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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WSO Presents Three Perspectives from Musical America Winnipeg, MB – November 3, 2014 – The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) continues the theme of human rights and freedom this season with Schwarz & Copland Third, Nov 14 & 15, conducted by eminent American maestro Gerard Schwarz in his WSO debut. Clans from Lowak Shoppala’ (Fire and Light) The concert begins with Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate’s acclaimed Clans from Lowak Shoppala’ (Fire and Light) with guest narrator Justice Murray Sinclair and vocalists Cory Campbell, Andrew Balfour and Michael Thompson. This work vividly tells the story of the Chickasaw Nation, a federally recognized Native American nation, located in Oklahoma, in eight scenes that each depict a part of Chickasaw culture and history. “In old Chickasaw culture, a family clan system was maintained through matrilineal descent. Each clan had an animal name. Clans focuses on seven of these family lines – Minko, Bird, Alligator, Squirrel, Skunk, Panther and Raccoon – and incorporates numerous traditional Chickasaw melodies and rhythms,” said Tate. Music from Schindler’s List The symphony will then play three pieces from John Williams’ heart-rending film score for Schindler’s List directed by Steven Spielberg, which won the 1993 Oscar for Best Original Score, with WSO Associate Concertmaster Karl Stobbe playing the solo violin. Williams described his own mission in creating the score: “The film’s ennobling story, set in the midst of the great tragedy of the Holocaust, offered an opportunity to create not only dramatic music, but also themes that reflected the more tender and nostalgic aspects of Jewish life during these turbulent years.” Copland’s Symphony No. 3 In the second half of the concert is Aaron Copland’s magnificent Symphony No. 3 with its iconic Fanfare for the Common Man. This was final Copland’s final symphony and is known as the essential American symphony. He created this symphony for conductor Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he wanted to create a piece that would “reflect the euphoric spirit of the country at the time” as he said, “in the grand manner” America’s hopes, dreams and anxieties within this most European of musical forms. Gerard Schwarz, Guest Conductor Schwarz is most well known for being the Music Director at the Seattle Symphony for 26 years. He has received hundreds of honours and accolades including Emmy Awards, Grammy nominations, ASCAP Awards and the Ditson Conductor’s Award. The City of Seattle and named the street alongside the Benaroya Hall “Gerard Schwarz Place.” The WSO is thrilled to welcome Schwarz to conduct an inspiring program. Masterworks A Schwarz & Copland Third Friday, November 14 - 8:00 PM Saturday, November 15 - 8:00 PM Centennial Concert Hall Gerard Schwarz, conductor; Karl Stobbe, violin; Cory Campbell, vocals; Andrew Balfour, vocals; Michael Thompson, vocals; Justice Murray Sinclair, narrator Masterworks A Series Sponsor: Pre-concert chat on the Piano Nobile of the Centennial Concert Hall begins 45 minutes prior to evening concert. Tickets start at $32.00 and are available through the WSO Box Office: 204.949.3999 or wso.ca or Ticketmaster: 1.855.985.ARTS and Ticketmaster.ca The WSO is integral to Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 40,000 students annually and tours to communities across Manitoba. -30- MEDIA CALL: Friday, November 14 10:15 am – 10:45 am Centennial Concert Hall; Media to arrive at back stage entrance Lily Street MEDIA: For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Sarah Panas, Marketing & Communications Coordinator p. (204) 949-3970 f. (204) 956-4271 e: [email protected] SUPPORT MATERIALS - Biographies Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate was born in 1968 in Norman, Oklahoma, is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and a 2011 Emmy Award Winner. Mr. Tate is dedicated to the development of American Indian classical composition, and a review by The Washington Post states that “Tate’s connection to nature and the human experience was quite apparent in this piece…rarer still is his ability to effectively infuse classical music with American Indian nationalism.” This review was a response to a recent performance of Iholba (The Vision), for Solo Flute, Orchestra and Chorus, which was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Iholba' and Tracing Mississippi, Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, were recorded in 2007 by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Symphony Chorus and are currently available on Thunderbird Records. In 2006, Mr. Tate was the recipient of the Joyce Award which supported the commission of Nitoshi’ Imali, Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, which premiered in 2007 with soloist Jason Vieaux and the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, conducted by Cary John Franklin. His new work for orchestra and children’s chorus, commissioned by the American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Project, celebrates the opening of the new Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma. In 2008, he was appointed Cultural Ambassador for the State of Oklahoma. Mr. Tate received his BM in Piano Performance from Northwestern University where he studied with Dr. Donald J. Isaak. He then completed his MM in Piano Performance and Composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Elizabeth Pastor and Dr. Donald Erb. Shortly after beginning his piano studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Jerod’s first composition, Winter Moons ballet score, was commissioned by Dr. Patricia Tate and premiered at the University of Wyoming in 1992. Colorado Ballet subsequently performed it in 1994 and 1996. Since then, Tate has received numerous commissions and his works have been performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Ballet, The New Mexico Symphony,Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Dale Warland Singers, the New Jersey Chamber Music Society and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, to name a few. Upcomming commissioned projects include the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma City Ballet, OklahomaCity University, Gabriel Ayalla and the string quartet ETHEL. Mr. Tate is Artistic Director for the Chickasaw Chamber Music Festival. He is Composer-in- Residence for the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and was Composer-in-Residence for the Grand Canyon Music Festival’s Native American Composer Apprentice Project in 2004 and 2005. In 2007, he was Composer-in-Residence for The Joyce Foundation/American Composers Forum, teaching composition to American Indian high school students in Minneapolis. In 2009, Mr. Tate concieved, coordinated and implemented the CD project Oshtali: Music for String Quartet. The album consists of original compositions by his students from the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and is the first professional recording in history of works by young American Indian Composers. Mr. Tate received the 2006 Alumni Achievement Award from the Cleveland Institute of Music, was appointed Cultural Amasador for the State of Oklahoma in 2008, has received awards from Meet the Composer and the Percussive Arts Society and was a 2011 Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Artist Fellowshop nominee. Mr. Tate’s middle name, Impichchaachaaha’, means “high corncrib” and is his inherited traditional Chickasaw house name. A corncrib is a small hut used for the storage of corn and other vegetables. In traditional Chickasaw culture, the corncrib was built high off of the ground on stilts to keep its contents safe from foraging animals. Gerard Schwarz, conductor Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalog of recordings, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of the All-Star Orchestra and the Eastern Music Festival and is Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony. His latest project, The All-Star Orchestra, features a handpicked ensemble of star players from America’s leading orchestras coming together for an eight episode American Public Television series. It has been awarded two Emmys and an ASCAP Award and is now released by Naxos on DVD. His considerable discography of nearly 350 showcases his collaborations with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including Philadelphia Orchestra, London Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony and Seattle Symphony among others. In his nearly five decades as a respected classical musician and conductor, Schwarz has received hundreds of honours and accolades including Emmy Awards, Grammy nominations, ASCAP Awards and the Ditson Conductor’s Award. He was the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America and has received numerous honourary doctorates. The City of Seattle and named the street alongside the Benaroya Hall “Gerard Schwarz Place.” Karl Stobbe, violin Karl Stobbe is recognized as one of Canada’s most accomplished and diverse violinists. Very few violinists can lay claim to performances of all six Ysaÿe Sonatas for Solo Violin, all 16 Beethoven String Quartets, and all nine Mahler Symphonies. Whether as a concertmaster, soloist, or chamber musician, Karl is known for excellence on the violin and classical music