New England Philharmonic Announces First Half of 20th Season Lineup

The New England Philharmonic, under the direction of Richard Pittman, will step up their commitment to commission and perform new works by regionally based composers during the 2017-18 season. The season celebrates Maestro Pittman's 20th season with the NEP and features premiere performances from a host of composers with regional ties such as the late Steven Stucky, NEP Composer-in-Residence David Rakowski, Bernard Hoffer, Eric Nathan and Sebastian Currier. The season will include the U.S. premiere of "Spiritus" by Lachlan Skipworth, winner of the NEP's 33rd annual Call for Scores, and a performance from the winner of their annual Young Artist Competition. The NEP's season will also include a performance of Amy Beach's Grand Mass in E-flat, op. 5 (1890) with the Commonwealth Chorale on November 11 at the Church of the Holy Name in West Roxbury.

The NEP's Halloween-themed season kickoff concert, Eerie Company on October 28 at the Tsai Performance Center, invites attendees to come dressed as their favorite classical music icon, "living, dead, or fictional." The concert will feature Peter Child's "Punkie Night," an NEP commission from their 2006 Halloween concert, Igor Stravinsky's "Petrushka," Joseph Schwantner's "Magabunda 'Four Poems of Agueda Pizarro,'" and from Halloween birthday boy Andrew Norman, "Sacred Geometry."

The NEP's annual family concert on December 10, The Usual Orchestral Suspects will feature Lemony Snicket's "The Composer is Dead" with music by Nathaniel Stookey, and invites the audience to help solve a murder mystery with each section of the orchestra under suspicion.

The remaining concerts, Ancient, Modern and Bernstein on March 3, and Dancing in Time on April 28, will feature premieres from the late Steven Stucky - "Symphony" (2012), Boston premiere; Lachlan Skipworth - "Spiritus" (2017), U.S. premiere, Call for Scores winner; David Rakowski - "Water Music" (2018), world premiere; Sebastian Currier - "Time Machines" (2007), Boston premiere; Bernard Hoffer - "Three Pieces for Orchestra" (2018), world premiere.

October 28, 2017
Tsai Performance Center, 8 p.m.
EERIE COMPANY
Andrew Norman - "Sacred Geometry" (2003)
Joseph Schwantner - "Magabunda 'Four Poems of Agueda Pizarro'" (1983)
Sarah Pelletier, soprano
Peter Child - "Punkie Night" (2006)
Igor Stravinsky - "Petrushka" (1947 version)

December 10, 2017
Tsai Performance Center, 3 p.m.
THE USUAL ORCHESTRAL SUSPECTS
Annual Family Concert

John Adams - "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" (1986)

Aaron Copland - "Old American Songs," set 1 (1954)
Cambridge Children's Chorus, Wendy Silverberg, Director
Nathaniel Stookey - "The Composer Is Dead" (2006)

Concerto performed by the NEP's 23rd annual Young Artist Competition Winner

March 3, 2018
Tsai Performance Center, 8 p.m.
ANCIENT, MODERN AND BERNSTEIN
Claude Debussy - "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" (1894)
Eric Nathan - "Paestum" (2013), World premiere of orchestral version
Ferruccio Busoni - "Indian Fantasy," for piano and orchestra, op. 44 (1914)
Jeffrey Swann, piano
Leonard Bernstein - "Three Dance Variations" from "Fancy Free" (1944)
Steven Stucky - "Symphony" (2012), Boston premiere
Lachlan Skipworth - "Spiritus" (2017), U.S. premiere, Call for Scores winner

April 28, 2018
Tsai Performance Center, 8 p.m.
DANCING IN TIME
David Rakowski - "Water Music" (2018), World premiere
Sebastian Currier - "Time Machines" (2007), Boston premiere
Danielle Maddon, violin
Bernard Hoffer - "Three Pieces for Orchestra" (2018), World premiere
Maurice Ravel - "Bolero" (1928)

All concerts take place at the Tsai Performance Center. For more information and tickets for all of NEP's performances, visit www.NEPhilharmonic.org.

NEP Chamber Players

During the 2017-18 season, the NEP Chamber Players will revisit their acclaimed Meet the Family series in partnership with the Boston Children's Museum, at 2 p.m. on November 12, 19 and 26, introducing audiences of all ages to the different instrument families that make up an orchestra. More NEP Chamber Players' performances will be added soon, please visit http://nephilharmonic.org/chamber-players-series/ for more information.

About the New England Philharmonic: Now entering its 41st season, the NEP, under the direction of Richard Pittman, is internationally renowned for its daring programming encompassing both contemporary and traditional works. The volunteer orchestra has earned nine ASCAP awards for Adventurous Programming and was named Best Local Musician(s) of the Year in 2016 by The Arts Fuse. The orchestra's illustrious past includes the installation of three landmark programs. The NEP became the first orchestra of its size to support a composer-in-residence (1985), introduce a Call for Scores program (1985), and establish a Young Artist Competition (1994), legacies that endure today.

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