The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Presents "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss

    KALAMAZOO, MI, November 14, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the first concert of the 2014-2015 Family Discovery Series, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss. Adapted for orchestra and stage by Tyler White and Tim Marrone, this delightful children's story is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. The Dr. Seuss family classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will begin promptly at 3pm. Pre-concert family fun activities will be available before the concert beginning at 2:00 pm for all ticket-holders. Activities include the Kushner & Company Instrument Petting Zoo, craft activities, and the first meeting of the KSO Kids Club. Families will also have the opportunity to meet new KSO Assistant Conductor, Daniel Brier, and other members of the cast.

Brier is looking forward to making his KSO debut. "I'm very excited to conduct my first concert with the KSO. It will be wonderful to meet the amazing children of Kalamazoo," says Brier.

Please note that seating for Family Discovery concerts is now general admission and ticket prices have been reduced to only $6 per child and $12 per adult for single ticket purchase. Kids can sign up for the KSO Kids Club at the concert or by calling the KSO at 269-349-7759.

The iconic imagery, trademark rhymes and engaging storylines of the author Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel) have been a staple in the childhood of virtually every American born since the 1940s. One of his most well-known books, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, was written in 1957 and created partly in response to what Dr. Seuss viewed as the gross commercialization of Christmas. In his story, the main character (the Grinch) would ultimately learn the true meaning of the holiday from the most unlikeliest of characters - the very people whose Christmas he was attempting to ruin (the Whos).

Since then, How the Grinch Stole Christmas has become a true holiday classic. In 1966, it was turned into an animated TV special that still airs to this day. Moreover, Dr. Seuss' story has made its way into a feature film and has been transformed into a number of stage productions - one version of which will be heard on this occasion. Adapted by Tyler White and Tim Marrone, the KSO's Family Discovery version will include familiar tunes from the TV special - like You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Welcome Christmas - as well as actors, sound effects, familiar Christmas songs, musical interludes by the KSO, and excerpts from Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony and the famous "Troika" from Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey (conductor) has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States. Maestro Raymond Harvey has served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and recently renewed his commitment to the KSO for an additional four years. Mr. Harvey was previously Music Director of the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts and the Fresno Philharmonic in California.

Equally at home in the world of opera, Mr. Harvey served as Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera in Texas. Among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He has been a frequent guest teacher for the Conductors Institute at Bard College, and for the American Symphony Orchestra League's Conducting Workshops. He also serves as adjunct faculty conductor with the University of Houston's opera department.

Daniel Brier
Daniel Brier is the newly appointed Assistant Conductor of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and is also in his third season as Music Director of the Spectrum Orchestra. He has conducted ensembles including the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, Royal Oak Symphony, Detroit Medical Orchestra, Orion Chamber Orchestra, and the major ensembles of the University of Michigan. As assistant conductor of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Brier conducts Family Discovery Concerts, Youth Concerts, Pops Concerts as needed, and actively participates in the community outreach and educational programs of the KSO.

As an advocate for new music Mr. Brier regularly collaborates with living composers. Recent premieres include Shin's Power and Light, Lavender's Battery, Boggs' Wanderlust: Beginnings, and May's Essay for Chamber Orchestra. At home on the stage and in the pit, Mr. Brier recently conducted a semi-staged production of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro.

His previous positions include assistant and cover conductor for the Lexington Philharmonic, assistant conductor of the University of Michigan Orchestras, music director of the Spectrum Orchestra, and conductor of the University of Michigan Orpheus Singers. In 2010, Mr. Brier was named a Prizewinner for his "exceptional conducting" during the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic's international conducting masterclass and competition. In 2012, he completed additional studies in Paris with noted conductor, John Nelson. Mr. Brier has conducted in masterclasses with Giancarlo Guerrero, Hugh Wolff, Jorma Panula, Alexander Polishchuk, Victor Yampolsky, Carl Topilow, and Ragnar Bohlin.

Mr. Brier completed his graduate studies at the University of Michigan's conducting program where he studied orchestral conducting with Kenneth Kielser and choral conducting with Dr. Jerry Blackstone. He is a recipient of the Julian and Vera McIntosh scholarship for promising young musicians and conductors, the Dr. Charlene Archibeque scholarship for choral conductors, and the Dorothy Greenwald scholarship.

Tim Marrone
Tim received his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City and has appeared on stage throughout the Northeast, most recently in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. For ten years, Tim served as a founding member of the Maryland-based clown/theatre troupe Theatricks. He has appeared as a silent comic character for the Washington National Opera, The Maryland Lyric Opera, The Summer Opera Series at Catholic University, and has toured as a clown with the George Carden Circus. As a physical comedian, Tim has co-written and performed productions with: The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra; The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra; The Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra; The West Shore Symphony; The Lansing Symphony Orchestra; The Billings Symphony Orchestra; The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra; The Lincoln Symphony Orchestra; The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; Symphony Orchestra Augusta and The River Concert Series in St. Mary's City, MD. Tim tours his solo show "Clowning Around With Shakespeare" for Young Audiences of Maryland and has taught theatre/movement classes at the Baltimore School for the Arts. In 2010 he joined The Big Apple Circus' Clown Care Unit Team at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC and at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

CALENDAR LISTING

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents:
Family Discovery Series
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - by Dr. Seuss

Daniel Brier, Conductor
Tim Marrone, Narrator
Ana Hickman, Cindy Lou Who
Rachael Caskey, Max the Dog

Adapted for orchestra and stage by Tyler White and Tim Marrone, this delightful children's story is coming to Chenery Auditorium. Join the KSO and guests as they present the fun Dr. Seuss family classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Sunday, December 7, 2014
Chenery Auditorium

Tickets: $6 - $12

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

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