Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra

August 1st, 2020

Dear MVPO Patrons and Supporters,

We want to thank all of you for your continued support of the orchestra, especially during this difficult time. Following local, state, and federal guidance, the MVPO Board has just made the decision to cancel our fall concert, on October 25, 2020. Instead, our new season will begin with our Holiday Concert on December 13th, 2020. Season ticket holders and others who have already purchased tickets for the 2019-2020 season May concert will be able to use those tickets for future performances through May 2021

The Board of Directors is also finalizing programming for the other 2020-2021 season concerts scheduled Sundays at 2:30 p.m. on March 7, 2021, and May 16, 2021. Our December 13 Family Holiday Concert will include many holiday favorites such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charlie Brown, and selections from The Nutcracker. March Madness Movie Themes on March 7th will feature themes from the cinema, including Lord of the Rings, Frozen, Chicago, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Star Wars. and our Pastoral Palette on May 16, 2021, will include the Khachaturian Masquerade Suite, Pastoral Symphony No. 6, and the Reinecke Flute Concerto with Eduardo Gomez as soloist.

In the meantime, we encourage everyone to look online for our concert calendar, 'Like' us on Facebook, or visit our MVPO website at www.mvpomusic.org. We are working to upload recordings of our past concerts on our website, so you will be able to revisit some of your favorite performances while we're unable to meet in person.

This has been an especially difficult time for all Americans who thrive on quality music. Our orchestra members will first come together for rehearsals almost 6 months from our last meeting. We remain hopeful that all Americans will be able to enjoy live music this fall, but the health of our audience members and players comes first. We will be monitoring the COVID-19 guidelines/recommendations, making adjustments for next season as necessary.

Please stay safe and musical,
Sincerely,

MVPO Board of Directors

This season is dedicated to Maestro George Monseur

Full of animation and passion, George Monseur has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra for the past 35 years! In the 1970's Mr. Monseur had been a guest conductor; his ofﬁcial tenure began in 1983. His background was impressive having attended Arizona State University, Boston Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory where he received a Master of Music degree. He received a full fellowship in Orchestral Conducting at the Tanglewood Music Festival and at Carnegie Hall he made his New York debut conducting "La Boheme." George is a Professor of Conducting Studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Taking the helm George faced the challenges of a nomadic orchestra during the 80's and 90's. The MVPO was performing in churches and schools located in the Merrimac Valley but with vision and perseverance, he brought the MVPO to a higher level of excellence. A memorable concert took place in 1983 when Leonard Bernstein, who was born in Lawrence, MA, visited the city for his 65th birthday. George conducted the MVPO with Bernstein selections while the Maestro sat in the front row at the outdoor concert. This was an especially significant event; "Lenny" was one of George's teachers!

For it's 25th Anniversary Season in 1985 George conducted Beethoven's 9th Symphony, ('Choral'); he also programmed a Gala Birthday Party with guest artists: Joan Kennedy, Ron Della Chiesa and Herb Pomeroy and his Orchestra. A year later at the Collins Center in Andover, MA George conducted the MVPO in three performances of "The Nutcracker" featuring the Pittsburg Ballet Theater. Another memorable concert was performing Saint-Saens "Organ Symphony" at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall. In 2000 Maestro Monseur and the MVPO finally settled into the Rogers Center at Merrimack College in N. Andover. For the next 15 years George was able to expand his repertoire and stretch the orchestra to greater heights. Under his direction outdoor summer concerts took place at Maudsley State Park in Newburyport. There were 4th of July concerts in Salem, NH as well as at Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA where the challenge for George was to time our Americana selections to the fireworks display!

The MVPO celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in 2010-2011. John Ferrillo from the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed the Mozart Oboe Concerto. Also, George was delighted to conduct Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" featuring piano, cello and violin. Soloists including young performers have always enjoyed working with him. In 2017 the Timberlane Performing Arts Center in Plaistow, NH became the new home for the MVPO and our conductor. Marking the end of 35 years as our Music Director, Mr. Monseur conducted a world premiere with duo pianists Marilyn Morales and Kirk Whipple of works which they composed. The MVPO will miss George on the podium with his animated face, expressive hands and zany sense of humor!

Thank you, George, for your 35 years of being our Music Director and Conductor of the MVPO!

Our 59th Season! All Concerts held at the Timberlane Performing Arts Center ( directions)

October 20, 2019, 2:30 PM

Fall Concert

Aaron Copland	The Heiress Suite from the movie "The Heiress"
Camille Saint-Seans	Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor Op. 33
with Junko Fujiwara	Featured Cello Soloist
Maurice Ravel	Pavane for a Dead Princess
Gustav Holst	The Planets (Mars, Venus, Jupiter)

December 15, 2019, 2:30 PM

Holiday Concert

In December, at our annual December Family Holiday Concert, we will feature Student Soprano Soloist Megan Onello performing music repertoire with the orchestra. And back by popular demand will be members of the Timberlane Chorus led by Michael Green, as we celebrate the holidays with special choral pieces and the always popular sing along. We will also hold our annual silent auction at this concert. You will be able to browse and bid on a variety of items including wonderful last minute holiday gifts. We accept checks or cash. This is the most popular concert of our season, so you’ll want to order your tickets early!

Silent Auction before concert

March 8, 2020, 2:30 PM

Spring Concert

Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15	by Johannes Brahms with piano soloist George Lopez

Symphony No. 8, Op. 88	by Antonin Dvorak

George Lopez
Piano

--CANCELED--

Summer Concert

Masquerade Suite	by Aram Khachaturian
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso	by Camille Saint-Seans with violin soloist Joshua Peckins
Symphony No. 6, Op. 68, "Pastorale"	by Ludwig Van Beethoven

Joshua Peckins
Violin

George Monseur, Conductor Emeritus, attended Arizona State University, Boston Conservatory of Music and received a Master of Music degree from The New England Conservatory of Music.

The mission of the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Society, Inc. is to provide performance and listening opportunities of quality orchestral music for Merrimack Valley musicians and audiences.

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