From the Music Director

The wonderment that happens when many different voices come together as one

This season I am pulled to the idea of HARMONY as the core of the orchestral experience. Musical harmony, of course, as we perform beloved symphonic classics by Dvořák, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel, and Holst, and in equal measure, the extended harmony that comes from composers like ColeridgeTaylor, Still, Ludwig, Shaw, and Tan Dun. But then there’s the harmony on stage between our extraordinary musicians who gather together from all parts of the Southeast, and brilliant instrumental and vocal soloists from across the country—all of whom are members of our cherished HHSO family or soon to become ones. At the pinnacle of this experience is you, and the harmony that washes over all of us in our musical home, The First Presbyterian Church, revealing the truth and beauty of our shared human experience; and further, as it radiates from within us as we go about our lives.

There is so much to be excited about this season: concertmaster, Micah Gangwer, stretching his wings with a lovely concerto commissioned by the greatest American violinist of her day, Maud Powell; the world premiere of Oran Etkin’s homage to Benny Goodman, “Sing Out”; the ravishing voice of Jennifer Cherest; the triumphant return of 2022 HHIPC Winner Jaeden Izik-Dzurko; Kellen Gray’s love letter to the music of Charleston; the NEW edition of Gershwin’s American in Paris, and violinist Bella Hristova’s concerto written for her by husband, David Ludwig; conductor Michelle Merrill’s debut with us along with debonair pianist Ray Ushikubo; my very good friend and force of nature, Joseph Conyers, with a thrilling concerto for bass; and most of all, our long-awaited Elijah with a brilliant cast of singers and our own HHSO Chorus and Georgia Southern University’s Southern Chorale.

Make sure to keep up on ALL our concerts and repertoire by reading “About the Music,” the informative, incisive and entertaining program notes written exclusively for us by musicologist and HHSO violinist Jonathan Aceto.

In harmony,

John Morris Russell Music Director Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

JOHN MORRIS RUSSELL

MUSIC DIRECTOR

“Thank you for joining us, and for sharing your love of music and your orchestra with those around you. Music can change the world because music changes people.”

The conductor will give a pre-concert talk prior to all concerts except Holiday Pops. Talk times are 3:00 pm for Sunday concerts and 6:30 pm for Monday concerts. Please join us!