Ann Arbor Symphony Presents Special Guests For Romeo And Juliet

Embrace a night overflowing with romance and drama. Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet paints the world's most famous love story in vivid musical tones. Brahms' Tragic Overture sets the dramatic tone for the evening. HaydnSinfonia Concertante showcases A2SO concertmaster, Aaron Berofsky, and principals Sarah Cleveland, Christian Green and Timothy Michling in this delicate piece.

Special Guests:

Aaron Berofsky, violinViolinist and A2SO concertmaster Aaron Berofsky, has toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad, gaining wide recognition as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed the complete cycle of Mozart violin sonatas at the International Festival Deia in Spain and has appeared in such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, the Corcoran Gallery, Het Doelen, L'Octogone, the Teatro San Jose and the Museo de Bellas Artes. Mr. Berofsky has been featured on NPR's Performance Today and on the Canadian Broadcasting Company.

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 für Musik Detmold, Germany.

Sarah Cleveland, celloSarah Cleveland has been principal cellist of the Ann Arbor Symphony since 1994. She began her musical career as a member of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra while studying cello at the University of Michigan. Ms. Cleveland continued with Toledo for 20 years, including 13 years as principal of their cello section. She has served as principal of the Flint Symphony, a member of the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra and frequently joins the cello section of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Cleveland is the founder and artistic director of SCStrings, an ensemble of fellow string players who provide groups of two to fifteen players for concerts and events.

Christian Green, bassoonChristian Green, principal bassoon, received his Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from the University of Michigan, and has enhanced his musical talents under the tutelage of such instructors as Christopher Millard, the Principal Bassoonist of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Charles Ullery, Principal Bassoonist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Dr. Jeffrey Lyman, Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of Michigan. In 2009, Mr. Green performed with the Albert Schweitzer Jugendorchester and the Harvestehuder Sinfonieorchester in Hamburg, Germany.

Timothy Michling, oboeTimothy Michling is principal oboist of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. An avid performer, Tim appears frequently with numerous area orchestras, including the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Philharmonic, and the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. A dedicated educator, Tim is a member of the music faculty at Oakland University and has also lectured at the University of Michigan-Flint. He has served his fellow Ann Arbor Symphony musicians as chair of the Orchestra Committee, as an ex officio member of the A2SO board of directors, and as delegate to the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA).

Ralph Williams, narratorRalph Williams is a Professor in the Department of English, Language and Literature at the University of Michigan.

He specializes in Medieval and Renaissance literature, Shakespeare, literary theory, comparative literature and Biblical studies. He has taught such wide-ranging courses as The Bible in English, plus the literature of Chaucer to Frederick Douglass, to the works of Primo Levi and the Memory of Auschwitz.

Professor Williams was Associate Chair of the Department of English.While Associate Chair of the English Department, he was instrumental in creating and developing the Royal Shakespeare Company Residency program at the University of Michigan.

Ralph Williams will be narrating the story ofRomeo and Juliet.

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