Two Soloists Headline Humboldt Symphony Spring Concert

HSU faculty member Dr. Gil Cline on trumpet and student Emily Loeffler on piano are the soloists for the Humboldt Symphony spring concert on Friday evening, May 2, and Sunday afternoon, May 4, in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata.

Conducted by Paul Cummings, the Humboldt Symphony features works by two 20th century composers known for combining elements of classical and popular music—George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky.

But first up is the Don Quixote Suite for string orchestra by Georg Philipp Telemann, a Baroque era contemporary of Bach who was among the most prolific composers of all time. This suite musically illustrating the classic Cervantes story was written late in Telemann’s long career.

Then the third movement of George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F features student pianist Emily Loeffler. Written between his best known pieces (“Raphsody in Blue” and “An American in Paris”), this Gershwin concerto has been praised as one of the high points of the modern era’s blending of European classical music with the rhythms and spirit of jazz and American musical theatre.

Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, who admired Gershwin and the Piano Concerto in particular, was another proponent of such blending. The Humboldt Symphony plays two sections of his famous Firebird Suite. As a young man, Stravinsky composed a ballet score for the Firebird which he later adapted for orchestra in several versions. It became his breakthrough work and remains one of his most familiar and influential compositions.

Between Gershwin and Stravinsky, the Humboldt Symphony performs the Trumpet Concerto by contemporary American composer Robert J. Bradshaw. HSU professor Dr. Gil Cline is the soloist for this work honoring the citizens of Sarajevo, who rebuilt their city that had been destroyed by civil war shortly after they hosted the 1984 winter Olympics.

The Humboldt Symphony spring concert begins at 8 PM on Friday, May 1, and at 2 PM on Sunday, May 3. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students and seniors, from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. HSU students free with ID. Produced by HSU Department of Music, Paul Cummings conducting.