Never miss a surprise or a concert!
Never miss a surprise or a concert!
Maestro Steven Byess presents Relevant Revolutionaries, a trio of brilliant compositions from the Americas. Each piece features and challenges the virtuosity of subsets of APO's skilled players in its own way, but starting with a simple theme.
First, Maestro presents Banner (2014) A Rhapsody on 'The Star Spangled Banner' featuring a solo string quartet. An exciting work by the ascendant young, Black and female American composer Jesse Montgomery, Banner explores themes of patriotism and cultural exclusion inherent in the national anthem.
An exploration of Argentinian culture and its unique musical motifs, Alberto Ginastera's Variaciones Concertantes begins with a simple guitar theme before employing a solo cello, then exploiting the entire 34-piece orchestra.
And like some visit with dear old friends, the APO dishes up Gershwin's world-renowned love note to the blue note, Rhapsody in Blue. In this presentation, Maestro reflects some of the composer's original intent to have this 20th century classic performed by a smaller ensemble.
Featured Soloist
We wanted to extend a hearfelt THANK YOU to Kristine Olefsky who jumped in to save the show last week. Our scheduled soloist tested Covid+ 48 hours before the show and with only a few hours of practice, Kristy filled in to perform Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" - and received four ovations! Please join us in thanking Kristy for her incredible performance at Relevant Revolutionaries!
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About Kristine Olefsky:
Making her professional debut at age 10 with the Kammergild Symphony, Kristy has soloed with many orchestras including the Town and Country Symphony, St. Charles Symphony, Webster University Symphony, and the St. Louis Symphony. She has been invited to present solo recitals at the Sheldon Concert Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, and Missouri State University. Kristy was a principal performer at the St. Louis Municipal Opera, a guest artist at the opening ceremony of the International Piano Pedagogy Teacher's Conference, and was featured on NPR's "From the Top." Currently based in Northwest Arkansas, Kristy serves as orchestral pianist in the Artosphere Festival Orchestra, is faculty at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, maintains a private studio at Arkansas Music Conservatory, and is part of the Music Ministry team at First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville. Specializing in brass accompaniment, she has performed with artists such as Allen Vizzutti, Wiff Rudd, Demondrae Thurman, Rex Richardson, and Patrick Sheridan. She can be heard on the albums "Notes from the Underground," "Pa la Calle," and "Undreamed Shores," "Mirrors," and "Impressions of France."
