Program - John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert Celebration with the Colorado Symphony

Colorado Symphony 2017/18 Season Presenting Sponsor:

SYMPHONY POPS • 2017/18 JOHN DENVER: A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH CONCERT CELEBRATION WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY COLORADO SYMPHONY ANDRES LOPERA, conductor JIM HORN, horns JIM SALESTROM, musical director, guitars, banjo CHRIS NOLE, keyboard ALAN DEREMO, bass guitar NATE BARNES, drums, percussion Friday's Concert is Gratefully Dedicated to Dr. Jon Masoudi and Dr. Marsha Tharakan

Friday, March 23, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall

Selections to be announced from the stage

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 1

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES ANDRES LOPERA, conductor Colombian conductor Andrés Lopera is one of the leading Latin-American artists in the United States with nearly a decade of engagements in both North and South America. A passionate conductor who believes in the transformational power of music, Lopera is now the Assistant Conductor of the Colorado Symphony, having formerly led the Oregon Symphony, Toledo Symphony, New World Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared with professional and youth orchestras throughout Central and South America, including Honduras, where he led the Youth Orchestra of the Americas in a musical camp for both young and professional musicians. In 2012, Lopera was appointed Music Director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, for which he oversaw 12 different orchestral ensembles with more than 450 students. Also an accomplished trombonist, Lopera’s musical development started with the Red de Bandas de Antioquia and Red de Escuelas de Musica de Medellin, both El Sistema like programs developed in Colombia. Lopera earned a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from New England Conservatory of Music and in Trombone Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to these programs, he was awarded degrees in Conducting and Trombone from the Universidad EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia. His principal teachers were Hugh Wolff and David Loebel, with additional studies with Ludovic Morlot, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Marin Alsop.

JOHN DENVER

With more than 33 million records sold and seven Billboard Top Ten albums, John Denver released 23 studio albums over his lifetime. He is best known for the beloved songs "Leaving On a Jet Plane," "Sunshine On My Shoulders," "Annie’s Song" and "Rocky Mountain High," which is a co-state song of Colorado, and "Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which is a co-state song of West Virginia. In addition to his numerous awards and recognition, Denver was instrumental in championing environmental and humanitarian causes. His popularity and continuing influence on popular culture still grow more than a decade after his untimely death.

Denver was a true adventurer, exploring all that the world had to offer. Throughout his life’s journey he challenged himself on every level, which is an integral part of what made him an extraordinary man, an uncommon friend, and a rare human being.

While the frontiers of the American West satisfied his spirit, less-traveled frontiers appealed to his imagination. Denver was an experienced airplane pilot and collected vintage biplanes. His interest in outer space was so great that he took and passed NASA’s examination to determine mental and physical fitness required for space travel. He then became a leading candidate to be the “first civilian in space” on the Space Shuttle Challenger. Denver planned to write a song in space, but circumstances kept him from joining the ill-fated expedition, which exploded during take-off in 1986.

Among his many gifts, Denver was also a talented photographer. He photographed images of the people and places he experienced in his travels and showed his work professionally, often in connection with speeches made at colleges, universities and government and business facilities across the country.

Many of Denver’s songs reflected his relationship with nature, and one of his greatest pleasures was spending time outdoors. He spent as much time as possible backpacking, hiking, climbing, and fishing. He was an avid golfer and skier, regularly participating in celebrity charity events for both sports.

PROGRAM 2

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES Today, millions of fans old and new enjoy the work of this extraordinary performer. Decades after he began, John Denver’s music is as relevant as ever. His humanitarian work continues to strengthen our global village, and his dynamic celebration of life, spirit and nature is a powerful inspiration to us all.

More on John Denver at www.johndenver.com

JIM HORN, horns

The longest-running member of John Denver's band, performing on and off from 1978 to 1995, Horn's resume reads like a "who's who" of rock 'n' roll through the decades. After getting his start playing with Duane Eddy in the early 1960s, Horn has recorded or toured with The Righteous Brothers, Tina Turner, The Beach Boys, The Carpenters, Leon Russel, George Harrison, Joe Cocker, Elton John, Warren Zevon, Steely Dan, Ronnie Milsap, U2, Delbert McClinton, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and many more.

JIM SALESTROM, musical director, guitars, banjo

A lifelong musician, Salestrom has had a successful career as both a solo performer and sideman, having been a member of Dolly Parton's band since 1979 and performing with such diverse performers as Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Kenny Rogers, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Peter Yarrow, and Paul Stookey.

CHRIS NOLE, keyboard

A former member of John Denver's band, songwriter/composer, accomplished session musician, producer, and recording artist Chris Nole performs around the world. Nole has toured and recorded with numerous top recording acts including Faith Hill, Travis Tritt, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Shelby Lynne. Chris Nole's songs have been recorded by various recording artists ranging from Faith Hill to The Swamphonky's and have been used in such television productions as Men of a Certain Age, Heroes, and E! True Hollywood Story.

ALAN DEREMO, bass guitar

A member of John Denver's band from 1994 until Denver's passing in 1997, Deremo has performed and/or recorded with a diverse assortment of artists including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Eric Marienthal, Glenn Frey, Jesse Colin Young, Kathy Mattea, Dave Alvin, John Doe, Exene Cervenkova, Bo Diddley, Jules Shear, Jack Tempchin, Thelma Houston, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Captain and Tenille. For much of the last decade Deremo has toured and recorded with Men at Work singer/guitarist Colin Hay and served as musical director for Tony Hawk’s annual Boom Boom Huck Jam arena tours.

NATE BARNES, drums, percussion

As drummer for the band Rose Hill Drive, Nate Barnes has toured the world headlining shows and opening for acts including The Who, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, The Black Crowes, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Jane’s Addiction, and shared the stage with Pete Townshend (The Who), Warren Haynes, Leslie West (Mountain), Grace Potter, Matisyahu, Mike Watt, and others. In addition to collaborating and recording with legendary producers/engineers Brendan O’Brien and Nick DiDia, he has also co-produced and co-written three critically acclaimed, full-length albums with the band Rose Hill Drive. Specializing in Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, and Funk styles, Nate has earned a reputation as one of the premier live and studio drummers in the Rocky Mountain area.

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 3

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