Little Orchestra Society Presents Carnival of the Animals

The Little Orchestra Society presents Camille Saint-Saëns' beloved Carnival of the Animals on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Peter H. Reynolds, New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of the Judy Moody books, brings the music to life, drawing while the orchestra performs excerpts. Daniel Meyer conducts as the Lolli-Pops characters put their twist on the narration of this classic story. In a grand finale, Mr. Reynolds animates his illustrations allowing kids to both see and hear how music tells a story.

All children in attendance will receive a Little Orchestra Society coloring book, specially designed by Peter H. Reynolds. In addition, Mr. Reynolds' books will be available for sale in the lobby where he will do a signing after each performance.

Performances are at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College (68th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues). Single Tickets are available for $15 (rear balcony/rear orchestra) and $40 (prime seating); 3-Concert Series for $45 (rear balcony/rear orchestra) and $99 (prime seating) by calling 212/971-9500 or at littleorchestra.org.

Every note and every word of the 2011-2012 season is dedicated to the memory of Dino Anagnost, who led The Little Orchestra Society through 32 seasons of joyful music making.

About Lolli-Pops™
In the Lolli-Pops™ series (ages 3-5, 20 performances, 5 open dress rehearsals), the programs introduce young children to the basic elements of music, and incorporate dance, music and visual art with the help of characters who each represent one of the four families of the orchestra. At each Lolli-Pops™ concert children actively participate in the program and also receive musical instruments or educational materials to take home. Preparatory and follow-up activities are sent via email to all concert attendees. The Lolli-Pops™ series was originally created by the Orchestra's late Music Director, Dino Anagnost.

About Daniel Meyer
Winning acclaim for his dynamic programs, engaging presence and keen musical intellect, Daniel Meyer is at the forefront of American conductors today. A passionate advocate of music education and outreach, Meyer has developed a new series of youth concerts based on popular children's books to promote music and literacy. Currently Music Director of the Asheville Symphony and Erie Philharmonic, Mr. Meyer's guest conducting engagements during the 2011-2012 season include the Grand Teton Music Festival, Rochester Philharmonic, Knoxville and Hilton Head Symphony orchestras, and the Westmoreland Symphony, where he serves as Artistic Director.

From 2003 through 2009 Meyer was Resident Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. While there he worked closely with Mariss Jansons, Manfred Honeck, Sir Andrew Davis and Charles Dutoit, led the Pittsburgh Symphony on tour and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony on its first ever tour to China. Mr. Meyer and the PSO were awarded the 2006 Bank of America Award for Excellence in Orchestra Education.

Mr. Meyer's 2010-11 season included the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Eugene Symphony, and the Asheville Lyric Opera in performances of Mozart's The Magic Flute. He also made a critically-acclaimed European debut with the Staatstheater Stuttgart Orchestra, leading a program of Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1 with Thomas Zehetmair and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

In summer festival appearances, Meyer has led the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center, and the Chautauqua, and Brevard festival orchestras. He was awarded the 2002 Aspen Conducting Prize and subsequently served as Assistant Conductor to David Zinman at the Aspen Music Festival.

About Peter H. Reynolds
Peter H. Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, creativity advocate, and founder of FableVision, an award-winning educational multimedia company located in the Boston Children's Museum.

This is Peter's third appearance with Little Orchestra Society; he is quickly becoming an audience favorite. As Peter states, "I love connecting the dots between art and music. Illustrating a live concert is a wild, exhausting challenge, but one that's been amazingly nourishing for me. Knowing that my performances inspire others fuels my creative journey."

Peter's books have been published in over 25 languages, including Braille, and include The Dot, Ish, Rose's Garden, I'm Here, So Few of Me and The North Star. His work inspires children and grown up children around the world with its universal messages about authentic learning, creativity, bravery, empathy, and courageous self-expression. Peter also illustrated the best-selling Someday by Alison McGhee, Guyku by Bob Raczka, Huck Runs Amuck by Sean Taylor, Tess's Tree by Jess Brallier, and the best-selling Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald, which has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and was recently adapted into a major motion picture.

Peter lives just outside of Boston in historic Dedham, Massachusetts, where he also founded The Blue Bunny Bookstore, the award-winning children's book/toy shop and creativity workshop. Peter's "little shop with a big mission" works to inspire creativity and self-expression.

Peter says, "I'm actually wildly optimistic about a future where all children are encouraged to navigate their true potential. We just have to be creative in the ways we reach ALL learners - to help them find their voice, be brave about expressing it, and be inspired to use their gifts to 'make their mark.'"

Explore and connect with Peter at www.peterhreynolds.com and www.fablevision.com.

About Annette Jolles
Annette Jolles has created a diverse body of work as a director, writer and producer for stage and television. She directed and choreographed Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman's That Time of the Year at the York Theatre Company, where she also directed Little By Little and the York's 2007 NEO benefit. She directed "Johnny Mercer at the Movies" for the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists series and five seasons of New Voices Concerts at Symphony Space where she also staged "Broadway and Beyond" with host Rob Fisher and their monumental Wall to Wall Sondheim tribute.

For The Little Orchestra Society, Ms. Jolles has directed and choreographed twenty-one seasons of Lolli-Pops™ concerts and productions including Amahl and the Night Visitors, Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, and Peter and the Wolf at Avery Fisher Hall.

In addition, she directed and produced their multi-award winning DVD The Orchestra – A Happy Family. Her work in television earned her an Emmy Award as producer of the 9/11 Memorial from Ground Zero and six additional Emmy nominations. Highlights of broadcasts include Broadway Under the Stars (CBS), Egypt Week Live (Discovery), The Dr. Joy Browne Show (Discovery Health), Romance/Romance, Nunsense 1, 2 & 3, Stop the World… (PBS, A&E, TNN), Trading Spaces "Home Free" Finale (TLC), and the Times Square New Year's Eve festivities from 1997-2004. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale University and recipient of a Drama League Directors fellowship.

About The Little Orchestra Society
The Little Orchestra Society, now in its 64th season, performed its inaugural concert at The Town Hall on October 20, 1947, and has since been devoted to performing innovative concerts of classical music for both adults and children. The Orchestra performs dynamic repertoire using multiple art forms with a variety of artists to create meaningful musical experiences for today's audiences.

Throughout its history, the Orchestra has given many important premieres and launched the careers of major musical talents in its concert programming for adult audiences. Under the direction of Dino Anagnost from 1979-2011, The LOS has been deeply committed to music education and public service. In addition to its concert performances, its music education and community engagement programs educate and entertain New York Metropolitan Area children, their families and senior citizens through the Musical Connections, Live In Concert! and Project 65Plus programs.

Musical Connections: The School Partnership Program, a year-long music education program, teaches students the basic elements of music by engaging them in the process of composing their own works. Live In Concert! seeks to instill a lasting love of music in children and their families and expand audiences for classical music. New York City public school students and children from publicly-funded daycare centers and social service agencies attend The Little Orchestra Society's dress rehearsals and concerts without charge. Project 65Plus recognizes the importance of life-long learning and provides senior New Yorkers with free admission to the Orchestra's concerts. The LOS also works to serve grandparents who are caregivers. More than 15,000 people participate in LOS music education and public service programs each year.

The Orchestra's concert series includes the Peabody Award-winning Happy Concerts for Young People for children ages 6-12, the Lolli-Pops™ for children ages 3-5, and the concerts for adults, which have included Vivaldi's Venice, Cathedral Concerts – Great Music Under a Byzantine Dome® and Sound Discoveries®. For more information, please visit littleorchestra.org or call 212-971-9500.

To post a comment, you must register and login.