2 www.orchestrakentucky.com 2018–2019 SEASON 18–19 Sponsors | 5 Music Director | 6 J.C. Kirby & Son Christmas Spectacular! | 8 Winter Dance Party | 12 Gaither Vocal Band | 17 Orchestra Kentucky Personnel | 20 David Jones Artwork | 22–23 Did You Know? Young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days each week through at least one full year are: • 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement • 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools • 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair • 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance • 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem Orchestra Kentucky 3 4 www.orchestrakentucky.com JEFFREY REED MUSIC DIRECTOR “A melody, a lyric, or a certain harmony can trigger memories,” says conductor Jeffrey Reed. 6 www.orchestrakentucky.com JEFFREY REED MUSIC DIRECTOR Reed has been bringing back the memories as music director of Orchestra Kentucky since he founded it in 2000. Sometimes combining classical and popular music, his concert presentations are singularly authentic, recreating the soundtracks of music’s greatest decades. From the 17th century to our time, his concerts celebrate anniversaries and music milestones, from Beethoven, Mahler and Stravinsky, to Elvis, The Beatles and The Carpenters, drawing on some of the nation’s brightest musical talent. Reed has worked with BJ Thomas, Larry Gatlin, Paul Williams, Peter Tork, Glen Campbell, Keith Emerson, Neil Sedaka, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Mary Wilson, Melissa Manchester, Chris Young, and many others in appearances with his own orchestra and orchestras in Milan (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia), and South Korea. Reed has twice appeared with the Royal Philharmonic at London’s Royal Albert Hall at the specific request of Neil Sedaka. In the United States, Jeffrey Reed has conducted the orchestras of Alabama, Augusta, Charleston, Detroit, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Omaha, Phoenix, Portland (ME), Quad Cities (IA), Sacramento, South Bend and Winston-Salem. This season he will return to the Quad Cities and will appear for the first time with the Greensboro (NC) Symphony Orchestra. Reed has been involved in commissioning world premieres of classical works by legendary pop artists Neil Sedaka, Keith Emerson, Peter Tork, Jimmy Webb, and Italian pops sensation, Giovanni Allevi. His programming has been nationally recognized. Bestselling author and marketer Seth Godin singled out Jeffrey Reed in his best-selling study of new creativity, “Small is the New Big.” Godin praised his “clever” concerts and praised the “totally different way” Reed approaches programming. Reed is the only musician featured in the book. In 2015, the University of Louisville named Reed its Alumni Fellow for the School of Music in recognition of his distinguished work in his chosen field. In 2008, he received the Jefferson Award for public service in South Central Kentucky. In addition to his work with Orchestra Kentucky, Reed served as principal guest conductor of Symphony Orchestra Augusta and has also served as music director of the North Charleston Pops and the Murfreesboro Symphony. He is represented by agent Rachel Bowron. Orchestra Kentucky 7 J.C. KIRBY & SON CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! December 15, 2018 | 7:30 PM | SKyPAC Larnelle Harris, special guest Orchestra Kentucky Orchestra Kentucky Chorale First Baptist Church Handbells Dancing Elves from the WKU Dance Department Children’s Choir Jeffrey Reed, conductor Nancy Cron, chorus master Ricky Clark, handbells director Christa St. John, choreography Pamela Thurman, Sandra Dye, Karen Watkins, Michele Steiner, children’s choir directors Arr. Anderson Christmas Festival Arr. Dragon Twelve Days of Christmas Orchestra Kentucky Chorale Leontovich/Wilhousky/ Carol of the Bells Hayman First Baptist Church Handbells Various/Sheehan Holiday Medley Dancing Elves Herbert/Langey March of the Toys Burt/Adams Some Children See Him Children’s Choir and Chorale Arr. Goeller Christmas Carol Sing-Along Berlin/Bennett White Christmas 8 www.orchestrakentucky.com J.C. KIRBY & SON CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! December 15, 2018 | 7:30 PM | SKyPAC INTERMISSION Christmas with Larnelle Harris Styne & Cahn/ Let it Snow!/Sleigh Ride Anderson & Parish Torme & Wells/ The Christmas Song/Silver Bells Livingston & Evans Mason & Douglas King Jesus is His Name African-American Go Tell it on the Mountain Spiritual Various Joy Medley Adam/Wade O Holy Night/O Come All Ye Faithful Gruber & Mohr Silent Night Harris All Year Long American Gospel Song Amen VARIETY SERIES SPONSORED BY Haskins Foundation CONCERT SPONSORED BY CONCERT CO-SPONSORED BY Orchestra Kentucky 9 GUEST ARTIST Larnelle Harris vocalist Admired by fans and peers alike for his majestic tenor voice, Larnelle Harris has become the personification of talent and integrity in a career that spans over five decades. He is the only person in history to be a member of three distinct hall of fame organizations—Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and the Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Larnelle has garnered numerous accolades for his music including five Grammy Awards, eleven Dove Awards (three of which were for Male Vocalist of the Year), and a Stellar Award for Best Solo Performance, among many other musical honors. Larnelle was recently recognized by his home state of Kentucky with the Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts, making him the first Christian artist to receive the award. He has achieved nineteen #1 radio singles and countless top 10 hits. From the White House to the danger zone of the 38th Parallel, Larnelle has impacted audiences across the globe with his music. He was the first Christian artist to perform inside the Kremlin after the fall of the Soviet Union. He is one of a handful of celebrities to receive the Ad Council's Silver Bell Award for Distinguished Public Service in recognition of his song Mighty Spirit as the theme song for the longest-running Public Service Announcement in television history. Larnelle recently released a compilation CD featuring two new songs. The title track, Disturb Us, Lord, was played on hundreds of stations nationwide and landed on the Christian Music Weekly’s National Inspirational radio chart. The music video for the song recently garnered the Gold Award for Best Music Video from the Christian Family Film Festival. In 2018, Harris released his first memoir entitled Shaped Notes: How Ordinary People with Extraordinary Gifts Influenced my Life and Career. The book went to #1 on Amazon within three days of its release. Later this year, Larnelle will release his first Christmas musical, based on his original song All Year Long from his Grammy Award-winning Christmas album. Married to wife Cynthia (a.k.a. Mitzy) for over 45 years, Larnelle has successfully combined the demanding lifestyle of a global music career with being a husband, father, and grandfather. Still a sought- after vocalist for tours, special events and ceremonies, Larnelle continues to perform solo concerts for churches and various organizations worldwide each year. 10 www.orchestrakentucky.com Orchestra Kentucky 11 WINTER DANCE PARTY FEBRUARY 2, 2019 | 7:30 PM | SKyPAC Jeffrey Reed, conductor John Mueller as Buddy Holly Ray Anthony as Ritchie Valens Linwood Sasser as The Big Bopper Jerry Angel, drums Ed Maxwell, bass Mike Acosta, saxophone Buzz Campbell, lead guitar A reenactment of the last concert given by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Booper, 60 years ago tonight, on February 2, 1959. Selections to be announced from the stage. RETRO SERIES SPONSORED BY Jim & Darlene Johnson CONCERT SPONSORED BY CONCERT CO-SPONSORED BY 12 www.orchestrakentucky.com GUEST ARTISTS John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party” ® is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper's final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens and Richardson estates. Their unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50's era: That'll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh, Boy, Rave on, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, and many, many more. The Winter Dance Party show has performed in front of over 2 million people on national TV for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada at theatres, performing arts centers, ballrooms, corporate events, casinos and even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others. JOHN MUELLER AS BUDDY HOLLY John Mueller was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas and bears a striking resemblance to Holly. He has had a successful professional acting career, but his real passion has remained with Buddy Holly and rock and roll. Since 1999, every year has found John touring the frozen U.S. Midwest to recreate the Winter Dance Party that was to be Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper's final tour. John has played in every remaining ballroom that the originals did over 44 years ago. Recently, John was proud to have performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw, Nanci Griffith, and Joe Ely, to name a few. Other highlights include a live TV appearance with over 2 million viewers nationwide on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. John takes an authentic approach to Buddy's music. He plays Holly's songs true to their original form on a reissued 1957 Fender Stratocaster - the exact year and make of Buddy's guitar - and uses the same heavy flatwound guitar strings that Buddy used. John is indeed living proof that Buddy Holly lives on. Orchestra Kentucky 13 GUEST ARTISTS RAY ANTHONY AS RITCHIE VALENS Ray Anthony is a veteran of the music industry. A talented musician, Ray is a self-taught guitar player, bass player, drummer, and songwriter.