James Sedares Returns to Conduct the Phoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra began as most fine artistic organizations have throughout history, as a small grass-roots organization. In 1947 a small group of Arizona musicians would meet and play together from time to time, and perform a few times a year. Now, the Symphony performs close to two hundred concerts each year, in downtown Phoenix at the Symphony Hall, located conveniently close to the newly renovated and newly constructed best Phoenix hotels , as well as touring throughout the entire state.
Long before the city began to grow into one of the most populated cities in the United States, the Symphony was entertaining the residents and visitors, and offering up a bit of culture when there was not much to be found. The schedule includes not only the larger venue of Symphony Hall, and the larger venues in Mesa, Tempe, Prescott and Scottsdale, but regularly performs in the local schools as part of an art outreach program, exposing children to the wonders of classical music who may not ordinarily have that opportunity.
This month the former Director of Music, James Sedares will come home to conduct the Symphony Number 5 by Tchaikovsky and Dvořák’s Carnival Overture. Sedares was not only much loved by the players and the community during his tenure from 1989 through 1995, but under his supervision the Symphony produced four CD’s. “The Magnificent Seven” was one of those four CD’s and was on the best selling chart of Billboard Magazine, won the German Record Critics Prize, an INDIE award for best film music, and an ECHO award.
Tickets are reasonably priced for the performances this weekend, ranging from $22 to $72. Not only is this a great time to experience the magic of the Phoenix Symphony due to the pieces that they will be performing, it is a wonderful time to watch this incredible director in action. Not only are the Symphony members delighted at the return of their old friend and maestro, but the audience is waiting with bated breath as well.
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