For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephen Wilson, President & CEO
swilson@fresnophil.org 559-261-0611 x. 616
Fresno/Monterey/San Jose, Irvine, CA – Four California orchestras have joined forces to commission Alone Together from composer John Christopher Wineglass. The co-commissioners include Fresno Philharmonic, Monterey Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and the San José Chamber Orchestra. Alone Together will feature strings and percussion and will be performed at a future date. The impetus for the co-commission came from a shared desire to create art that represents the current landscape. The anticipated length of the piece is 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Due to the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world premiere performance of Alone Together has not been scheduled. The commissioning orchestras will announce their performances of the work at a later date.
Joint statement from composer John Christopher Wineglass and conductor Rei Hotoda:
Alone Together addresses the social issues we are all facing during this pandemic – from not being able to perform together to the systemic racial disparities given a world stage due to shelter-in-place. Despite all the setbacks of our present limitations, we are moving forward. This work is allowing us to continue our work as performers – to never lose sight of just how important the arts are and have always been. By creating this work, we are providing a way to connect to one another which is so valuable and something most of us probably once took for granted. We may feel alone at this moment but we as four performing arts organizations are coming to move forward together as ONE.
About the Composer:
John Christopher Wineglass received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition with a minor in Viola Performance at The American University and later received his master’s degree in Music Composition with an emphasis in Film Scoring for Motion Pictures, Television and Multi-Media at New York University, studying primarily with Justin Dello-Joio of the Juilliard School.
His latest symphonic 2019 premiere of three movements, Unburied, Unmourned, Unmarked: Requiem for Rice was dedicated to the lives of millions and numerous contributions of African and African-American forced laborers who cultivated the immense, expansive, and particularly wealthy rice economy in the Lowcountry. With a libretto and extensive research by historian Dr. Edda Fields-Black of Carnegie-Mellon University, this work has taken them with a team of researchers and film documentarians from the shores of South Carolina to the inner villages of Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia. A 2020-2021 (pre-COVID) world premiere of six movements with full chorus in Washington, DC in conjunction with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) where Dr. Fields-Black has an installation is planned accompanied by the moving images by LA-based filmmaker and director Julie Dash.
About the organizations:
Fresno Philharmonic
The Fresno Philharmonic, now in its 67th season, is one of the leading arts organizations in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Rei Hotoda, the Fresno Philharmonic presents incomparable live musical experiences to thousands of people each season and provides high quality music education programs to students throughout our region. The mission of the Fresno Philharmonic is to enrich the lives of Central San Joaquin Valley residents through inspiring performances of orchestral music. The orchestra is an essential and collaborative member of a vibrant arts scene which unites, delights and engages a diverse community. The Fresno Philharmonic believes that music of the highest caliber should be available and accessible to all.
Monterey Symphony
The Monterey Symphony founded in 1946 and incorporated in 1947 is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. Previously under the musical direction of Spanish conductor Max Bragado-Darman, MSO announced four music director finalists in 2019. Currently on hiatus from large scale concerts, the MSO is presenting a series of solo performances in and around Carmel-by-the-Sea. In a typical season, MSO presents double performances of a classical series and brings nearly 10,000 Monterey county students to its concerts through its award winning Music for the Schools program.
Pacific Symphony
Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair since 1990, has been the resident orchestra of Orange County’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for over a decade. Currently in its 42nd season, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scenes, as well as in its own community of Orange County. In April 2018, Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall as one of two orchestras invited to perform during a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday, and the following month the orchestra toured China. The orchestra made its national PBS debut in June 2018 on Great Performances with Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” conducted by St.Clair. Presenting more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.
San José Chamber Orchestra
Founded in 1991 by Music Director/Conductor Barbara Day Turner, the mission of the San José Chamber Orchestra (SJCO) is to share exciting, thought-provoking, and vibrant music by contemporary and time-honored composers reflecting the cultural diversity of our ever-changing community, and to support and inspire the next generation of musicians and audiences. SJCO has commissioned and/or premiered over 180 new works, primarily by American composers. The SJCO performance series each year includes collaborations with the award-winning San José based Choral Project and the modern dance company, sjDANCEco.
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