Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra Announces 2015-2016 Concert Season

The Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, led by renowned music director and conductor Sarah Ioannides, announces its upcoming 2015-2016 season.

With new programming, additional concerts, a vibrant ‘Music Sandwiched In’ series, three exciting youth concerts, a lineup of world famous guest artists, and the annual Memorial Day Pops concert, this season promises to inspire and enable music lovers with “Inspirations from Around the World”.

Music Director Sarah Ioannides said “As we close this exciting last season and prepare to open a new season together, I am able to reflect on the wonderful journey of the last ten years and look to new, fresh and exciting programming that I know our audience is passionate about! With the orchestra sounding at its very best and a roster of a few of the best musicians on the international concert stage today, the concerts will spotlight different countries from around the world, starting farther away and with home visits throughout and closing the season in South America where we celebrate very close to Cinco de Mayo!”

The 2015-2016 season will offer five concerts in the Classics Series subscription held in Twichell Auditorium at Converse College. The opening night concert on September 12 features the return of famed German pianist Andreas Boyde who will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 2”, along with the orchestra performing Verdi’s “La Forza de Destino Overture” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7”. Other season highlights include guest artists, Kristin Lee, a 2015 Avery Fischer Grant awardee performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto, the return of Spartanburg’s favorite jazz trumpeter Jens Lindemann for a Valentine’s Pops Jazz concert reprise along with jazz singer Tish Oney and the Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble, and Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero from the “Royal Family of Guitar” playing a mix of music from the Americas. In December, the SPO will present “Home for the Holidays” featuring Mallory Hayes on violin, guest conductors Zig Reichwald and Holt Andrews, and the Spartanburg Day School Children’s Choir and the First Presbyterian Chancel and Chamber Choirs.

Additionally, this season will offer the Espresso Series which is an exciting presentation of one hour concerts created to put a fresh, intelligent and audience-engaging spin on classical repertoire. The series will be held in the Chapman Cultural Center and audience members will receive one free drink per concert during the pre-concert happy hour in the lobby. The opening concert will be on October 2 with the Sensational Strings of the SPO, playing Mendelssohn, Mozart, and a new work by the SPO’s own Dr. Peter B. Kay. On November 20, Dr. Elizabeth Child joins the woodwinds of the orchestra to perform music by Ibert, Poulenc, D’Rivera and Mozart. The final concert in this series will feature the SPO’s Brass Quintet as they perform rags, fantasies, and other dances from the greatest past and contemporary composers.

Along with the SPO’s orchestral concerts, the organization features many educational and free opportunities for Spartanburg citizens to engage in music. For the 5th year, the SPO will partner with the Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program which offers a yearlong curriculum to over 3,600 Spartanburg County 4th and 5th graders. The culmination of the provided curriculum occurs when these students perform along with the SPO in three concerts in Twichell Auditorium in February. The SPO’s ‘Music Sandwiched In’ series presents free concerts in the Spartanburg County Library Headquarters on select Wednesdays from mid-August – through June. These concerts include the option of bringing a bag lunch, or purchasing a specialty lunch prepared by Chef Bill McClellan. Continuing the partnership with the Spartanburg County Library, the SPO will present several free family friendly concerts in different library branches throughout the county next year. To finish off this exhilarating season, the SPO will perform its annual free Memorial Day Pops concert at Zimmerli Amphitheater in Barnet Park.

Executive Director Kathryn Boucher stated, “Our upcoming season has many fantastic aspects that our audience can look forward to: world -renowned guest artists, superb classical music, and a vibrant new series of one-hour concerts that will engage and educate! The SPO is excited to continue our high level of musical artistry as well as bring new initiatives to Spartanburg. Personally, I have enjoyed my first season with the organization and believe next season will be such a thrill for all audiences.”

There are several different ticket packet options for buyers this year including; the Premier Subscription which offers 15% discount for all concerts next season; the Classics Package that offers a 10% discount on all 5 concerts at Twichell, and the Espresso Package, offering a 10% discount on all concerts at the Chapman Cultural Center.

All season ticket information, including online ordering is available on the Philharmonic’s website: www.spartanburgphilharmonic.org/tickets.