet music based on a Russian fairy tale brings our season of Masters to a conclusion.
William Denton, Trumpet
Bloch Proclamation
Brahms Symphony No. 3
Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird
Kids count
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra announces it has selected Hilton Head High School as its Education/Outreach Adopt-A-School recipient for the next two academic years. T. J. Shank, Band Director for Hilton Head High school wrote the successful application for the high school. In explaining the greatest needs for equipment and help in order to be the best Music Teacher he could be, Mr. Shank requested " a Dr. Bent Metronome, some music and method books for the library and new instruments" topped his list. Mr. Shank has set high goals for "a full and comprehensive musical education in concert, marching and jazz band. His efforts are totally concentrated on growing these programs.
The Hilton Head Symphony Youth Orchestra is another orchestra education outreach program to “nurture future generations of musicians”. And after the retirement of co-founder and music director Dorothy Mauney, David Lunt has been tapped to replace her at the podium.
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra’s Family Concert “Carnival of the Animals” featuring the Hilton Head Dance Theatre will perform on Sunday, March 1, 2008 at the Hilton Head High School Performing Arts Theatre.
A Tradition
Our traditional Symphony Under the Stars is scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 24, 25 and 267 under the tent in Shelter Cove Community Park. This is a favorite evening with a festive picnic and HHSO concert hosted by the League of the Symphony. This year’s theme is Hollywood! Come join us!
And new this year, The Symphony will perform a Pops Concert “Picnic in the Park” in Bluffton on Friday, April 24, 2009. It will be held Rose Hill Estates and is open to children and adults.
Success Story
One of the most impressive accomplishments of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra will again unfold in March. The 2008 Winner was Ran Dank who will appear at MozartFest #2 with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra on Monday, January 26, 2009.
Nina Rodman, competition director, said “the 2009 event,” set for March 2-9 and now in its 14th year, “will probably attract an even more diverse field of contestants than last year when 130 pianists from 33 countries applied.”
The competition not only awards the winner a cash prize of $15,000, but also invites them to return to Hilton Head to perform with the orchestra, and perform a recital at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall.
The International Piano Competition also mirrors the Hilton Head Symphony's commitment to youth with its School Ambassador program. The program brings some of the contestants who don't advance to the finals into Beaufort County Elementary School classrooms to perform.
Musical Memories
 The orchestra's 27th Season offers a chance to look back at the musical milestones of the organization and the people who have contributed to its success. To that end, Margaret Greer, who has penned several books on Hilton Head Island history and has been a longtime orchestra supporter, has written a book on the orchestra's history. The book tells the story of how an orchestra was born and its growth to the professional entity it is today.
The book also includes photos from the past and new photographs of some of the orchestra's past presidents, contributed by noted Hilton Head Island photographer Ken Mak.
With the past a glowing tribute to a story of artistic success and ever-expanding programs of excellence, its programs for youth and hosting of a world-class piano competition, what can be next for the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra?
Maestra Green, has a few things on her wish list. As much as she appreciates the long-standing relationship between the orchestra and First Presbyterian Church, she wants the orchestra to have its own venue. And, she'd like to see programming that would give the orchestra a presence in the Lowcountry all year round.
"A Summerfest would be lovely," Green said.
Concerts are held at the First Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Parkway.
Tickets and Information
www.HHSO.org or 843.842.2055
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