Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Features Emmanuel Ceysson, Principal Harpist of the Metropolitan Opera House, in November 18th Performance of Gliere's Harp Concerto

    KALAMAZOO, MI, November 05, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Raymond Harvey, presents internationally renowned Principal harpist of the Metropolitan Opera House, Emmanuel Ceysson, for the third concert of its 2016-17 Symphonic Series. Billed the "enfant terrible" of the harp, Ceysson's virtuosity and infectious enthusiasm will be on full display in Gliere's Harp Concerto.

Maestro Harvey rounds out the program with the music of Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Corigliano and Felix Mendelssohn. Corigliano's Voyage from 1978 is a string orchestra setting of Baudelaire's "L'invitation au voyage." Felix Mendelssohn wrote his Symphony No. 3 "Scottish" after a walking tour of Scotland.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey
For more than 35 years, Raymond Harvey has made a significant impact as an American conductor of great skill and insight. Born in New York City, he studied piano and conducting, receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees in choral conducting from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; and then studied orchestral conducting at the Yale School of Music, earning Master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.

This season Maestro Harvey celebrates 18 years as Music Director of the Kalamazoo
Symphony Orchestra. He previously held the top post at the Fresno Philharmonic (California), Springfield Symphony (Massachusetts), and El Paso Opera (Texas).

Maestro Harvey has appeared as guest conductor with many of America's leading orchestras, including those of Philadelphia, Atlanta, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Detroit, New Orleans and Minnesota, as well as the New York Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts and the Boston Pops. He has also had engagements with the Maggio Musicale Orchestra of Florence, Italy, the Pusan Symphony of South Korea, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. He regularly performs as a pianist, both in chamber music and as pianist/conductor in works of Gershwin, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff.

In addition to his commitment to Kalamazoo, Dr. Harvey has been named an Associate Professor at the University of Houston, where he serves as Music Director of the Moores School of Music opera department. His operatic repertoire is extensive, including favorites such as Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, and Aida; as well as the more rarely performed The Consul, The Rape of Lucretia, and Samson and Delilah.

The Kalamazoo community continues to embrace Raymond Harvey through appreciation of his compelling performances and engaging lectures.

Emmanuel Ceysson
Emmanuel Ceysson is one of the world's leading harpists. He has recently started his new job as Principal harp at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, after a successful career at Opera de Paris lasting 9 years. Since 2005 he has been a presence in such leading venues on the international musical scene as the Wigmore Hall, the Salle Gaveau, Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Berlin Philharmonie.

He won the Gold Medal and a special performance prize at the USA International Harp Competition (Bloomington) in 2004, First Prize and six special prizes at the New York Young Concert Artist Auditions in 2006, and First Prize at the prestigious ARD Competition in Munich in September 2009, thus becoming the first harpist to obtain awards at three major international events. In 2010, Emmanuel Ceysson was nominated in the category 'Solo Instrumental Discovery' at the Victoires de la Musique Classique. In November 2011 he received a Prix d'Encouragement from the Academie des Beaux-Arts de l'Institut de France (Fondation Simone Del Duca) in recognition of his distinguished early career. A Naive artist since January 2012, when he released a solo album based upon famous Opera themes.

He was Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 2005 to 2009 and has taught at the International Summer Academy in Nice since 2010.

He has given recitals and educational residencies at venues including the Wolf Trap Foundation in Virginia, North Orange County Community Concerts Association in California, Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Michigan, Mary Baldwin College in Virginia, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts (WA), and Emporia Arts Council in Kansas. His Chicago debut at Lyon & Healy Hall was sponsored by the Victor Salvi Foundation. Recent highlights include the concert at the Stefaniensaal of Graz and the Gstaad festival.

CALENDAR LISTING
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents

Symphonic Series
Emmanuel Ceysson
Raymond Harvey, Conductor
Emmanuel Ceysson, Harp

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Raymond Harvey, presents internationally renowned, Emmanuel Ceysson, for the third concert of its 2016-17 Symphonic Series. Billed the "enfant terrible" of the harp, Ceysson's virtuosity and infectious enthusiasm will be on full display in Gliere's Harp Concerto.

Maestro Harvey rounds out the program with the music of Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Corigliano and Felix Mendelssohn.

Friday, November 18, 2016 | 8pm
Chenery Auditorium

Tickets: $60 - $24
Student & Veteran discounts available.
$5 Student Rush tickets, and $10 Harvey's Hideaway seating available at the box office the night of the concert.

For tickets, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com, call the KSO Box Office at (269) 349-7759 or call Miller Auditorium Ticket Office at (269) 387-2300.

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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