2013 Valentine’s Concert Click for Directions

On Sunday, February 17, 2013, at 7:00 PM the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra presents its own version of the popular show, From the Top featuring several winners of the Orchestra’s 2012 Jack & Lucille Wonnell Young Artist Concerto Competition. Suzanne Bona, host of Sunday Baroque, heard on WGUC, will co-host with BAMSO Music Director, Michael Chertock.

There is no lack of musical talent in Cincinnati, and these four young soloists, all first-place winners of the Orchestra’s 2012 Young Artist Competition, are reflective of this abundance.  

Pianist Benjamin Gittens, 16, began his piano studies at age four and never looked back.  He currently studies with Dr. Jackson Leung. He has performed in many recitals, churches, and with chamber ensembles in Chicago and at CCM. He was the Southwest Ohio District Winner in the Pre-Collegiate Buckeye Competition for Senior Level Piano and was one of the three top scorers at the CCM Auditions Festival in 2012. Aside from his musical talents, he is an honor student at Mason High School, and enjoys mountain biking in his spare time. He will perform the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor.

Our youngest performer, Bryson Karrar, is 13 but his passion for music was evident even as a toddler, beginning his violin studies at the age of three.  He is a member of the Cincinnati Junior Strings Orchestra, conducted by Gerald Doan, and currently holds the position of concertmaster for the second year.  He also keeps busy playing with the Allegro Ensemble of the Peraza Music Workshop at several public venues throughout the greater Cincinnati area. The recipient of numerous competition prizes, he will be playing the third movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64.

Clara Fishlock, homeschooled, and a high school sophomore, has been playing the flute since she was six years old. She currently studies with Jennifer King, a frequent member of the BAMSO ensemble.  She is a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. Clara was the first place winner of the Junior Division of the COFA flute competition 2011, and second place winner of the senior division, 2012. She will be performing on the Peanut Butter and Jam chamber music series with her family, the Muddy River Consort. Other interests include playing Ultimate Frisbee and singing in her mom's Gregorian chant choir. She will be playing the first movement of Mozart’s  Flute Concerto in D Major, K. 314 .

Cellist Benjamin Fryxell, 18, has been praised for his beautiful tone, compelling interpretations, and dazzling technique. The son of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra string players, he began studying the cello at age 10. He currently studies with Alan Rafferty of the Cincinnati Symphony.  Ben is now in his third season as principal cello of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. As the First Prize winner in their 2012 concerto competition he will be the featured soloist on their joint concert with the Cincinnati Symphony in May, 2013.  During the summer of 2012 Ben attended the prestigious Heifetz International Music Institute.  He will be playing Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 as well as soloing in Rachmanioff’s Vocalise.

The 7:00 PM concert will take place at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 10345 Montgomery Road in Montgomery.

2013 Memorial Day Concert Directions

Fly Me to the Moon – a salute to Neil Armstrong and the NASA space program is the theme of the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra’s Memorial Day Concert.  Special guest and friend of Neil Armstrong, Dr. Awatef Hamed, Director of the Center for Intelligent Propulsion at the University of Cincinnati will share memories of Armstrong and the heady, early days of space exploration. The 6:00 PM concert will be on Monday, May 27 at the Blue Ash Towne Square, Cooper and Kenwood Roads in Blue Ash.

The program will include Mars and Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst, music from Apollo 13 and Star Wars, and, of course, Fly Me to the Moon sung by mezzo Catherine Fishlock.  Sixteen-year-old Kevin Huang, piano soloist and co-winner of the Senior Piano Division of the Jack and Lucille Wonnell Memorial Young Artist Concerto Competition, will play the Allegro Scherzando from Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor. Believe me; it takes off like a rocket!

The Elegy and Cortege from founding conductor, Paul John Stanbery’s Symphony #2 "Foundations" will be a special tribute to Memorial Day. The Elegy is solemn and thoughtful, while the Cortege employs the requisite muffled drum sound, ushering the deceased to his place of rest. The climax is sounded in the upward movement of the trumpet, accompanied by the strings in high tremolo, imitating the beating of Angel's wings. Following the climax, a distant bugle is heard playing taps one final time.

The second half of the program will feature the Cincinnati Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra until the baton of Dale Swisher.  Programming selections include Sousa’s Washington Post March, Brahm’s Hungarian Dance No. 5 and the Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppe. The Armed Forces Salute, performed by the combined orchestras, will conclude the program.

2013 Independence Day Concert Directions

Beginning Montgomery’s annual celebration of the Glorious Fourth will be the July 3 Independence Day Concert in Montgomery Park performed by the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. This 7:30 PM concert, sponsored by Twin Lakes at Montgomery, will start the festivities off on the right note! 

The concert’s theme – Musical Stories of the Old West – celebrates some of the most iconic music of the American west.  The Orchestra will play music by Aaron Copland and Elmer Bernstein; Bass-Baritone Tom Sherwood will perform western songs like Ghost Riders in the Sky and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He'll also lead the audience as well in a sing-along featuring rousing tunes like The Yellow Rose of Texas and Home on the Range that we’ve all been singing since childhood. Suzanne Bona, host of WGUC's Sunday Baroque, will again emcee the concert and is flute soloist for Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 2 in D Major.  

It’s bound to be a lot of fun.

Food and drink will be available at booths manned by members of various local organizations. 

2013 Labor Day Concert Directions

Violinist Jackie Tso, a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition playing Tchaikovsky plus principal cellist Thomas Guth playing Two Rhapsodies for Cello and Orchestra by Jeffrey Mumford. The Orchestra’s annual Labor Day Concert will be at the Blue Ash Towne Square (Rain Site: Sycamore Junior High, 5757 Cooper Road) Monday, September 2, 2013 at 6 PM.

2013 Kindel Memorial Holiday Concert Directions

As in the past, the Blue Ash/Montgomery Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Kindel Memorial Holiday Concert on the first Sunday in December.  This year’s theme will be Christmas through the ages – from baroque through pops. This concert has become the traditional beginning to the holiday season for Blue Ash and Montgomery residents. 7:00 PM on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at the Montgomery Assembly of God Church, 7950 Pfeiffer Road in Montgomery.

This concert has become the traditional beginning to the holiday season for Blue Ash and Montgomery residents. 7:00 PM on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Montgomery Assembly of God Church, 7950 Pfeiffer Road in Montgomery.

All of the above concerts are free and open to the public.