It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra's 60th anniversary season musical celebration! From the first heroic strains of John Williams's "Superman" to the triumphant finale of Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony" we've programmed a season full of surprise, delight and adventure.
Our focus this anniversary season is on great music and the great musicians of the FSO. We're honored to present four of our own as featured guest soloists. In September, our distinguished concertmaster Louise Scott is the soloist in the haunting and poignant selections from "Schindler's List." And in February, you'll have an opportunity to hear her again in the celebrated solo in Tchaikovsky's suite from "Swan Lake."
Our concert in October reflects the charm, elegance and effortless grace of France in a program of musical bonbons by Offenbach, Ravel, and Bizet. Principal flautist Emily McKay joins us as the soloist in Ibert's virtuosic and delightful concerto.
Our own wonderful Jon Eder directs our annual "Nutcracker" performances once again in December and in January we focus on the romance of Russia, with cornerstone works by Glinka and Borodin. Principal hornist Nancy Sullivan will impress with Gliere's tour de force "Concerto for Horn and Orchestra."
February brings the music of the ballet to the concert hall with a program featuring the FSO front and center and in March, principal trumpet, Cindy Gould is featured as the soloist in Hummel's classically lyric concerto. It is appropriate to frame Hummel's work with an overture by his distinguished contemporary Mozart and a symphony by his greatest student, Beethoven.
We conclude our anniversary celebration in April with a salute to Broadway's best with guest stars Hugh Panaro and Susan Egan and Flagstaff's own fabulous Master Chorale. Each and every concert this season is a not to be missed experience – a fitting way to honor the FSO's 60 years of artistic excellence and achievement, which has profoundly enriched and enhanced our vibrant community.