The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Music Director announces:     The 2019–2020 Season and Debut Masterworks in the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts

(GREENSBORO, NC)—The Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (GSO), under the direction of Music Director, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, announces a thrilling 2019-2020 Tanger Outlets Masterworks Series, featuring a diverse roster of guest artists and the beginning of a new era in the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts.

Jonathan Emmons

April 4th, 2020 will mark the GSO’s first Tanger Outlets Masterworks concert in the highly anticipated, state-of-the-art Tanger Center in downtown Greensboro—and will simultaneously serve as the debut of the newly-created Greensboro Symphony Master Chorale, under the direction Founding Conductors, Jonathan Emmons and James Keith. GSO and its newly-formed Chorale will deliver an opening tour-de-force, featuring Beethoven’s magnificent Symphony No. 9, with soloists Katie Von Kooten, Nancy Maultsby, Rodrick Dixon, and Nathan Berg, alongside Copland’s rousing Fanfare for the Common Man and Tchaikovsky’s bombastic 1812 Overture.

Emmons, a University of Michigan graduate, is active as a choral conductor, collaborative pianist, vocalist, and organist.  Currently completing doctoral studies in choral conducting at UNCG, Emmons serves as Chorusmaster for the UNCG Opera Theatre, has conducted the UNCG University Chorale and Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs, and serves as Organist and Choirmaster at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Keith, a graduate of Northern Arizona University and UNCG’s doctoral choral conducting program, conducted the UNCG Men’s Glee Club for four years and served as interim Director of Choral Activities at McPherson College. He is active as a vocalist, pianist, bassist, arranger, and is currently the Associate Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church.

GSO welcomes double bassist, Xavier Foley, an alumnus of the prestigious Sphinx Organization, who will perform the famous Bottesini Concerto No. 2 for double bass and orchestra, plus Respighi and Schubert.

 “Jonathan and I are excited to work alongside Maestro Dmitry Sitkovetsky to bring this ensemble to life,” said Keith. “Greensboro has a thriving arts scene and with the opening of the Tanger Center, this Chorale will bring opportunities for our community to not only experience incredible music, but also be involved in the creative process. This will be an exciting group of voices and we look forward to singing with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra,” he said.

“Having performed with more than 300 symphony orchestras around the world, I have noticed that every great symphony possesses its own chorale,” said GSO Music Director, Dmitry Sitkovetsky. “I consider the creation of the GSO Master Chorale an extremely important development, especially in anticipation of our new home in the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts,” he said.

The rest of the 2019-2020 season remains equally vibrant, featuring diverse guest artists and varied repertoire. September brings a violin gala, with Maestro Sitkovetsky, Mayuko Kamio, Risa Hokamura, and GSO Concertmaster, Marjorie Bagley, playing Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Lalo, and the U.S. premiere of a Sarasate Fantasy for four violins and orchestra. October sees the return of pianist, Julia Zilberquit, student of the great Bella Davidovich, playing two new transcriptions of pieces by Vivaldi & Bach, alongside Copland and Shostakovich. In November, GSO welcomes double bassist, Xavier Foley, an alumnus of the prestigious Sphinx Organization, who will perform the famous Bottesini Concerto No. 2 for double bass and orchestra, plus Respighi and Schubert.

Artyom Dervoid

February marks the GSO’s final performance in Dana Auditorium, where it will fittingly perform Haydn’s quirky Farewell Symphony no. 45, alongside Puccini’s Capriccio Sinfonico and the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Guitar Concerto featuring Artyom Dervoed. After its dramatic April premiere in the Tanger Center, GSO will close out its season in May, 2020 with a collaborative performance, featuring EMF Music Director, Gerald Schwartz, conducting Dmitry Sitkovetsky in the beloved Mendelssohn Violin Concerto alongside Weber’s Der Freischütz Overture. Maestro Sitkovetsky conducts the concert’s second half, featuring Strauss’s dynamic Also sprach Zarathustra.

Considering the size and scope of the revolutionary, 3,000 seat Tanger Center, GSO will condense its Masterworks performances to one night per series, most often Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m. “The 2019-2020 Masterworks Series is exciting from beginning to end,” said Lisa Crawford, GSO President and CEO. “It is a fitting way to celebrate the Symphony’s 60th Anniversary and the move into our new home in downtown Greensboro.”

Don’t miss the beginning of an electrifying new era for the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra in the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts!

For more information please visit the Greensboro Symphony at their website.