RPO Brass Quintet to play free concert for patients, medical staff at Wilmot Cancer Institute
For Immediate Release: December 17, 2013
Media Contacts: Sally Cohen, 585-749-1795, sally@sallycohenpr.com
RPO Info: rpo.org, facebook.com/RochesterPhilharmonic, twitter.com/RochesterPhil, rochesterphilharmonic.blogspot.com
RPO BRASS QUINTET AT WILMOT CANCER CENTER
Sixth annual holiday concert for patients, medical team this Friday
Rochester, NY – While the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is proud to present a series of annual holiday concerts at the beautiful Eastman Theatre, there are many in our community who are unable to attend due to geography, financial means, or physical limitations. In the spirit of sharing the joyous gift of music, the RPO brass ensemble will perform a free concert of holiday and classical favorites for patients and medical staff in the Wilmot Cancer Institute Atrium on Friday, December 19 at 1 p.m. This sixth annual concert is once again sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John Bennett. Dr. Bennett is Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, as well as a nine-year member of the RPO board and head of the development committee.
“This concert is a nice way of providing the patients with some casual entertainment during the holiday season” says Dr. Bennett, who adds that approximately 75-150 people attend each year. “I have received very positive feedback over the years from both patients and staff about how exciting it was to be present.”
The RPO brass ensemble is a quintet of RPO musicians that includes Doug Prosser (trumpet), Wesley Nance (trumpet), Dave Angus (horn), Mark Kellogg (trombone) and Craig Sutherland (tuba). Additionally, this will be the second year that a Wilmot patient will participate in a special number. Steve Whitman studies tuba with Craig Sutherland at the Eastman Community Music School and is an RPO patron.
“Last year, Steve did an arrangement of “Rubber Ducky” for two tubas with added percussion played by the rest of the brass quintet, and it was a big hit!” says Sutherland. This year, the group is excited to debut Whitman’s arrangement of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” for two solo tubas with quintet accompaniment.
While the Wilmot Cancer Institute Atrium was chosen as the concert space due to its size and central location, the quintet has another reason for enjoying the venue.
“Believe it or not, the atrium is actually a great place to play for acoustics,” Sutherland says. “It’s one of our favorite ‘halls’ to play in, and the crowd is a nice mix of doctors, nurses, staff and patients, some of whom listen from upstairs ‘balcony’ seating. It’s a great atmosphere.”
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 200,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Recently appointed 12th Music Director Ward Stare joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 20-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches more than 13,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children.
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