Orchestra's Zankel debut to feature Copland's Lincoln

The Skidmore College Orchestra will make its Zankel Music Center debut at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 6, on the stage of the new Ladd Concert Hall, led by guest conductor Charles Schneider.

The 70-piece orchestra will perform a program including Aaron Copland's "Lincoln Portrait," narrated by the following students, chosen by audition: Robert Zilinyi '11,Elena Milius '10, Elissa Nadworny '10, and Andrew Garlick '10.

Also on the program are Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 (Eroica), and solo performances of movements from three classic concerti: Alicia Wells '10 will present the Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat by Richard Strauss; Sydney Weill will perform Elgar's Cello Concerto; and Victoria Vitale '12 will perform Barber's Violin Concerto. They were selected as performers through the recent concerto competition.

"Copland's musical portrait of President Lincoln is a beautiful setting of the profound thoughts of one of our country's most important Presidents, made even more meaningful by recent events in our country's history," explained Skidmore Orchestra Music Director Anthony Holland, who is on sabbatical this semester. "This concert will be even more special as the very first orchestra concert in the fabulous acoustics of the Helen Ladd Concert Hall in the new Zankel Music Center. What a thrilling sound it will be!"

The Copland composition also will resonate with members of Skidmore's class of 2013, whose First-Year Experience has included an examination of Abraham Lincoln. Last summer the class completed two readings: a DVD from the Bill T. Jones Arnie Zane Dance Company in which the award-winning choreographer examines, through dance, the life, myth, and paradox of America?s 16 ^th president; and a more traditional book, Our Lincoln: New Perspectives on Lincoln and His World, edited by Columbia University historian Eric Foner.

The Skidmore College orchestra is a semi-professional orchestra made up of Skidmore students and top players from several regional professional orchestras.

Maestro Schneideris the music director of the Catskill, Utica and Schenectady symphonies, where he has received three ASCAP awards. He was the founding music director of Glimmerglass Opera, and served in that capacity for 13 years. He is co-founder of Catskill Conservatory and has served on the music faculties of the State University College at Oneonta, Hartwick College, Colgate University, Hamilton College and San Diego State University.

Schneider is a graduate of Cornell College in Iowa. He attended the Juilliard School of music as a piano student and in succeeding years garnered much conducting experience both on Broadway and on national tours.

Schneider will also lead the orchestra in a May 4 concert.

Tickets for the March 6 program are $5 general admission, $3 seniors and non-Skidmore students, Skidmore students free with ID. Tickets are available online.

Click here to read Judy White's story on Copland's Lincoln Portrait that recently appeared in The Saratogian.