The South Orange Symphony Orchestra Announces its’ Next Concert:

Maplewood, NJ (PRWEB) March 24, 2006

The South Orange Symphony Orchestra Announces its’ Next Concert:

Date: Saturday May 6th

Time: 8:00 PM

Place: Sterling Hall, South Orange Middle School, North Ridgewood Road, South Orange, New Jersey

The Orchestra will be conducted by its’ Music Director, Robert Helmacy.

On the program:

N. Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol

Alan Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain

R. Strauss: Waltz from Der Rosenkavalier

Camille Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto #2

The Saint-Saens Piano Concerto will feature Seo Yeung Lee, Winner of the South Orange Symphony 2005 – 2006 Artist Competition in the keyboard category.

New This Season: Pre-Concert Chamber Music in the Lobby.

Come early to hear some of our talented musicians perform chamber works in an informal setting. Meet the performers, who will be happy to talk with you about their instruments and the piece at hand. (This special pre -concert feature will begin at approximately ½ hour before the concert)

There is no admission charge.

For information: Visit our website at http://www.southorangesymphony.org or e-mail us at sosymphony@aol.com, or call 973-378-2772

Press Contact (Not for Publication): Bob Renshaw, 973-313-0116, rarenshaw2@comcast.net

Our History

The South Orange Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit community orchestra devoted to bringing great classical music free to the local community. Founded in 1949 as the South Orange Community Orchestra, by the Educational Committee of the First Presbyterian and Trinity Church of South Orange, the original ensemble was made up of 23 members. Initially, the group did not present concerts, but met for purely recreational purposes. The first Music Director was Marjorie Bram-MacPhillamy.

By 1970, the Orchestra had change its’ name to The South Orange Symphony Orchestra and was presenting a regular concert schedule. Today SOSym has a membership of over 50 musicians. They range in age from teenagers to Senior Citizens, and have a wide range of musical experience from students in the early years of study, to professionally trained musicians. Our instrumentalist travel from all over New Jersey, as well as from Connecticut and Pennsylvania to rehearse and perform with the Orchestra.

The Orchestra presents three to four free concerts per year under the baton of Music Director Robert Helmacy. Repertoire includes western classical music of all periods from Baroque through Contemporary.

The South Orange Symphony is governed by an Executive Committee and Board made up of Orchestra and Community Members, all of whom volunteer their time. Funding is provided by private contributors and a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the NEA through funds administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Individuals and corporations interested in supporting the Orchestra can find more information on our web site, http://www.southorangesymphony.org.

The Artist Competition

Our annual Artists Competition is held each fall. The competition has two divisions, one for Keyboard, and one for all other instruments and voice. A winner is selected in each division. Winners receive a $500 cash prize and perform a major solo work with the Orchestra. The Competition is open to musicians who live and / or study in New Jersey. Funding for the Artist Competition is provided through a generous gift from Irving and Helen Cohen. For more information about the Artist Competition, visit our web site at http://www.southorangesymphony.org.

Robert Helmacy, Music Director

Robert Helmacy has been Conductor of the South Orange Symphony since1972 and Music Director since 1978.He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree form Baldwin Wallace College, a Diploma in Trumpet from the Jiulliard School, and a Masters Degree from Boston University. He studied conducting with Jorge Mester and Walter Susskind orchestral performance practice with James Chambers and Arthur Weisberg; and music literature with Arnold Fish and Joel Sheveloff.

Mr. Helmacy has been awarded a Fellowship of Music Literature from the Jiulliard School, a Conducting Scholarship from the Aspen Music Festival, the Outstanding Performance Award from Boston College, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Baldwin-Wallace College. His conducting Credits include the Susquehanna Valley Symphony Orchestra and The Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro North Carolina.

He has served on the faculties of Susquehanna University, County College of Morris, Caldwell College and Wilkes University. He currently teaches and lives outside of Scranton Pennsylvania.

The String Scholarship:

The South Orange Symphony has a scholarship fund which helps string players who are actively studying their instrument cover the cost of professional lessons. Through this program, the orchestra hopes to further interest in and help guarantee the future of Orchestral Music.

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