GSO continues “la bella Italia!”
This season the Garland Symphony Orchestra celebrates Italy’s musical heritage. The April 17 performance will feature LeeAnne Thompson, flutist, performing Liebermann’s Flute Concerto.
Thompson has been principal flute of the GSO since 2003. Thompson is a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin and received the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in flute performance from University of North Texas. Thompson has performed as a soloist in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She is a freelance musician and pedagogue in the Dallas-Ft Worth Metroplex. Prior to this position, she was an adjunct faculty member at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Thompson was the winner of the Upper Midwest Flute Competition and a finalist in the Frank Bowen Competition, Mid-South Flute Competition and Summerhays Competition.
The GSO will also feature Hérold’s Overture to Zampa, Puccini’s Chrysanthemums, Respighi’s Pines of Rome and Kabalevsky’s Romeo and Juliet.
Maestro Gabriele Pezone was young when he won his first composition contest. He studied piano under the guidance of Antonio Luciani ( Vincenzo Vitale’s pupil) in this instrument has successfully graduated from Latina’s Conservatory “O. Respighi ” with Salvatorella Coggi and choral music and choir conducting with Mauro Bacherini. At the Conservatory of Latina he also studied organ and organ composition with Luigi Sacco (Fernando Germani’s pupil) and composition with Alberto Meoli. He studied organ improvisation with Stefano Rattini in Trento and perfected in organ with Mariella Mochi and Olivier Latry and in piano with Alessandra Ammara and Roberto Prosseda (with whom he had the privilege to perform in 4 hands in “Festival Pontino 2009”).
He also conducted “La Traviata” by G. Verdi at the theater “A. Manzoni” of Cassino and “Madama Butterfly” by G. Puccini at the theater “G. D’Annunzio” of Latina.
He established the “Fondi Chamber Orchestra” (with whom he recently recorded for Vatican Radio with the Italian-American pianist Natalie Gabrielli) and is also the establisher of the ”Sound Track Ensemble”, instrumental group made up of young musicians, born from a project by “Giuseppe De Santis” movie association. He is a member of the Commission for Sacred Music and Liturgical Chant of the Archdiocese of Gaeta and the president of two musical associations one entitled to “Ferruccio Busoni” and one entitled to “Sergei Rachmaninoff”, which has organized dozens of cultural events.
GSO credits Music Director Robert Carter Austin for its continued outstanding orchestral programming. Austin’s background encompasses over 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University.
Season tickets are as low as $61. Single tickets are $17.50, $27.50 and $37.50. All are available by calling 972-926-0611, faxing 972-926-0811 or emailing info@garlandsymphony.org). Group discounts are available; Call 972-926-0611 for more information.
All concerts begin at 8 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, Brownlee Auditorium, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland.