In the Community
In the CommunityLexington Symphony members enjoy connecting to the community with events ranging from the biennial Children’s Workshop and Concert to open rehearsals and workshops with world-class artists such as Gail Williams and Stefan Jackiw. This year, the orchestra will launch an interactive program for third graders called “Orchestrating Kids Through Classics” with a performance in Cary Hall during school hours.
Smaller ensembles from the orchestra perform throughout the year in many different venues, bringing classical music directly to all ages in an up-close and personal way. The Lexington Symphony is a partner in Music Matters, a program organized by the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association and WCRB, which brings Lexington Symphony musicians to elementary schools throughout the Commonwealth. Members of the orchestra visit classes, demonstrate their instruments, and have the kids try it themselves. Check out the article from the Dec 2008/Jan 2009 issue of MTA Today, a publication of the Massachusetts Teachers Association
For a sampling of the orchestra’s many performances in the community, please read on!
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players - The Low Brass: The low brass section of the Lexington Symphony will be exploring selections from the Renaissance to contemporary times, from Classical to Jazz.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform Schumann Piano Quartet as part of the Lexington Music Club concert series
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform "Mozart Matters" at Temple Isaiah for the senior group SAGE
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform the Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Opus 115 and the Schumann Piano Quartet in E-flat, Opus 47
Brookhaven at Lexington
1010 Waltham St, Lexington
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at the Lexington's Farmer's Market
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform music of Britten, Grieg, and Stravinsky with conductor Ian Watson at the First Parish Church in Lexington.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform "Mozart Matters" for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis University
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at Classic Fashion from the 1940s to the 1980s: A Fashion Show and Tea. a fundraiser for the Lexington Historical Society at the Lexington Depot.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at Douglas House for residents
Orchestrating Kids Through Classics at Cary Hall
Lexington Symphony performs "Orchestrating Kids Through Classics" at Cary Hall during school hours for all third graders in the Lexington Public Schools, with additional students from Waldorf School, Montessori, and Arlington public schools. The program takes the kids on a tour of the orchestra through time, beginning with plainchant through the development of the orchestra by composers including Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and John Williams. Representatives of each section of the orchestra visit each of the elementary schools in town a week prior to the performance to give a concert preview, answer questions and bring the music closer. This program is generously funded by the Lexington Education Foundation, Target, FOLMADS, and the Lexington Council for the Arts..
Check out the reviews from the audience! Violins and Lightsabers: Third-graders review the symphony
Article from the Lexington Colonial Times: A Third Graders Guide to the Orchestra
Reading Public Library
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform works by Mozart and Brahms.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players debut “Music Matters” in Everett.
Article from the Dec 2008/Jan 2009 issue of MTA Today, a publication of the Massacusetts Teachers Association
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform Mozart and Mendelssohn for senior residents.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform Loeffler and Mendelssohn for senior residents.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at antiques appraisal event sponsored by WCRB.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at Lexington's Farmer's Market and Lincoln Retirement Community, The Groves
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform And Then There Were Six at Temple Isaiah for the senior group SAGE: A musical mystery tour of music through the ages, including a premiere by local composer, John Tarrh
Lexington High School
Lexington Symphony string players visit Lexington High School to coach students preparing for Senior District auditions. In a master class/mock audition setting, the students play their prepared pieces in front of the Lexington Symphony coach and peers. Students are given feedback and encouragement in preparation for the audition.
Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton
As part of WCRB''s "Music Matters" program musicians give interactive
performances and "hands on" introductions of orchestral instruments. Said one student: "I have to admit, I don't want this night to end."
Premier of "Walden", opus 123, by Thomas Oboe Lee with Ray Bauwens, tenor at the First Parish Church in Lexington.
Brandeis University senior adult education program, BOLLI
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players present lecture/concert at Brandeis University.
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at WCRB fundraiser at the Peabody Essex Museum to launch Peabody Essex's exhibit "Wedded Bliss."
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform for senior residents at Brookhaven, Lexington
National Heritage Museum, Lexington
Children's Hospital, Boston
Concert program for children and their parents/caregivers.
Lexington High School
Lexington Symphony string players visit Lexington High School to coach students preparing for Senior District auditions. In a master class/mock audition setting, the students play their prepared pieces in front of the Lexington Symphony coach and peers. Students are given feedback and encouragement in preparation for the audition.
Shopper's Night, Lexington
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform holiday music at Brookline Bank.
Children's Hospital, Boston
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform in lobby of Children's Hospital, Boston. One parent remarked: "Hearing the music as I entered the hospital made all the difference in our visit to Children's today."
SAGE, Senior Adult Group Extraordinaire, Temple Isaiah, Lexington
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players present lecture and performance with selections from Schubert's Octet for clarinet, bassoon, horn and string quintet.
Dana Home, Lexington
Violin duo performs for senior residents at the Dana Home.
Lexington Farmers' Market: Lexington Symphony Chamber Players perform at outdoor market.
British music for strings, piano and tenor with Ray Bauwens, tenor and Paul Carlson, piano at the First Parish Church in Lexington.
While in Lexington for the Lexington Symphony's February 3, 2007 concert, world-renowned hornist Gail Williams participated in a clinic with music students at Lexington High School on Thursday, Feb. 1. Lexington Symphony Music Director Jonathan McPhee conducted the LHS Wind Ensemble for hundreds of students from the high school's instrumental music programs. The work rehearsed and performed was Summer's Journey, a new piece by American composer Elliott Schwartz. Solo parts for horn and flute were played by Ms. Williams and Lexington Symphony principal flautist Danielle Boudrot, respectively. The LHS Wind Ensemble prepared this challenging work with Jeffrey Leonard, its director, in anticipation of this event. The first segment of the program included a rehearsal where the musical details were explored, followed by an introduction to the horn by Ms. Williams, Q and A and a final performance of the full piece. The program was designed to inspire active rather than passive listening, build appreciation of contemporary music, and present a unique opportunity for students to work hand-in-hand with Williams, McPhee and Boudrot.
This program was funded in part by a grant from the Lexington Education Foundation.
Elementary schools, Lexington
Lexington Symphony Chamber Players present workshop with third grade students, creating Sight and Sound presentation using student artwork of animals and live music from Lexington Symphony musicians.
Free noon-teim performance of works by Purcell, Bach, Vivaldi, and others for chamber orchestra with Jonathan McPhee, conductor
An afternoon of events: instrument "petting zoo", craftsmen's demonstrations of how instruments work and are made, opportunities for kids to conduct small groups and a raffle to conduct the whole orchestra. Christopher Bing, illustrator of the Lexington Reads book, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Short version of the big evening concert included The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, a narrated work by composer Julian Wachner.
Stefan Jackiw, rising star of the violin world, worked with the Symphony to prepare for an upcoming concert tour and gave Lexington music students a "behind the scenes" look at how an orchestra, soloist and conductor work together to shape a concerto. Evening included an open Q and A session with the soloist and conductor and a complete performance of the concerto.
Depot Square Gallery: The Lexington Symphony Woodwind Quintet presents an evening of music from around the world. Three Shanties, by English composer Malcolm Arnold, depicts the seafaring experience in Great Britain, Eric Ewazen's Roaring Fork visits the Rocky Mountain west, and Aires Tropicales explores the Caribbean world of composer Paquito D'Rivera. Admission free.
Duo at the Lexington Historical Society's Holiday Open House
| Benjamin Britten | Simple Symphony |
| Astor Piazzola and Anibal Troilo | Contrabajeando |
| George Gershwin, arr. Fitzsimmons | Nice Work |
| George Gershwin, arr. Fitzsimmons | My Man |
| Rodgers and Hammerstein, arr. Fitzsimmons | No Other Love |
| Gioacchino Rossini | String Sonata No. 2 |
Sarah Whitfield, soprano; Elizabeth Whitfield, Randy Hiller, Rebecca Hawkins, Barbara Oren, violin; Brad Ottesen, Lisa Kempskie, viola; Nathaniel Lathrop, cello; Scot Fitzsimmons, bass
(The performance was held in the Boston Public Library's Rabb Hall.)
Danielle Boudrot, flute; Joe Haiko, oboe; Bill Kirkley, clarinet; Patty Yee, bassoon; Nancy-Lee Mauger, horn
Epp Sonin, soprano
Barbara Poeschl-Edrich, harp
Danielle Boudrot, flute
Paul Carlson, piano
Music by J.S. Bach, Ravel, Hindemith, Fauré, Chabrier, Delibes & Rickard
| Debussy | Sonate for flute, viola and harp |
| Mozart | Clarinet Quintet |
| Ravel | Introduction and Allegro for flute, clarinet, strings and harp |
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the MFA Associates present Fifes, Fiddles, Melodeons and More: Making Music in America's First Century, a lecture and slide presentation by Darcy Kuronen, curator of Musical Instruments, MFA, Boston, with music by members of the Lexington Symphony, including performance of a string quartet by Ben Franklin.
Epp Sonin, soprano and Robert Honeysucker, baritone along with members of the Lexington Symphony (Barbara Hughey, violin; Randy Hiller, violin; Susan Griffith, cello; and Paul Carlson, piano) perform music of Bostonian composer Amy Beach (1867-1944).
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Concerto for Flute, Harp and String Quartet in C Major, K. 299 |
| Charles Rochester Young | Song of the Lark for flute and harp |
| Jacques Ibert | Deux Interludes |
| Geoffrey Dana Hicks | A Dream for alto flute and harp |
| Claude Debussy | Sonate Pour Flute, Alto et Harpe |
Danielle Boudrot, flute; Barbara Poeschl-Edrich, harp; Randy Hiller, violin; Marta Zurad, violin; Bradley Ottesen, viola; Nathaniel Lathrop, cello
The Lexington Symphony highlights a special connection to Lexington's historic past with its April concerts, which occur near Patriots' Day and features music by British and American composers. The orchestra invites groups from the community and student soloists from Lexington High School to share the stage, including as featured guests the Lexington Minute Men, William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps, Lexington High School Madrigal Singers, and seniors from the Lexington High School Honors Orchestra and Boston’s Project STEP in side-by-side performance. The Lexington Symphony Chamber Players have also collaborated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in presentation of a lecture on early American instruments by Darcy Kuronen, the MFA's Curator of Musical Instruments.
