February 26, 2007
Russian musicians to perform at SIUC
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Musicians from Russia will visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale's School of Music next month to perform Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra (SISO).
Members of the St. Petersburg chamber orchestra "Credo Sinfonietta" will perform with SISO during the annual "Stars of Altgeld" concert at the Shryock Auditorium on Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 for adults, $13 for those over 60 and under 15 and free for SIUC students with I.D. The group will also perform for children during the "Klassics for Kids" concert on Tuesday, March 6, at 10 a.m. in SIUC's Altgeld Hall Room 112, and for the community at Carbondale's First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. The recitals at Altgeld and First United are free and donations will be accepted at First United.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Media advisory
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to hear SISO and the Russian chamber orchestra rehearse on Monday, March 5, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Shryock Auditorium. For more information, contact the School of Music at 618/53-MUSIC (536-8742).
_______________________________________________________________________________
"We are very excited to have an accomplished group of Russian professional musicians joining SISO next month for a varied concert program that also includes Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony," said Edward M. Benyas, director of SISO and professor in the School of Music. "It is just a stroke of luck that their visit to the Midwest timed out with SISO's performance of this Russian masterpiece."
The young Russian musicians, mostly in their 20s, regularly play in orchestras and churches in St. Petersburg. Their conductor, Ilie Croitoru, is the assistant conductor of the St. Petersburg Opera.
The March 6 concert at the Shryock will also feature the "Stars of Altgeld," the winners of the School of Music annual solo competition.
This year's "stars" are Ju Me Lee of South Korea, a senior majoring in flute, Joseph M. Palermo of Danville, a graduate student in guitar performance and Yukari Susaki of Japan, a graduate student in flute. Lee, Palermo and Susaki are students of SIUC faculty members Suzanne Lord, Joseph Breznikar and Richard W. Best, respectively.
Benyas, School of Music Director Robert L. Weiss and Pastor John Annable coordinated the visit by the Russian musicians.