The Huxford Symphony Orchestra performs six shows throughout the course of each of its seasons and each concert is different from the others. Thursday evening’s concert marks the fourth of the 2014-2015 season.
Blake Richardson, director of orchestral studies at the School of Music, will serve as the conductor on this performance. This is his second year with the orchestra and he said the lineup for this show is especially exciting.
“We’ll be playing a lot of really expressive and exciting music that uses the whole orchestra,” Richardson said. “This is one of the most ambitious concerts we’ve done all year.”
One of these pieces of music is “Pines of Rome” by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, a piece Richardson described as challenging and energetic.
“This piece showcases the entire orchestra,” he said. “We’ll have different groups of brass instruments playing off stage, and there will even be very quiet recorded bird song at the end of the third revue.”
Although the pieces may seem sophisticated, Richardson said there is something for everyone at this performance.
“We have such a good variety that there is something for every musical taste in this concert,” he said. “Everyone will find at least a couple of pieces they will enjoy.”
The School of Music continues to challenge its students through a competition held each year that gives musicians a chance to perform a solo in one of Huxford Symphony’s performances. This year, Johnny Mok, a senior majoring in cello performance, is one of three winners.
“I am really looking forward to this opportunity to share a different type of music, and to show the audience what I can do,” he said. “It’s really just about the power of music.”
This is Mok’s first time to solo with the Huxford Symphony, but it isn’t his first time to play solo in front of a large audience.
“This is actually my third time playing with an orchestra,” he said. “I made my debut with the Albuquerque Symphony where I soloed for the first time.”
Bryan Mortimer, a junior majoring in musical performance for trumpet, expressed his excitement about the concert.
“I’m really looking forward to playing principle on the very first piece of music we play, the ‘Rienzi Overture,’” he said. “It’s a great piece for the brass section, and it’s really fun to play.”
The performance is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Moody Music Hall. The concert is open to the public and the cost with a student ID is $3.
