Symphony Orchestra
The 80-piece Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra ( NCSO) under the direction of Nancy Strelau performs a wide variety of traditional and contemporary orchestral literature. The orchestra collaborates with the Nazareth College Choirs and features faculty and student soloists each year. NCSO meets on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 PM and is open to all Nazareth College students and community members. The orchestra presents three concerts each semester.
The orchestra performed in Nassau, Bahamas at the invitation of the government to accompany the inaugural concert of the National Choir of the Bahamas in February, 2006, and continues that relationship.
All orchestral performances are in Linehan Chapel in the Golisano Academic Center. All concerts are free and open to the public.
2009-2010 Season
The Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra (NCSO) is gearing up for an exciting 2009.2010 season featuring faculty and students in concert under the direction of conductor Nancy Strelau. The season opener on October 23rd entitled “20th Century Consonance� features guitar professors Petar Kodzas and Jeffrey Miller in a performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s evocative Concierto Madrigal for two guitars and orchestra. We celebrate the 2010 centennial of Samuel Barber in a performance of his First Essay for orchestra followed by audience favorites Vocalise (Rachmaninoff), Bolero (Ravel) and the final sections of The Firebird Suite (Stravinsky).
The Nazareth College Chamber Orchestra (NCCO) joins NCSO to present more audience favorites starting with Camille Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre. The Winter’s Passed for oboe and orchestra by Rochester composer Wayne Barlow features faculty oboist Euridice Alvarez. Borodin’s intense Noctourne from his string quartet no. 2 follows and the music making concludes in a colorful rendition of Lt. Kjie Suite (Prokofiev).
Winners of the NCSO Aria & Concerto Competition are featured in solo performances with the orchestra in March 5th on a program featuring the powerful and passionate Symphony No. 6 (The Pathetique) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
A newly composed work, Echo of a Footfall, by Philip Klein, former composition student of Professor Strelau’s and featuring trumpet professor Barbara Hull is the centerpiece of the NCSO’s Annual Spring Concert on April 11. Cello professors Kathleen Kemp and Sandra Halleran are highlighted in a performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos, and Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances round out this light classics program.
For more information please contact:
Nancy Strelau, director (585)389-2691
nstrela1@naz.edu
2008-2009 Season
Picture ‘scapes’
Featuring Nazareth College Percussion Faculty
Kristen ShinerMcGuire
Friday, October 24, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Linehan Chapel
Join us for the exciting opening of the Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra season as the group, under the director of Nancy Strelau, presents ‘Picture-scapes’ from Alaskan mountains to European rivers to our solar system, some of our most popular music paints images. Classical favorites Holst’s Planets, Smetana’s Moldau and the first movement of Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony will be performed. Professor Kristen Shiner-McGuire will be the featured soloist as well as the stunning Nazareth College Chamber Singers.
Choir and Orchestra Concert
Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Linehan Chapel
Pianist and Nazareth College Music Department Chair, Professor James Douthit, makes his debut with the Nazareth College Chamber Orchestra performing Mozart’s beautiful Piano Concerto in C major, K.415. The Nazareth College Concert Choir accompanied by the Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra present Schubert’s Magnificat and Mozart’s Regina Coeli.
Spring Orchestra Concert
Friday, March 6, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Linehan Chapel
Nazareth College 2009 Concerto/Aria Competition winners Mary Hellings, Lisa Salvaggio and Abigail Amidon will perform with the Nazareth College Symphony Orchestra while the orchestra musicians “strut their stuff” in an exciting rendition of Rimsky-Korsakoff’s Capriccio Espagnole.
Pops Concert
Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Linehan Chapel
You never know quite what to expect when attending our annual pops concert. A little jazz, pop and certainly a good dose of humor are offered as the orchestra plays pieces by Ellington, Williams and more.