GBYO Announces March Events

Bridgeport, CT –  Leonard Bernstein would be 99 years old in 2017, and the Greater Bridgeport Symphony celebrates his music with Bernstein at 99! on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at The Klein in Bridgeport, CT.  The Connecticut Chamber Choir and the Fairfield County Children’s Choir will join GBS and maestro Eric Jacobsen in presenting the Dance Suite from West Side Story and Chichester Psalms, an amazing piece written for choir and orchestra, sung in Hebrew, which recounts King David, as a boy, writing the psalms.  The second half of the concert brings French romance, with Ravel’s Tzigane or “Gypsy,” is a virtuoso violin composition, which will feature Deborah Wong, GBS concertmaster, soloist and Debussy’s Nocturnes (ticket information is below).
 
The Greater Bridgeport Symphony is pleased to also announce an open rehearsal at Bassick High School in Bridgeport on March 16, 2017.  Bassick’s entire freshman and sophomore classes will hear Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Symphonic Suite and Nocturnes by Debussy, performed by the full 50-strong ensemble of GBS, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen. 
 
“The kids may be familiar with West Side Story, but we expect the Debussy will be new to them.  It’s a beautiful, romantic piece – very emotional,” says Maestro Jacobsen.  “Music is for all of us, so it’s sad to think it’s not getting into young minds that may need the creativity and soul of music most.  I can think of nothing better than walking into Bassick to play symphonic music for the young minds of Bridgeport.  So much potential!”
 
Dr. Tomas Ramirez, principal of Bassick, expressed thrill “at the opportunity to host the Greater Bridgeport Symphony at Bassick High School in our historic auditorium, and for our students to experience the richness and depth of symphonic music. “
 
“This is history revisited for GBS,” says Executive Director Mark Halstead.  “In its earliest form – as ‘The Bridgeport Symphony,’ a WPA Arts Project – GBS performed for students at Central High School in the late 1930s.  My own mother was in that audience, and to this day still credits that experience with her lifelong love of Classical music.” 
 
Engaging youth has been a new drive at GBS.  In December, GBS invited the Principal Orchestra of GBYO to perform with them at the Christmas Eve in Paris concert.  Since last spring, Jacobsen and other GBS musicians have visited ten area schools – Central High, Multi-Cultural Magnet, High Horizons Magnet, Roosevelt, Read, Bryant, Luis Munoz Marin, and Park City Magnet Schools (all in Bridgeport) as well as Notre Dame High School in Fairfield bringing music personally to the students.  With a grant from the Fred DeLuca Foundation, GBS was able to provide a percussion program at Black Rock School, culminating in a student performance there in November.  Further school visits are planned.
 
And finally, to round out the month, on March 25 and 26, GBS will host the annual Young Instrumentalists’ Competition (with a grant from the Hersher Family Foundation) at the University of Bridgeport, open to young Connecticut musicians between ages 11 and 19.  Last year’s competition winner, Julian Shively of Trumbull, performed a cello solo with GBS in December.  Commenting on this youth outreach, Jacobsen says, “This doesn’t happen enough in the world today, and GBS is thrilled to engage with Connecticut’s young minds.”
 
Tickets for March 18 show start at just $15.00, and are also available in other sections for $29.00, $39.00, $49.00 and $59.00.  GBS offers discounts to students, as well as a special “Family Pack Discount,” with tickets for students under 19 at just $10.00, and parents/guardians receiving a 15% discount off regular price, in all seating sections.  Special offers are available only by calling (203)576-0263.  Regular seats may be purchased through www.GBSO.org.
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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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