The Stratford Symphony Orchestra will present the final concert of Season Seven this Saturday, May 5, at 7:30 at Central United Church, 194 Avondale Ave., Stratford. Ronald Royer will conduct and SSO principal clarinetist Kaye Royer will be soloist.

Tickets ($35) are available online and at Fanfare Books and Anything Grows (Stratford), Stewart Books (St. Marys), Music (Sebringville) and Perth County Welcome Centre (Shakespeare).

The program:

Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Cossack Dance from the opera Mazeppa - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Echoes for Clarinet and Orchestra - Ronald Royer

[More about these selections below.] 

NOTE: Season tickets ($180) for 2012-2013 will be available at this concert 

Ronald Royer

Guest conductor: Ronald Royer 

Ronald Royer has composed for such notables as the French flutist and conductor, Patrick Gallois, cellist, Shauna Rolston, as well as the Gryphon Trio and St. Lawrence Quartet. Over 50 orchestras have performed his music including Sinfonia Finlandia, Joensuu City Orchestra (Finland), Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), La Camerata (Greece), members of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra (Germany), and Canadian orchestras such as Orchestra London, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Sinfonia Toronto, Thirteen Strings of Ottawa, Niagara Symphony, Toronto Sinfonietta, and the Canadian Sinfonietta. He and co-composer Kevin Lau created the score for the Canadian children's movie Gooby, starring Robbie Coltrane and Eugene Levy. Mr. Royer is music director of the Scarborough Philharmonic and an instructor of music for the University of Toronto Schools.

Kaye Royer

Clarinet soloist: Kaye Royer

Kaye Royer has performed in orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout Canada, the United States, England and Italy. She is principal clarinet with the Toronto Sinfonietta, Brantford Symphony, Canadian Sinfonietta, Scarborough Philharmonic and the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. She also performs regularly with Niagara Symphony and Sinfonia Toronto, and has worked with orchestras such as the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Orchestra London, Talisker Players, Sinfonia Mississauga and the Orchestra at Niagara Fallsview Casino. She has also been featured on the Naxos recording The Hollywood Flute and performed with the orchestra on the Ontario portion of the most recent Diana Krall world tour.

About the selections

Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky wrote it in 1888 and conducted the first performance late the same year. Although Tchaikovsky convinced himself the symphony was a failure, it has become one of his most popular works. Various passages have been incorporated into motion pictures, popular music and advertising commercials.

Cossack Dance from the opera Mazeppa - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky's opera Mazeppa, about a heroine, Maria, who falls in love with Mazeppa, a Cossack chieftain, has never gained the popularity of his other works. Cossack Dance, however, has taken on a life of its own. Joining in the dance, Mazeppa and Maria's father, Kochubei, provide Tchaikovsky with some of his most vigorous and spirited music.

Echoes for Clarinet and Orchestra - Ronald Royer

Echoes was commissioned by the Brantford Symphony to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of clarinetist Kaye Royer playing with the orchestra. The composer writes, "I greatly appreciated the opportunity to compose this concerto for my wife. She is a wonderful professional player, and we always enjoy working together. The music was written in a neo-romantic style to represent the continued romance of our marriage."

Mark these SSO summer fundraisers on your calendar

STRAWBERRY SOCIAL

Sunday, June 3, 2012

St Paul's Church, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Come and enjoy a summer's afternoon tea accompanied by music played by some of our talented SSO musicians. A portion of the proceeds will go to St Paul's Church as thanks for providing the orchestra with free rehearsal space. Tickets $25. 

COWS AND CLASSICS

Sunday, July 8, 2012

At the David & Annamarie Murray Farm, 1:30 p.m.

Enjoy tours of the perennial garden, buy a "mystery bag," pick up refreshments and enjoy the concert (bring your own chairs). Tickets at the gate $20.