The Southeast Iowa Symphony presents its largest musical gathering of the season with its concerts on the weekend of April 23rd and 24th featuring singers from throughout the region and Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist winner Ethan Sexauer of Mt. Pleasant.
The feature orchestral work is original ballet score by the Russian Composer Igor Stravisnky entitled Petrushka. This colorful ballet music is written to accompany the macabre story of puppets being brought to life and death at Russian equivalent of Mardi Gras. This is the largest work SEISO has performed years with expanded woodwinds, brass, solo piano, 2 harps, and percussion in addition to the strings.
The concert opens with Mt. Pleasant resident Ethan Sexauer performing the 1st movement of the famed Mendelsohn Violin Concerto. Ethan is a junior in Mt. Pleasant public schools.
The regional SEISO chorus will be featured on Brahms contemplative Song of Destiny and will be directed by Iowa Wesleyan University Choral Activities Director, Blair Buffington.
The chorus will also perform a work commissioned by and performed by the SEISO in 1992 as part of the Iowa Wesleyan Sesquicentennial celebration. St. Paul, Minnesota composer Janika Vandervelde’s Polyhymnia is a positive, glorious, and uplifting work celebrating life and music.
Tickets to the Masterworks Series concerts in Burlington, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant may be purchased at the door or on our website www.seiso.us. Adult tickets are $20. Children/student tickets (aged 0-22) are free. There is no reserved seating.
Make the most of your concert experience by attending the ‘Prelude.’ Music Director Robert McConnell will be on hand 45 minutes before each performance to talk about the programmed music in depth. ‘Prelude’ is supported through a grant from the Charles W. Rand Memorial Lecture Fund in Burlington and is offered free of charge to all audience members.
If you have questions, please contact the SEISO Office at seiso@iw.edu. More information is available on the SEISO web site at www.seiso.us.