The next live performance of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s 32nd season will be Sunday, February 23 in Rudder Theatre.
This classical subscription concert titled “Sound the Trumpets” will feature the orchestra’s brand new trumpet section performing works from Britten, Clarke, Bach, and Zwilich. Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks will serve as the stunning finale.
Everybody loves trumpets! Maestro Bussiki thinks that audiences will surely enjoy the upcoming trumpet centered program, saying, “The music is a combination of very well-known selections paired with less familiar ones—a combination of the baroque and modern. Additionally, I am very excited about performing a unique work by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, which was written to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Handel’s birth. Although the work was written in 1985, it fits in perfectly with the entire mood of the concert. It combines a language that is very much baroque with sudden shifts of contemporary language.”
What: “Sound the Trumpets"
When: Sunday, February 23 at 5:00pm
Where: Rudder Theatre in College Station
Music Director Bussiki looks forward to showcasing the BVSO’s new trumpet section. After the retirement of both John McSpadden and Rob Herring in 2013, the BVSO began a quest through several audition sessions for essentially a whole new trumpet section, including identifying the new principal and two section players. Executive Director Mary Koeninger reported, “We went through a very thorough audition process to find our current trumpet section. We had a large number of trumpet players audition to join our orchestra. In the end, we chose three very talented musicians. Together these men create an accomplished and exciting trumpet section. I think audiences will really enjoy hearing these talented players.”
Robert Chambers Robert Chambers was named the new Principal Trumpet and was a complete surprise to the BVSO as he had never played with the orchestra before. Chambers excelled early in his career, being named principal of the Houston Youth Symphony at the age of 15 and earning a #1 ranking in the state of Texas by winning principal of the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra two years in row. After attending the Eastman School of Music, Chambers’ principal assignments and solo engagements continued through his career and have taken him to Lisbon, Chicago, and Romania.
Dr. Nick Kunkle Second trumpet was awarded to Dr. Nick Kunkle, who completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin in May of 2013. Kunkle first performed with the BVSO in July of 2011 as a substitute trumpet player, and served as acting principal trumpet for the orchestra during 2012–2013 season before winning the position of second trumpet.
Justin Weisenborn Justin Weisenborn rounds out the section as third chair. In May of 2011, he received his Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from Southern Methodist University. While at SMU, Justin studied primarily with Tom Booth of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO). Although classically trained, Justin has been playing jazz for several years and plays regularly with the Apollo Jazz Combo and other groups in the Dallas area.
A FREE pre-concert lecture is offered prior to the performance beginning at 4pm in Rudder Auditorium near the stage, these lectures have proven very popular and entertaining among patrons.
Individual advance tickets ($34 for adults, $12 for students/children) for this concert are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the MSC Box Office, located in the Rudder Complex lobby, by phone (979) 845-1234, or online at http://boxoffice.tamu.edu. Tickets will also be on sale at the door the night of the concert, although patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as the ticket prices at the door will be higher. Call the Brazos Valley Symphony Office at (979) 696-6100 with any further questions or visit www.bvso.org.
