Mid-Atlantic Symphony Presents “Seven Seasons” Strings Concert

Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra presents “Seven Seasons” Strings Concert The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Series of Concerts in March, April and May, under the baton of Maestro Julien Benichou, will continue to present imaginative pairings of works and world-class soloists. Thrilling audiences at the October and December concerts, this concert will feature 15 MSO string musicians in a program called “Seven Seasons” because of the first two titled pieces. The concert will showcase two MSO musicians, concertmaster, Nicholas Currie, and assistant concertmaster, Dana Weiderhold.

Maestro Julien Benichou will premiere his “Three Seasons of Chicago,” a short three-movement piece dealing with the realities of northern Illinois climate – snow, rain, and road construction. This piece will be followed by Argentinian composerAstor Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.” Piazzolla is the single most important figure in the history of tango. His set of four compositions,a tribute to Vivaldi, were written between 1965 and 1970 and are an “electrifying blend of the fire and passion of traditional tango with the vast resources of modern harmony, texture and sonority.” It is music that violinists love to play.

The final piece is what some consider Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s loveliest composition, “Serenade for Strings”. In the fall of 1880, he composed simultaneously two of his most popular works: the 1812 Overture and the Serenade for Strings. While the Overture has since exploded in popularity (with help from cannons and fireworks), initially Tchaikovsky thought very little of the work.  The Serenade, on the other hand, was a work that came straight from his heart.  The love stemmed from Tchaikovsky’s passion for Mozart, his favorite composer. He told his patroness, “I am violently in love with this work and cannot wait for it to be played.” The Serenade pays homage to the classical period and the enchanting world of Mozart’s serenades and divertimentos. This piece belongs to the world of Tchaikovsky’s great ballets.

Both featured soloists are accomplished musicians. Canadian-born Nicolas Currie holds many titled positions in violin, being the Concertmaster of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Associate Concertmaster of Concert Artists of Baltimore, and Assistant Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony. He has soloed with several orchestras and his chamber music experiences include performances with the Azimuth String Quarter, the Mariner String Quartet, the Cueto Quartet, the Principles of Concert Artists Quartet, and the Melos Ensemble with Clarinetist Gervaise de Payer. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Nicholas studied with the late Berl Senofsky. At Illinois State University, he also studied under the late Bernard Eichen, former member of the Beaux Arts Quartet and spent a summer at the American Conservatory in Fontainbleau, France.

A native of Minersville, PA, Dana Weiderhold began playing the violin at the age of seven at Woodhaven String Academy. She most frequently performs as assistant concertmaster of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and as principal second violinist with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. She is concertmaster of the Anthracite Philharmonic and has performed as an orchestral musician with the Annapolis, Allentown, Pottstown, Chester County Pops, Kennett, and Delaware County Symphonies. In addition to her orchestral playing, Dana has appeared as guest artist and soloist with the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, the West Chester University Chamber and Symphony Orchestras, and the Newark Symphony Orchestra. Dana received her Bachelor of Music from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and her Master of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has also studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.

The concert will also be held on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm at the Easton Church of God, 1009 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD Tickets are $35 for adults. Available for check or cash at Crackerjacks and at the door. 18 and under admitted free with reservations. For tickets and information, please call 1-888-846-8600 or visit the MSO Website www.midatlanticsymphony.org where the season brochure and ticket order form can be downloaded by clicking on “Concerts – Tickets”. The Strings Concert will also be performed on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 7:30 pm at the Mariner’s Bethel Church, Route 26 and Central Avenue, Ocean View, DE. and on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 3:00 pm at the Community Church, Racetrack Road, Ocean An optional pre-concert lecture discussing the composers and compositions takes place at 6:45 pm.