Orchestras feature works by Beethoven, Mozart

orchestra med

Members of the Northwest Orchestra in concert.

The Northwest Orchestra will perform with the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra in a special side-by-side concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, in the Performing Arts Center. Admission is free.

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The evening will also feature an appearance by the River String Quartet, a veteran chamber ensemble based in St. Joseph that has served as quartet-in-residence at Northwest this year in order to promote the University's growing emphasis on string performance.

Carl Kling, Northwest's director of bands, said the orchestra and quartet have been working together about once a month, and that quartet members teach master classes and provide sectional instruction for student musicians.

Kling will direct the Northwest Orchestra during the concert. The St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra, which performed at Northwest last spring, will play under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Deborah Freedman.

Both this spring’s concert and the quartet residency are partially funded through Northwest Culture of Quality grants.

The program will include the Northwest Orchestra’s rendition of the “Russian Easter Festival Overture,” Opus 36, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” by the St. Joseph Orchestra featuring violists Monty Carter and Nell French; and selections from Beethoven’s inspiring Seventh Symphony (movements II and IV), which will be performed by both ensembles.

Freedman holds master's and doctorate degrees from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and previously served as music director of the Maryland Women's Symphony, Luther College Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Choir and Chrysalis Singers and the Cyllenian Chamber Ensemble.

Founded 20 years ago, the River String Quartet performs frequently at musical, social and educational events in St. Joseph, Kansas City, Omaha and the surrounding region. Ensemble members include: Connie Elting, violin; Becky Shrimplin, violin; Noel Good, viola; and Brent Petit, cello.

Kling joined the Northwest Department of Music as director of bands in 2004. In that capacity, he conducts the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and the "Musical Pride of Northwest" Bearcat Marching Band. He also serves as faculty advisor and administrator of the Northwest Pep Band and leads the Northwest Orchestra.

He has is currently completing a doctorate in wind conducting at Indiana University. Named to “Who’s Who in America, 2006” he is a recipient of the Kappa Kappa Psi Silver Baton Award for dedication to band.

On Jan. 1, 2008, Kling led the Bearcat Marching Band during its first international performance in the London New Year’s Day Parade.

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone: 660.562.1704
Fax: 660.562.1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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