BSO Presents Superheroes And Villains

BSO Music Director Finalist Tigran Arakelyan leads a program for the entire family. Audience members will be treated to musical favorites from the original Batman, Superman, and even John Williams' original scoring for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra will be featured in a side-by-side performance, and the 2nd Place Winner of the BSO's ever-popular Young Artist Competition will perform Movements II and III from Saint-Säens' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op.33.

Tigran Arakelyan is the Music Director of Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestras, the Federal Way Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director /Conductor of Port Townsend Community Orchestra. Tigran held conducting positions with California Philharmonic, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, Rainier Symphony, Northridge Youth Philharmonic and the University of Washington. He received a Doctorate in Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Washington studying with Ludovic Morlot and David Alexander Rahbee.

Tigran's recent conducting engagements were with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, Armenian Pops Orchestra, Centum Youth Orchestra (S. Korea), and the Northwest Mahler Festival Orchestra. Arakelyan toured South Korea twice (2014, 2017) with the Federal Way Youth Symphony conducting over a dozen concerts from Seoul to Busan. He played alongside Sir James Galway during his induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Excited to be a Music Director finalist with the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, Tigran Arakelyan says, "[The April] collaboration is especially special because it is with the BSO and the talented young musicians of BIYO. In the 21st century two of the most important institutions for the future of orchestral music in the U.S. are youth orchestras and community orchestras. They educate and inspire communities all over the country."

The 2nd Place Winner of the BSO's 2018 Young Artist Concerto Competition and Seattle native Carson Ling-Efird is a 12-year-old who began studying cello at age four and currently studies with Dr. Kevin Krentz and studio collaborative pianist Dr. Li-Tan Hsu. Just after beginning her cello studies, Carson had the opportunity to meet and play for Yo-Yo Ma, an experience that helped to inspire her goal of becoming a professional cellist. Carson will make her solo debut with the Seattle Symphony after being selected as a 2017-2018 Seattle Symphony Young Artist. In addition, she has been a medalist and finalist in numerous competitions, including the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival, the Simon-Fiset Strings Competition and the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside. She is currently principal cellist for SYSO's Junior Symphony Orchestra.

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra's spring concerts are April 14 and 15 - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., with a pre-concert chat on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Patrons are invited to come dressed up in their favorite superhero costumes; the person selected for 'best costume' will win a pair of tickets to the symphony performance of their choice in the 2018 - 2019 season.

The Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra provides orchestral experience and quality musical education while fostering teamwork and collaboration and nurturing self-confidence, respect for the process, and musical excellence. Formed in 2001, BIYO is the premier organization for young musicians in North Kitsap County. BIYO provides students with the opportunity to perform orchestral music at a high degree of artistry while providing opportunities for performance and community involvement. BIYO currently offers two tiered string orchestras for musicians, ages 7-18 playing violin, viola, cello, and double bass.

Tickets, $21 for adults, and $18 for seniors, students, military, and teachers, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569 or in person at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. Each youth receives free admission when accompanied by a paying adult thanks to the BSO's "Youth in Music Initiative" funded by Wicklund Dental. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

Bainbridge Performing Arts extends special thanks to Media Sponsor Classical KING FM 98.1, Community Sponsor Carly's Rolling Bay Café, and "Youth in Music Initiative" Sponsor Wicklund Dental. BPA is supported, in part, by Bainbridge Community Foundation, the City of Bainbridge Island, and One Call for All. Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an "Open Doors" program. Free and reduced-cost tickets to most events are available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to grants from BCF, the Mabee Family Foundation, and the Alder Fund at the Bainbridge Community Foundation.

Find out more about BPA at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, or check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BPAonline and www.facebook.com/BainbridgeSymphonyOrchestra), follow Bainbridge Performing Arts on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/bainbridge-performing-arts) and Twitter (@BPAPresents). Check online for the latest on theatre and symphony auditions, complete theatre school and adult class offerings, performance listings, tickets, promos, and more. Go to "About BPA" and click on "Get Our Newsletter" to receive electronic performance announcements and behind-the-scenes news.

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