Bard College Presents the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra Performing a Romantic Cello Favorite

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.— Bard College presents the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra in concert on Friday, March 19, at 8 p.m. in Olin Hall. The program includes Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B Minor; Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, a neoclassical work based on music by baroque composer Pergolesi; Rossini’s Overture to “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella); and Dr. Ambrose C. Jackson’s Woodstock Variations. The concert will be conducted by David Leighton with cello soloist Lawrence Lenske. The program will be repeated at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 20  at Pointe of Praise Family Life Center in Kingston, and on 3 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Subscription sets are available (four tickets good for any concert). For more information call (845) 246-7045.

The program will feature a special presentation of Woodstock Variations by the late Dr. Ambrose C. Jackson. Jackson, a composer and trumpeter who performed with the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and with the Charlie Persip and Otis Redding Bands, was also a long time member of the WCO and a well-loved teacher in Ellenville. Last season, the orchestra premiered his Woodstock Variations, a highly appealing evocation of an African village at sunrise. Sadly, it was to be his final work. This concert series will be dedicated to the memory of Dr. Ambrose C. Jackson, a fine musician and colleague.

Lawrence Lenske studied at The Juilliard School with legendary cellist Leonard Rose. Before beginning his solo career, he served as principal cellist with the San Francisco Opera, National Ballet of Canada, St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra, and the Vivaldi Traveling Virtuosi. Currently, in addition to extensive solo appearances, he takes a particular interest in introducing classical music to young audiences, and will be recognized by many of the younger generation from his television appearances on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

The Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, formed in 1980 by musicians from the Woodstock area, is now comprised of professional musicians from the entire Hudson Valley. The WCO regularly commissions music by local and regional composers and each season performs in Woodstock, Kingston, Saugerties, and at Bard College. 

Please call (845) 246-7045 or visit our website (www.wco-online.com) for information and updates.

# # #    March 2, 2010

This event was last updated on 03-09-2010

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