70th Anniversary Season "Fanfare!"

Webster's Dictionary defines "fanfare" as a "showy outward display."  I chose this as the theme of this, our 70th Anniversary season of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra, because it will be just that!  This organization has played many notes that have reached many ears in these 70 years, and now it is time to celebrate!  Our season will be showy, as we literally showcase some of the most acclaimed artists and composers of our time and through history. 

Our summer concert features new talent through the Brethren Quartet.  This male vocal group will delight the audience with its rich, warm renditions of everything from Patriotic favorites to show tunes and more! 

To begin our subscription season in October we show off the orchestra and the soloists with Bernstein's colorful overture to Candide, followed by the exquisite musicianship and extraordinary voice of Jennifer Swanson as she shares with us Samuel Barber's Knoxville Summer of 1915.  Then we showcase a new work by a familiar name, Chris Brubeck's Symphonic work, "Quiet Heroes."  Chris Brubeck, who is Dave Brubeck's son, wrote this piece for narrator and orchestra.  The text is based on the book, "Flags of our Fathers," which became a popular motion picture.  This concert honors all of our heroes and particularly our veterans of the armed forces, and one of our local veterans and musicians, Joe Vene will serve as our narrator.  

Our November concert is a dream come true.  Internationally acclaimed pianist André Watts will share our stage for an afternoon, but it will be the chance of a lifetime to experience an artist of his stature with our orchestra and audience.  The first half of that program includes Haydn's Symphony No. 96 which is subtitled, "Miracle."  This is no accident.  Having Mr. Watts with us is truly a miracle; and I admit a little private tongue-in-cheek humor at the proximity of this concert to follow the 2008 Presidential election!

Michelle Laliberte comes front and center from her concert-master chair to perform as our guest soloist in March.  Michelle is another miracle for our community and our orchestra, and we are proud to have her here.  Our March program also includes the U. S. Premiere of the cornerstone "fanfare" of our season, composer Carol Worthey's "Fanfare for a New Renaissance."  This title exemplifies what the Bemidji Symphony is about, and what it hopes to become!

Finally, the Final Fanfares feature what may be the most popular, famous, and hummed piece of orchestral literature ever to be written, Beethoven's gigantic Ninth Symphony.  This work, and its text's message of brotherhood is the perfect way to end our year-long celebration of the orchestra's anniversary.  Brittany Messer, Sara Wabrowetz, Brad Bradshaw and Jake Endres will be the guest vocal soloists, alongside choirs from BHS, BSU and the Bemidji Chorale.  And to go with this, through a generous grant from the Neilson Foundation, we were able to commission Libby Larsen to write a piece for chorus and orchestra in honor of the Bemidji Symphony's anniversary.  Libby's piece also focuses on brotherhood and human rights, for its text was written by U Sam Ouer, a Cambodian refugee and torture survivor whose name was given to us by the Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis.  Michale Barone, a familiar voice from MPR, will serve as our narrator for this piece. 

Fanfare: a showy, outward display.  As we look inward, at our past and future as an orchestra, it is the outward that counts, for it is our audience and patrons and volunteers who are our lifeblood and our inspiration.  Come share with us in our celebration.  Come join us as we not only present, but as we actually become the musical fanfare for a new Renaissance in our community, our region, and beyond!

Beverly Everett
Music Director