Symphony Number One
Symphony Number One | |
---|---|
Orchestra | |
"Substantial Works by Emerging Composers" | |
Founded | 2015 |
Location | Baltimore |
Principal conductor | Jordan Randall Smith, Music Director |
Website |
www |
Symphony Number One (SNO) is an American chamber orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. SNO performs approximately 15 concerts each year in musical venues in Mount Vernon, Baltimore and across the city. Jordan Randall Smith is Symphony Number One’s founder and current music director.[1]
History
Founded in 2015, Symphony Number One is a chamber orchestra devoted to performing works by emerging composers.[2] A non-profit performing arts organization, SNO maintains close relationships with the other independent classical music organizations of Baltimore, and is a part of Maryland's classical arts space.[3] With its focus on contemporary music, SNO can also be classified as a contemporary classical ensemble.
The orchestra's president is Dr. Janan Broadbent. Nicholas Bentz, co-founder and previous concertmaster, now has the title of Composer in Residence. The orchestra's current concertmaster is Nikita Borisevich. The other co-founder was Saxophonist Sean Meyers; Smith, Bentz, and Meyers first met at the Peabody Institute.[4] The three put together the inaugural concert in May 2015 at the Baltimore War Memorial.[5][6] In 2016, SNO appointed Melissa Johnson Lander as Executive Director.[7]
SNO was invited to perform at the inaugural Light City festival on April 2, 2016 in Baltimore.[8][9][10] In September 2016, Symphony Number One began its second season with compositions by Strauss, Mahler, and Steve Reich.[11] SNO was named a "Category Buster" by Baltimore Magazine in their 2016 "Best of Baltimore" issue;[12] SNO also won runner up for "Best Band" in Baltimore Magazine's Reader's Poll.[13]
Symphony Number One emphasizes inclusionary policies in orchestra membership, audience access, and selection of featured composers.[14][15] SNO is a two-time recipient of grants by Women's Philharmonic Advocacy for multiple commissions of female composers.[16][17]
Notable premieres
Symphony Number One’s cornerstone project is the commissioning of new works. SNO has commissioned several works from American and international composers, which include:
- Natalie Draper: Timelapse Variations (2016)[18]
- Martha Horst: Straussian Landscapes (2016)[19]
- Andrew Posner: The Promised Burning (2016)[20][21]
- Jonathan Russell: Light Cathedral (2016)
- Nicole Murphy: Water Mirrors (2015)
- Andrew Boss: Saxophone Concerto, written for saxophonist Sean Meyers (2015)[22][23]
- Mark Fromm: Symphony No. 1 (2015)[24]
Music directors
- Jordan Randall Smith (2015–present)
Members
SNO is a flexible collective of approximately thirty artist-entrepreneurs, including instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, and sound and production designers. The musicians also serve as the executive and operational leadership.[25]
- Katayoon Hodjati (flute)
- Sarah Eckman McIver (flute)
- Garrett Hale (oboe)
- Julia Perry (oboe)
- James Duncan (clarinet)
- Melissa Johnson Lander (clarinet)
- Susan Summers (saxophone)
- Kika Wright (bassoon)
- Jon Zepp (basoon)
- Kelso Jones (horn)
- Selena Maytum (horn)
- Wanlu Ma (percussion)
- Elizabeth G. Hill (piano)
- Dan Rorke (keyboard)
- Taylor Boykins (Mezzo-soprano)
- Kristin Bakkegard (violin)
- Nikita Borisevich (violin)
- Karin Kilper (viola)
- Colin Webb (viola)
- Joe Isom (cello)
- Mike Newman (cello)
- Michael Rittling (Double bass)
- Nicholas Bentz (Composer in Residence)
- Karena Ingram (Composition Director)
- Kate Cruz Flores (Production Director)
Performances and tours
SNO performs in Baltimore, Maryland.
SNO on the Road
SNO offers a small tour of "run out" concerts called "SNO on the Road" and in February 2016, used the series to present Saxophone and Piano recitals in which the Piano Reduction of the Andrew Boss Saxophone Concerto was premiered, their second album–Emergence–was released, and the sheet music for the concerto went on sale.[26][27]
Community outreach
SNO offers several programs to engage with a variety of audiences in Baltimore as well as to work with composers internationally.
Beethoven's Kitchen
In May 2016, Melissa Lander presented SNO's first significant chamber music concert under the umbrella of "Beethoven's Kitchen."[28] The series focuses both on new music and concert experiences and on combining food and drink.
Call for Scores
SNO holds an annual Call for Scores competition, recognizing two winners each year. The winning composers are commissioned to write new works for Symphony Number One.[29] In its third call for scores, Symphony Number One added a number of additional prizes, including the "Maryland Prize," recognizing a Maryland composer's achievements. Howard County native Karena Ingram was the winner.[30]
Broadcasts
- Maryland Public Television's Artworks: Performance broadcast across the State of Maryland. Hosted by Rhea Feikin.
- The Baltimore Sun's Roughly Speaking: Performance broadcast live from the lobby of The Baltimore Sun. Hosted by Dan Rodricks.
Discography
- 2016: Emergence: Andrew Boss: Concerto for Saxophone and Small Chamber Orchestra, feat. Sean Meyers - alto saxophone. (SNOtone)[31]
- 2015: Symphony Number One: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concerto For Flute, Harp, And Orchestra (Mozart), feat. Raoul Cho, Jordan Thomas; Gabriel Fauré: Pavane; Mark Fromm: Symphony No. 1, feat. Hanul Park - bassoon. (SNOtone)[32][33]
References
- ↑ Lim, John (June 28, 2016). "Jordan Smith on How Becoming a Maestro at the Pivot Led to a Great Career as a Conductor". Moving Forward. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (September 15, 2015). "Peabody alumni found new group Symphony Number One". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Evartt, Diane. "Music: Orchestras". Maryland State Archives: Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ "SoundNotion 202: Ockeghem Fanboys". SoundNotion.tv. April 20, 2015.
- ↑ McCauley, Mary (May 6, 2016). "Baltimore's War Memorial is home for a new concert series by mostly local artists". The Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ Souza, Gabriella (May 8, 2015). "Baltimore's Newest Chamber Orchestra Makes Debut". Baltimore Magazine.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (July 25, 2016). "Melissa Johnson Lander Named Symphony No. 1 Executive Director". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ↑ Juliette, Rebecca (March 29, 2016). "BmoreArt's Picks: Baltimore Art Galleries, Openings, and Events March 29-April 4". BmoreArt. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Woolever, Lydia (March 30, 2016). "Weekend Lineup: April 1-3". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Kinney, Dubray (April 7, 2016). "Light City Baltimore dazzles in its inauguration". The Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ McCabe, Brett (September 21, 2016). "Symphony Number One prepares to begin season two". Johns Hopkins University Hub. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Souza, Gabriella (August 22, 2016). "Best of Baltimore 2016". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Best of Baltimore Readers' Poll 2016". Baltimore Magazine. August 5, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ↑ Milligan, Carley (October 27, 2015). "How I promote composers for social change". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Kujawa, Frankie (November 25, 2016). "Symphony Number One Electrifies Baltimore Music Scene". Baltimore OUTloud. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
- ↑ Baer, Sarah (December 2, 2015). "Announcing 2015 Performance Grant Winners". Women's Philharmonic Advocacy Blog. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ↑ Baer, Sarah (November 16, 2016). "Announcing the 2016 Performance Grant Winners". Women's Philharmonic Advocacy Blog. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (October 26, 2015). "CJoshua Diaz and Taylor Hillary Boykins to make their debut with Symphony Number One on Nov. 5". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (October 25, 2015). "Symphony Number One Opened September 23 and 24 with Wealth of Winds". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (April 24, 2016). "Symphony Number One to Perform Works by Adams, Posner, Omiccioli on Season Finale Concerts". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Gerr, Melissa (May 11, 2016). "Out & About: Winning Notes". Baltimore Jewish Times. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Yockel, Michael (April 24, 2016). "Off the Grid: We talk to 18 of the most talented Baltimore musicians out there.". Baltimore Style. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Smith, Tim (September 29, 2016). "Symphony Number One opens season promisingly with Mahler, new sax concerto.". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ↑ Buchanan, Douglas (December 20, 2016). "New Gifts of New Music". Image-Music-Text. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Woolever, Lydia (January 22, 2016). "Q&A with Symphony One". Baltimore (magazine). Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (February 11, 2016). "Symphony Number One Announces New Album and Concert Tour". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ "A Symphony Number One Chamber Concert featuring Sean Meyers, saxophone and Elizabeth Hill, piano". District of Columbia Public Library. February 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Lundquist, Tiffany (May 18, 2016). "Symphony Number One Presents 'Beethoven's Kitchen' with Works by Gill, Posner, Schubert". The Peabody Post. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Juliette, Rebecca (April 16, 2015). "Symphony No.1 Call for Scores". BmoreArt. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Karena Ingram ('16 Music) Wins Award in Call for Scores!". University of Maryland, Baltimore County Department of Music. August 2, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Feikin, Rhea (June 23, 2016). "Artworks: Episode 431". Maryland Public Television. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Smith, Tim (November 22, 2015). "Checking out new classical recordings with Baltimore roots". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Woolever, Lydia (February 17, 2015). "Music Reviews: February 2016 - The latest from Thrushes, Charm City Junction, and Symphony One.". Baltimore (magazine). Retrieved November 10, 2016.
External links
- Symphony Number One official site
- Symphony Number One at AllMusic
- Jordan Randall Smith official site
- Melissa Johnson Lander official site
Sources
- Buker, Samantha (Spring 2016). "Fertile Ground". Peabody Magazine (2). Retrieved 11 November 2016.