UTRGVSYMPHONYORCHESTRA
ThirdProgram~2024 • 2025ConcertSeason
WildWildWest!
UTRGVPerformingArtsComplex,Edinburg Thursday,February20,2025at7:00pm
NormanGamboa,Conductor RaymonCorrea,Conductor
KennethSaxon,Piano
JustinWriter,Composer
ElegyforOrchestra ......................
(b.1938)
PianoConcerto (premiere)........................JustinWriter (b.1974)
Intense-Andante
Slowandconnected-Suddenlyfast
Withurgency
INTERMISSION
BillytheKidSuite...........................AaronCopland (1900-1990)
Introduction:TheOpenPrairie
StreetinaFrontierTown
MexicanDanceandFinale
PrairieNight(Cardgameatnight)
GunBattle
Celebration(afterBilly’scapture)
Billy’sDeath
TheOpenPrairieagain
CONCERTRUNTIMEISAPPROXIMATELY1HOURAND15MINUTES
Forabetterconcertexperience,wekindlyaskyoutoturntosilent cellularphonesandalltypesofnoisemakers.Thankyou!
PROGRAMNOTES
ElegyforOrchestra
JohnCorigliano
My“Elegy”isbasedonanincidental scoreIwroteforanoffBroadway productionofWallaceGrey’s“Helen”–anaccountoftheagingHelenofTroy. The“Elegy”developsideaswhich originallyaccompaniedthebittersweet lovescenebetweenHelen(age40)and Telemachus(age20)Thebriefwork,set atasingleslowtempo,beginsquickly withakeypassageforpairedflutes, buildsduringitscoursetotwodouble forteclimaxesforfullorchestra,and finallysubsidesforapianissimoclose forstringsandwoodwinds.Stylistically, asthededicationtoSamuelBarber mightsuggest,theworkidentifiesitself withneo-romanticAmericanstyle, typifiedinadiversityofworksbyBarber himself,WalterPiston,orWilliam Schuman. ~JohnCorigliano
PianoConcerto JustinWriter
PianoConcerto isdedicatedtomy friendsandcolleagues,pianistKenneth SaxonandconductorNorman Gamboa.Theworkisinthetypical three-movementarchitectureandwas inspiredinpartbythegreatconcertiof Ginastera,Shostakovich,Bartók,and Corigliano.Thefirstmovementisin modifiedsonataformthatforgoesthe typicalorchestraintroductionandis builtalmostentirelyfromaninitial three-notemotiveheardinthepianoat theopeningandashortlyricalmelody thatisheardlaterintothemovement. Thedevelopmentsectionhasbeen replacedwithalargesolocadenza withoutanyorchestraldialogue,while thereturnisquitebriefandstraight forward.Thesecondmovementisin threedistinctsections(atmospheric–aggressive–atmospheric).Thegoal herewastoexplorethefullpitchrange oftheinstrumentaswellasthe articulationqualitiesofthepiano.The
middlesectionexplicitlyexploresthe brutalpercussivenatureofthelowest registersoftheinstrument,whilethe outersectionsexistalmostexclusively inthesofterupperregisters.Instark contrast,thefinalmovementbegins withamassivebuildupofsoundthat giveswaytoarhythmicallyrelentless tarantella.Chamber-likewoodwindand pianopassagesalternatewithfull orchestratogiveconstantcontrasttoa seriesofthematicvariations.The upper-registertrillsthatplayeda prominentroleintheopeningofthe firstmovementfindtheirreturninthe lastsectionofthethirdmovement wheretheyhelptousherinthefinal thematicstatementsthatbringanend totheconcerto. ~JustinWriter
BillytheKidSuite
AaronCopland
IfthereeverwasanAmerican “composerlaureate,”thenAaron Coplandissurelyhe.Anativeof Brooklyn,thesonofJewishimmigrants ofLithuaniandescent,heestablished whatmanycallthe“Americansound” inartmusic.HehadgonetoParis,like somanyduringthe1920s,tostudy advancedcomposition,andhismusical stylewhenhereturnedwasaccordingly advanced,somewouldsay “academic.”Itcertainlywasoften dissonant,andinnowayexhibitedthe populartunefulnessthatlatermade himthedarlingofmainstreamAmerica. Butthen,likesomanyotherartists duringthedepression,heturnedtoa simpler,moreaccessiblestyle,rooted inthepopulismofthetime.Thus,we havesuchevergreencompositionsas AppalachianSpring,Rodeo,Fanfarefor theCommonMan, and BillytheKid. Later,afterthewar,withtheNewDeal, thedustbowl,andthepopularityof thecommunistpartyinAmericagone, hereturnedtotheaustere,more advancedmusicalstylethatpreviously
hadcharacterizedhiswork. Nevertheless,mostaudiencestoday thinkofhis“depressionera”musical stylewhenhisnameismentioned.First performedin1938bytheBallet CaravanCompany, BillytheKid containslotsofcowboysongsand otherAmericanfolksongs,andinits eightsectionsroughlytrackssome putativeeventsinthedesperado’slife. It’sfairlyeasytofollowtheactionfrom thetitlesofthemovementsandthe natureofthemusic.Theballetopens andcloseswiththefamiliar“American sound”oftheopenprairiethatdepicts thelonelinessofthelandscapeandthe trekkingofthepioneers.Thecowboy song,“GreatGranddad,”isheardin thestreetsceneoftheseconddance. Later,onehearsthefightbetween
Dr.JUSTINWRITER
Composer
JustinWriterisacomposerofmodern solo,chamber,ensemble,and electronicmusic.Writer’smusicis performedbyprofessionaland universityensemblesthroughoutthe UnitedStates,Europe,Mexico,and SouthAmerica.Hismusicispublished byCimarronMusicPress,MediaPress, AleaPublishing,andFatrockInk.
drunksinthetrombones,playing“Git AlongLittleDoggies,”and“BuryMe NotontheLonePrairie”duringthe quietudeofthecardgamescene.The violenceinthegunbattlesceneis relievedbythehumorofthe celebration,aidedbyCopland’sclever intimationoftwodifferentkeysgoing atthesametime.Asthelittledrama leadsintoBilly’sdeath,thewhole orchestraendsinaheroic,ifnot defiant,affirmativemood.Weareleft tomuseovertheenigmaticending:is Coplandcelebratingtheresilienceof thepioneersoftheAmericanWest,or commemoratingthetragedyofthe commonmanthatsoconcernedsocial activistsaroundtheworldduringthe 1930s? ~WilliamE.Runyan
Writer’sworkshavebeenperformedat severalnotableconferencesthat includetheInternationalTubaand EuphoniumAssociation,North AmericanSaxophoneAlliance, EuropeanBassCongress,International TromboneFestival,ViolaCongress, InternationalTrumpetGuild,The SocietyofComposersInc.,NewYork CityElectroacousticMusicFestival, SocietyforElectro-AcousticMusicin theUnitedStates,ChicagoBass Festival,InternationalSocietyof Bassists,CollegeMusicSociety,and numerousothervenues.Writeris currentlyProfessorandArea CoordinatorofCompositionandMusic TheoryattheUniversityofTexasRio GrandeValley.Writerreceivedhis D.M.AinCompositionfromthe UniversityofOklahoma,hisM.M.in Theory/CompositionfromWichita StateUniversity,andaB.M.E.from PittsburgStateUniversity(Kansas).A completelistingofworks,aswellas selectrecordingscanbefoundat www.justinwriter.com.
PianistKennethSaxonhasperformedas asoloistandcollaborativepianiston threecontinents,includingrecent appearancesinSriLankaandIndia. Knownforhiswide-rangingrepertoire, SaxonhaspremieredworksbyGary SmokeandKawaiShiuandregularly exploresworksbySchumann,Crumb, Bartók,andKurtág.Saxon’srecordingof theRachmaninoffPreludes,Op.32was praisedforthe“finenessoftouch…and excellenthandlingofpolyphony”by WilliamKreindlerforMusicWebInternational.
Saxonusescolor,touch,andtimingto createdistinctsoundworldsforeach composer.Hisdistinctiveprogramming helpsaudiencesmakeunexpected connectionsbetweenthemusicand theirownlives.Anentertainingand engagingpresence,Saxonoften introducesworkswithabriefstory aboutthepiecesandhisown experienceswiththem.Recent programsthatincludeastorytelling elementinclude:“ASecretTone” (https://vimeo.com/234890570),“Cold WarRecital”(http://tiny.cc/xwe9001), and“OutofDoors#1”(http://tiny.cc/ ywe9001)
KennethisProfessorofMusicatthe UniversityofTexasRioGrandeValley. Hehaspublishedarticlesonsight readinginthe PianoPedagogyJournal, AmericanMusicTeacher and Pianist Magazine.Hisbook StepstoSuccess hashelpedhundredsofmusicians improvetheirsight-readingfluency.
Kennethlovesspendingtimewithhis awesomefamilyattheirhomeona beautifulresacainBrownsville,sharing hisloveformusicandnaturewithhis wifeandchildren.Hehasbeen profoundlymovedbythediverseand uniqueecologyoftheRioGrande Valleyandlovesworkingtopromoteits conservation.
OrganSymphony
Withitsmanythemesappearinginpopsongsandfilm,Saint-Saëns SymphonyNo.3“Organ” isadramaticjourneythatwilltakesustoa mightymusicalsummit.TenorDavidSadlierjoinstheUTRGVSymphony inSamuelBarber’smasterpiece Knoxville:Summerof1915
APRIL24,2025
Dr.NORMANGAMBOA Conductor
NormanGamboaistheDirectorof OrchestralActivitiesatTheUniversityof TexasRioGrandeValley,founderofthe RioGrandeYouthSymphonyand conductoroftheRioGrandeValleyBallet Orchestra.HeisalsoMusicDirectorofthe SonomaCountyPhilharmonicin California.OneofthemostactiveCentral Americanconductors,hisschedule includesappearancesthroughout Missouri,Kansas,Minnesota,Nebraska, Idaho,Texas,California,Wyoming,and Colorado.Worldwideengagements includeorchestrasinEcuador,Czech Republic,Romania,Colombia,Brazil, Guatemala,Venezuela,CostaRica, Panama,NicaraguaandHonduras.
Normanhaslednumerousjointventures suchaschoreographedproductionswith BalletMidwest,AuroraDanceArts,Rio GrandeValleyBallet,NationalBalletof Nicaragua,andSantaRosaDance Theater,FiestaColoradoDance
Company,EdinburgDanceTheatre,Kim RobardsDance,andalsonumerous operaswiththeTopekaOperaSociety andOperaonTapColorado.
FestivalappearancesincludePlzeň2015, FOSJA-CasalsFestival,CentralAmerican FestivalofChamberMusic,International MusicFestivalofMedellín,VillarricaArts Festival,CostaRicaInternationalFestival ofArts,BlueLakeFineArtsCamp, BregenzerFestspiele,LasVegasMusic Festival,OSESPConductorsCompetition, NewYorkBrassConferenceandRegina MusicConference.Healsoconductedthe EuropeanYouthSymphonyOrchestra,a projectthatgatheredmusicstudentsfrom alloverEurope.
Previously,heservedasMusicDirectorof thePowderRiverSymphonyinWyoming andtheAuroraSymphonyinColorado, DirectorofOrchestralStudiesat WashburnUniversityinKansas,Cover ConductoroftheTopekaSymphony, AssociateConductoroftheLasVegas MusicFestival,AssistantConductorofthe WacoSymphonyOrchestraandMusic DirectoroftheWacoSymphonyYouth OrchestrainTexas.Gamboahasserved asconductorandclinicianwithhonor studentorchestrasthroughoutthe MidwestandwesternUnitedStatesas wellasabroad,heholdsorchestral conductingdegreesfromtheUniversityof NevadaLasVegasandLouisianaState University.
Upcomingguestconducting engagementsincluderenowned orchestrasinBrazil,Ecuador,Nicaragua, Portugal,PuertoRico,andGuatemala.
AtUTRGVSchoolofMusicweoffer EXCEPTIONAL qualityeducation, practicallearningatthehighestlevel, expertguidancefromourvery DISTINGUISHED faculty,and plentyofprofessionalgrowth opportunities.
ForapplicationinformationscantheQRcodeaboveorgoto: https://www.utrgv.edu/music/academic/application-audition
RAYMONCORREA GraduateConductor
RaymonCorreawasborninMcAllen, TX.TrainedasFrenchHornplayer,he graduatedfromtheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleywithadegreein musiceducation.In2014,hebegan takingconductinglessonsfromDr.Saul
Torres,formerdirectorofbandsat UTRGV.Raymonhasconductedthe UTRGVSymphonicband,UTRGVBrass Ensemble,UTRGVHornChoir,Wind Octets,Brassbands,SmallChamber Orchestra,YouthSymphonyOrchestra, ElPasoWindsandElementarySchool ChoirandPercussionEnsembles.Heis theconductorandfounderofElValle BrassBandandalsoservesasprincipal conductoroftheRioGrandeYouth SymphonyOrchestra.Heactively participatesinseveralconducting workshopstodevelophiscraftin conducting.RaymonCorrearecently obtainedhismaster'sdegreeinWind ConductingandInstrumental PedagogyattheUniversityofTexasat ElPasoundertheguidanceofDr. BradleyGenveroandDr.Andrew Hunterandheiscurrentlypursuinga graduatedegreeinorchestral conductingatUTRGVunderthe guidanceofDr.NormanGamboa.
SymphonyOrchestra
NormanGamboa,Conductor
VIOLIN
AngelaLlanes, Concertmaster
JoelSanchez, Assistantconcertmaster
LeahLoera, Principal AndrewTrevino, Assistantprincipal
VicenteCamacho
MelanieCantu
CristianContreras
IsabelEstrada XimenaGarcia
JazminGutierrez
AlvaroMartinez RafaelRamirez*
ValeriaRuiz
IsaacVargas
VIOLA
JacobRobledo, Principal
JoseSalinas, Assistantprincipal CytlalyCoronado
KatiaLuna
JacobMartinez
MiaMora
HarleyMassey
CELLO
JudithRecio, Principal MarcoVazquez, Assistantprincipal SebastianGarcia
JairoGarza
ClarissaMartinez
DOUBLEBASS
MaximilianoLopez, Principal VianethBernardo-Pinon, Assistantprincipal PedroCasanova
ZacharyLara MarisolMejia
FLUTE&PICCOLO
LauraBarba3
Carlos Hernandez1,2
MasonPerez
OBOE
LorenaCoronado1,2,3
YingChingJeter*
CLARINET
KarenGalan1,2
AlejandroMoreno3
BASSCLARINET
KarlSchmidt
BASSOON
NormaBarrientos ArtGonzalez*1,2,3
HORN
JonahCantu1
AlonzoCavazos2
BrittanyCruz3
SamuelGarcia
TRUMPET
VictorFortuna3
ChristianRamirez1
DanielVela2
TROMBONE
JhonEscobar2
AlejandroSalinas3
BASSTROMBONE
ChristopherTrevino
TUBA
AlessandroPena2,3
TIMPANI
SlatonMeador1,2,3
PERCUSSION RenePeynado DominickRodriguez EricSalazar ReneZamora
KEYBOARD
AmirhosseinKarimi*1 AnnaTrevino3
GRADUATECONDUCTOR RaymonCorrea
1 PrincipalinCorigliano
2 PrincipalinWriter
3 PrincipalinCopland
*Guestmusician