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Serenades and Symphonies to Open Arizona Philharmonic’s Sixth Season

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You will enjoy the precision and elegance of the combined forces of these two esteemed ensembles.

Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) welcomes world-renowned conductor Maestro Peter Bay back to the stage to begin its sixth season, which features six compelling performances. Bay will be leading the full orchestra in Serenades and Symphonies on Sept. 10 at the intimate Ruth Street Theater, featuring Beethoven, Dvořák and Martinů.

Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony showcases Beethoven’s mastery of classical form, while hinting at the more daring and innovative Romantic expression that would come to define his later works. Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds, Cello and Bass showcases much of Arizona Philharmonic’s wind section in a colorful work of lyricism and Czech rhythms. Martinů’s lively Sinfonietta La Jolla evokes the spirit of the sun-drenched Californian shores. We are excited to present these diverse and exciting works in the exquisite acoustic environment of the Ruth Street Theater, located on the Prescott High School grounds. Season tickets are on sale through Sept. 10, offering 20% savings for the full season and 10% savings with Pick 3. Visit AZPhil.org for tickets and information.

The Nov. 19 concert welcomes back the Sonoran Winds Quintet, composed of Arizona Philharmonic’s five principal woodwind players, returning to the stage for another captivating performance. Featuring rich, melodic and lively classical works of Reicha, Muczynski, Rubtsov and Farkas, this concert offers a beautiful variety of colors and rich harmonies presented with both virtuosity and lyricism.

On Dec. 17, experience the wonder and hope of the holidays as Arizona Philharmonic presents We Wish You Christmas, featuring the beautiful vocal stylings of three esteemed Arizona sopranos, accompanied by Arizona Philharmonic chamber musicians. This unique ensemble brings back some favorites of the sold-out 2021 performances and celebrates other Christmas tunes in new settings. No holiday season is complete without the music that excites the senses and warms the heart.

The Jan. 7 concert introduces Pianist Anton Nel, an internationally renowned, major-label musician, who joins Maestro Peter Bay and Arizona Philharmonic on stage for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major, K. 271. The concerto is considered to be one of the first masterpieces of the classical style. Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Divertimento for String Orchestra is a beautiful work reflective of the same Finnish tradition of his predecessor, Sibelius. Gershwin’s gentle Lullaby was a favorite of Gershwin’s social circle. It was only performed at private parties during Gershwin’s lifetime, and it was first publicly performed well after Gershwin’s death. Closing out the performance is Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp Minor, best known as the “Farewell” Symphony.

The Feb. 18 concert showcases an annual audience favorite, local pianist and Steinway Artist James D’León, who joins a trio of Arizona Philharmonic principal string players for another stunning performance. D’León’s curated concert includes Gabriel Fauré’s penultimate work, the Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 120, Arvo Pärt’s deeply contemplative Spiegel im Spiegel for cello and piano, Rebecca Clarke’s expressive and innovative Piano Trio, and Robert Schumann’s charming and romantic Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47.

To close out the season on March 24, Dr. Joshua Harper and his professional chorus Quartz Ensemble return to Prescott to perform with Arizona Philharmonic. The concert features beautiful and emotional works by a variety of composers spanning well over 300 years: Bach, Mendelssohn, Whitacre, Buxtehude, Rheinberger, Vasks, and Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw. You will enjoy the precision and elegance of the combined forces of these two esteemed ensembles. QCBN

By Henry Flurry

Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is beginning its sixth season in 2023-2024 as Prescott’s regional professional orchestra, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Based in Prescott, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott-area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization performing at Prescott High School’s Ruth Street Theater. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org and on Facebook.

Henry Flurry is the Arizona Philharmonic executive director.

Courtesy Photo: Maestro Peter Bay returns to conduct Arizona Philharmonic’s Serenades and Symphonies, Sept. 10, at the Ruth Street Theater. 

Arizona Philharmonic Names Abby Coffey Co-Executive Director

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“I am thrilled to join the executive team for the Arizona Philharmonic as the co-executive director for the 2023-2024 season,” Coffey said.

Prescott’s Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) has announced that, after an extensive search, they have chosen Abby Coffey as co-executive director. Coffey starts the position this month to help usher in the 2023-24 season, which begins Sept. 10.

“We are delighted to have someone of Abby’s musical and education background join AZ Phil as co-executive director, and I look forward to working with her as we evolve our organization,” said AZ Phil Executive Director Henry Flurry.

A versatile flutist, piccoloist and music educator and administrator in the Phoenix metro area, Coffey currently holds the Flute 2/Piccolo position in the Symphony of the Southwest and performs frequently as a substitute musician with The Phoenix Symphony. A supporter and advocate of music education, Coffey is the Professor of Flute and Music Education Studies at Arizona Christian University, where she also teaches music history courses.

Coffey graduated summa cum laude from Belmont University in Nashville with a Bachelor of Music in music education degree. Relocating to Phoenix to further her education, she obtained a Master of Music in flute performance from Arizona State University and is currently completing a Core Certification Program in Arts Management through the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

“I am thrilled to join the executive team for the Arizona Philharmonic as the co-executive director for the 2023-2024 season,” Coffey said. QCBN

Courtesy of Bailey Wilson Photography: Arizona Philharmonic announces new Co-Executive Director Abby Coffey. 

Arizona Philharmonic Brings Back the Sonoran Winds Quintet

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Sound vibrations are created by splitting the air stream on the edge of the hole.

The Sonoran Winds Quintet, the stage name for Arizona Philharmonic’s five principal woodwind players, is an ensemble including flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn. They return this season to perform at 3 p.m., Sept. 25, at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center (YCPAC).

The beauty of a woodwind quintet is that each instrument offers a very different resonance, as each instrument’s design employs different physics for sound production. “This allows for a diverse set of colors unusual for such a small ensemble,” said Executive Director Henry Flurry. Tickets are available at AZPhil.org or the YCPAC box office.

The Woodwinds
The flute is a metal, tubular instrument with a hole over which air is directed. Sound vibrations are created by splitting the air stream on the edge of the hole. A clarinet is made of ebony wood shaped nearly cylindrical with a flared bell. It has a single reed (a flexible piece of wood) that vibrates against a rigid mouthpiece when blown.

Both the oboe and the bassoon use a double reed – two reeds that are strapped together and vibrate against each other. Both instruments are made of wood and are gently conical. “The French horn is roughly 17 feet of brass coiled into the familiar horn shape. Lip vibrations make its sound. When compared to a string or brass quintet, the diversity of design within a woodwind quintet is striking. This is one of my favorite chamber ensembles,” Flurry said.

The Repertoire
Principal clarinetist Scott Richardson organized this concert and is proud of the repertoire he selected. “This year’s Sonoran Winds concert is a synthesis of exquisite French chamber music and quintessential American popular music, with a touch of Latin flavor.” Six composers, some familiar and some not, are represented on the concert: Henry Mancini, Jean Francaix, Zequinha de Abreu, Maurice Ravel, Georges Auric and George Gershwin. Rich, melodic and lively works were chosen to offer a variety of colors and harmonies, with lyricism and virtuosity.

Unfortunately, since planning this concert, Richardson learned that an upcoming surgery will prevent his participation. AZ Phil’s second clarinetist, Mary Jackson, will be taking his place. Jackson has developed a local following through AZ Phil chamber concerts she has organized for the Highlands Center.

Joining Jackson on stage are principal flutist Jeannette Moore, principal oboist Laura Arganbright, guest bassoonist Chip King and principal French hornist Karen Teplik.

“I had a good chuckle when a fan pointed out that the traditional fifth-anniversary gift is of wood,” said Flurry, “and thus a woodwind quintet is highly appropriate for Arizona Philharmonic’s fifth season.” QCBN

By Cynthia Jones

About Arizona Philharmonic

Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is celebrating its fifth season in Prescott in 2022-2023 as Prescott’s regional professional orchestra, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Based in Prescott, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.

Cynthia Jones is the marketing manager for Arizona Philharmonic.

Arizona Philharmonic Presents Dancing from Tonga to Vienna

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This is a program to uplift your spirits and get your ‘inner dance’ on!

Arizona Philharmonic (AZPhil.org) welcomes back Maestro Peter Bay at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center (YCPAC) to usher in the beginning of the 5th season of bringing outstanding professional music to Prescott.

Season openers are always fun for both Arizona Philharmonic musicians and audiences alike. We are seeing old and new friends after a summer break, and the excitement of new opportunity and continued growth is palpable.

Featuring a full orchestra and international Steinway Artist Thomas Pandolfi, the concert opens with Argento’s Royal Invitation, a tongue-in-cheek ballet score on the famous appearance of a Tongan queen at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Thomas Pandolfi then performs a brilliant piano concerto by a 21-year-old Mendelssohn, Piano Concerto No. 1. The concert closes with Beethoven’s joyful Symphony No. 7, a work that Richard Wagner famously called the “apotheosis of the dance.” Tickets and more details about this and the rest of the concert season are available at AZPhil.org.

“When the Queen of Tonga was invited to attend the coronation of Elizabeth II, it not only made a spectacular headline in the newspapers, but it inspired American composer Domenick Argento to write a musical ‘report’ filled with fox-trots, marches, polonaises and lots of humor,” said Peter Bay. “From those dances to a work described as the apotheosis of the dance, Arizona Philharmonic gives its first performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony on this program. Brilliant keyboard artist Thomas Pandolfi is featured in the virtuoso First Piano Concerto of Felix Mendelssohn. This is a program to uplift your spirits and get your ‘inner dance’ on!”

The musicians love working with Maestro Peter Bay. The Argento is both humorous and charming, and I am really excited about the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1. Mendelssohn is a master of melody and phrase construction; and featured soloist Thomas Pandolfi is a terrific, heartfelt and daring pianist.

“Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto is full of pianistic fireworks, scintillating virtuosity, yet also pure and tender beauty – it is a concerto of complete and ecstatic joy,” said Pandolfi. “I am so excited to bring it all to life and make magic with Maestro Bay and the musicians of Arizona Philharmonic.”

Thomas Pandolfi is an international artist selling out some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall, Strathmore, The Kennedy Center, Kiev Opera House, Bucharest’s Romanian Athenaeum and London’s Cadogan Hall.

Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is celebrating its fifth season in Prescott in 2022-2023 as Prescott’s regional professional orchestra, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Based in Prescott, AZ Phil draws musicians from across state and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook. QCBN

By Henry Flurry

Henry Flurry is the executive director of Arizona Philharmonic. He can be reached at henry@azphil.org or 855-321-6724.

Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is celebrating its fifth season in Prescott in 2022-2023 as Prescott’s regional professional orchestra, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Based in Prescott, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.