SEISO announces 2009-10 season

June 26, 2009 11:36 am

— OTTUMWA — The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra has unveiled plans for the 2009-2010 “A Legendary Season.”
Under the direction of conductor Robert McConnell, the regional orchestra now in its 59th year, will perform a full slate of classical concerts, Kidsymphony concerts, summer and Christmas concerts, the Pops and educational activities. Complete details about the orchestra and the season are available at www.seiso.us.
The first performance is the annual “Symphonic Blast” July 11 in Burlington’s Crapo Park. Starting at dusk, the free concert will be a blend of popular and light classical music. As always, it will conclude with Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” and fireworks.
Next up is a free concert for the final night of RAGBRAI, at 6:30 p.m. July 24 at the United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant.
POPS Concerts
In September, SEISO will perform two POPS concerts with the internationally famous blues musician, composer and recording artist, Patrick Hazell, called “a legend in Iowa music.” He is considered by many to be one of the finest and most creative harmonica players in the music world, and is in the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame and the Iowa Music Association Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
The first performance with dinner and concert will be Sept. 19 at Bridge View Center in Ottumwa.
The Burlington Pops will be Sept. 20 at Memorial Auditorium.
Tickets for dinner and the concert are ordered directly through the Burlington or Ottumwa Pops Committees. Reservation forms will be mailed in August.
People also may order Pops tickets by contacting the Symphony Office at 610 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641; or write — seiso@iwc.edu. Tickets for concert-only seating will be available (without prior reservations) at the door.
Classical Series
Season tickets are on sale for SEISO’s classical concert series (fall, winter and spring).
The fall concert series, Oct. 24-25, welcomes two returning young friends: Colton Peltier and Serena Lu. Peltier, 14, will play Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.”
Lu will perform Mozart’s “21st Piano Concerto.”
The orchestra also will perform Sibelius’s tone poem, “En Saga,” and the Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and “Cossack Dance” from “Mazeppa.”
For kids, families
Kidsymphony will be Nov. 14 in Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for kids at the door or included free with season tickets ordered before July 15.
Sing the “Messiah”
“Messiah — Sing!” features the orchestra and soloists performing Handel’s masterpiece Dec. 12 in the Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, with the audience singing the chorus. Tickets are available for sale through the season brochure or at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 12 and older.
Winter Series
The Winter Concert Series, Feb. 13-14, 2010, will include “A Roman Carnival Overture” by Berlioz and Tchaikovsky’s colossus, “Symphony No. 5 in e minor.” The series also will include a performance by SEISO’s Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist Competition winner.
Philipsen for Spring
The Spring Concert Series, March 20-21, 2010, features SEISO’s Artist-in-Residence, oboist Dane Philipsen, principal oboe for the Atlanta Opera.
For two weeks prior to the concerts, the Ottumwa native will be teaching and performing for schools and community groups throughout Southeast Iowa.
His solo performances with the orchestra will feature Finzi’s “Interlude for Oboe and String Orchestra,” as well as the classic Vivaldi “Oboe Concerto in d minor, Op. 8, No. 9.”
The orchestra will finish its classical concert series with presentations of Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” and Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz” from “Eugene Onegin.”
Honoring Ruth Keraus
Conductor and Music Director, Robert McConnell said that the 2009-2010 season honors the late Ruth Keraus, “the most important person in the history of our orchestra.
“Iowa is known for growing things, and Ruth took great pride in helping to ‘grow’ musicians,” he said. “She would be pleased as we welcome back two young pianists two years older and Ottumwan, Dane Philipsen, former performer with SEISO.... With Tchaikovsky’s 5th and Brahms’ 2nd, and the reopening of the IWC Chapel Auditorium and the ‘1812 Overture,’ this will be a season you won’t want to miss.”
Season tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students and $60 for family passes. More information is available on the web — www.seiso.us. To receive a season brochure, contact: SEISO, 601 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641; phone (319) 385-6352; or send an e-mail to — seiso@iwc.edu.

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