York Symphony Orchestra To Present National Heroes Concert

The York Symphony Orchestra will present National Heroes on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York. This Classical Series Concert will include a dynamic performance from award-winning pianist Natasha Paremski. Single tickets starting at $9 for adults and $5 for students are available online at www.YorkSymphony.org and by calling 717-846-1111.

The National Heroes concert will begin with an inspirational performance of Make Gentle the Life of This World, composed by Raymond Horton, which honors the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The audience will hear the famous speech delivered by Robert F. Kennedy in the wake of Dr. King's assassination. The moving words of the speech will be supported with music that conveys the tragedy of the event, augmented with quotations of old spiritual music reminiscent of President John F. Kennedy's funeral. The piece includes an Irish bagpipe song, the drum rhythm of a funeral march, and a performance of Taps in which the bugler "chipped" a note at the gravesite (recreated by the orchestral trumpets).

"The audience can expect this concert to open with an emotional piece that will transport them to that tragic day in our country's history when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated," said Lawrence Golan, Conductor and Music Director of the York Symphony Orchestra. "We look forward to commemorating and honoring the late Dr. King."

The Jan. 19 concert will also celebrate two composers who were National Heroes in their homelands - Dmitri Shostakovich in Russia and Jean Sibelius in Finland. Shostakovich was a major composer of the 20th century. Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 was composed for his son Maxim's 19th birthday and was premiered at Maxim's graduation from the Moscow Conservatory.

Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. Sibelius wrote seven symphonies, which are all strong examples of how composers bridged the stylistic values of the 19th and 20th centuries. His Symphony No. 2 was premiered in Helsinki on March 8, 1902, with Sibelius conducting. The piece includes one of the repertoire's most thrilling finales.

National Heroes will also feature special guest pianist Natasha Paremski. Paremski began her piano studies when she was 4-years-old and she made her professional debut at age nine. She was awarded several prestigious artist prizes at a very young age, including the Gilmore Young Artists prize in 2006 at the age of 18, the Prix Montblanc in 2007, and the Orpheum Stiftung Prize in Switzerland. In September 2010, she was awarded the Classical Recording Foundation's Young Artist of the Year award. She has performed with major orchestras throughout North America and was featured in a major two-part film for BBC Television on the life and work of Tchaikovsky.

"The York Symphony Orchestra is honored to welcome Natasha Paremski to the stage for an unforgettable concert including emotional and exciting performances that will leave the audience feeling inspired," said Golan.

The York Symphony Orchestra will present National Heroes on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York. Single tickets starting at $9 for adults and $5 for students are available online at www.YorkSymphony.org and by calling 717-846-1111.

Made up of talented professional musicians from the greater York area and beyond, the York Symphony Orchestra has been engaging audiences with outstanding orchestral music for 85 years. Performing at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts under the leadership of Music Director Lawrence Golan, the orchestra presents an eclectic mix of classical masterworks and contemporary selections. The 2018-2019 season is sponsored by PeoplesBank; the Classical Series is sponsored by W. Dale Brougher Foundation; and the Pops Series is sponsored by The Anstadt Company. The York Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to music education, offering programs to engage youth and adults. For more information on the York Symphony Orchestra, visit www.YorkSymphony.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YorkSymphony/.

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