A2SO presents Mahler's Symphony as Season Finale Tonight

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra presents its season finale of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 tonight, April 25, 8 pm at Hill Auditorium. The concert will also feature Bach's Concerto for Two Violins, commonly known as the "Bach Double" performed by A2SO Concertmaster and Associate Concertmaster Aaron Berofsky and Kathryn Votapek. The Season Finale is sponsored by the Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation.

"When you hear Mahler's Fifth, you forget that time has passed. A great performance of the Fifth is a transforming experience," said Herbert von Karajan. Concerts don't get better than this. Your A2SO has become a Mahler specialist, and here is what many believe is his most dynamic symphony containing the poignant and famous Adagietto.

Violinist Aaron Berofsky has toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad, gaining wide recognition as a soloist and chamber musician. As soloist, he has performed with orchestras in the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain and Canada. Mr. Berofsky has been the first violinist of the Chester String Quartet since 1992. The quartet has been acclaimed as "one of the country's best young string quartets" by the Boston Globe, and has served as resident quartet at the University of Michigan and at Indiana University South Bend. Mr. Berofsky is known for his commitment to teaching and is Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan and visiting Professor at the Hochschule fur Musik in Detmold, Germany. He taught at the Meadowmount School of Music for many summers and now teaches at the Chautauqua Institution. He has also taught at Oberlin, Interlochen, the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival and the Conservatorio Palma Mallorca. Mr. Berofsky is Concertmaster for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.

A member of the Chester String Quartet for 15 years, violinist and violist Kathryn Votapek maintains an active career as soloist and as guest artist at chamber music festivals throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Central America. She has participated in numerous commissioning projects and premieres and can be heard with the Chester Quartet on the Koch International Classics and New Albion labels. Along with pianist Ralph Votapek and clarinetist Paul Votapek, she performs as violinist and violist with the Votapek Trio. Ms. Votapek has been Guest Lecturer of Violin and Viola at the University of Michigan and has also been on the faculty of the Meadowmount School of Music, the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Madeline Island Music Camp and the Banff International Festival. While in the Chester Quartet, she was Associate Professor of Violin and Artist in Residence at Indiana University South Bend. Ms. Votapek received her Bachelor of Music degree at Indiana University and Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. Ms. Votapek is Associate Concertmaster for the A2SO.

Join us for a special night at Hill Auditorium with your Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are available online at a2so.com, by emailing tickets@a2so.com, or by calling (734) 994-4801. Single tickets range from $15 to $62, Student, Senior, and Group discounts are available.