The 125th Anniversary Gustavus Symphony Orchestra
One of the nation’s leading collegiate symphony orchestras, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra from Gustavus Adolphus College, is celebrating its 125th season of music making with a 7-day concert tour through Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. Under the direction of Conductor Ruth Lin, the symphony will return to the campus and present its Home Concert on Sunday, April 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. The performance is free to the public.
For the anniversary concert program, Dr. Lin and the Symphony will begin with two works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They will open the performance with the Overture to Cosi fan Tutte, K. 588, followed by the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E-flat Major, K. 365, featuring first-year violinist Kendra Frey and Assistant Professor of Music and violist Justin Knoepfel. Following intermission, the ensemble will return to the stage to conclude the concert with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s four-movement masterwork Scheherazade, Op. 35.
The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra was organized at Gustavus in 1888 following the establishment of the College’s School of Music. From that beginning 125 years ago, the symphony orchestra has grown to earn international acclaim through the musicianship of its concerts and its national and international touring. Beginning in 2000, the orchestra has presented concert tours in Great Britain, China (2004 & 2008) and South Africa (2012). In October 2001, the Symphony was featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered following its premiere of The Nobel Symphony by American composer and Gustavus alumnus Steve Heitzeg.
Under the leadership of Professor Ruth Lin, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra has focused on building its reputation for quality musical performance. In addition to numerous solo performances on the campus, it frequently collaborates in larger public events such as the College’s Christmas in Christ Chapel and the Nobel Conference, while also featuring Gustavus student-musicians in the annual concerto and aria concert.
This 125th-anniversary Home Concert by the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra at Jussi Björling Recital Hall will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 14. The public is cordially invited to join the members of the symphony orchestra for this special event. Admission is free.