FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2008

Contact: Paul Helfrich 561-3522 or manager@wvsymphony.org

Montclaire String Quartet presents “A Sweet Fin-ish”

May 11 performance to include Schubert's “Trout” Quintet;

concert will also be performed on May 9 in Sutton

CHARLESTON WV - The Montclaire String Quartet , resident chamber ensemble of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, concludes its 2007-2008 concert series, “A Sweet Season,” with a performance on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 3 p.m. at Christ Church United Methodist, 1221 Quarrier Street in Charleston .

The program is titled “A Sweet Fin-ish,” a playful reference to the presence on the program of Schubert's much-loved “Trout” Quintet. Guest artists for the Schubert will be pianist Frances Renzi and bassist Ed Paulsen. Ms. Renzi will also join members of the quartet for Turina's “Circulo.”

Members of the Montclaire String Quartet are Amelia Chan, first violin; Luigi Peracchia, second violin; Sandra Armstrong Groce, viola; and Andrea Di Gregorio, cello. All members serve as principal players of their respective sections in the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for the May 11 concert are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available in advance by calling 561-3570 . Tickets will also be sold at the door on May 11 beginning at 2 p.m. , one hour before the concert.

The 2007-08 Montclaire String Quartet Chamber Music Series is sponsored in part by James Wilson Douglas and Rita Jo Douglas, by Dr. Steven Jubelirer, in Honor and Memory of Richard and Jean Jubelirer and Susan Jubelirer Nesi, and by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas G. Potterfield.

The complete program for the May 11 concert appears below . The concert will also be performed on Friday, May 9, 2008 , at 7:30 p.m. at the Sutton Baptist Church in Sutton , WV .

PROGRAM

The Montclaire String Quartet

Friday, May 9, 2008 , 7:30 p.m.

Sutton Baptist Church , Sutton , WV

and

Sunday, May 11, 2008 , 3:00 p.m.

Christ Church United Methodist, Charleston WV

Amelia Chan, Violin

Luigi Peracchia, Violin

Sandra Armstrong Groce, Viola

Andrea Di Gregorio, Cello

With Special Guests

Frances Renzi, piano

Ed Paulsen, bass

“A Sweet Fin-ish”

String Quartet No. 2    in A Major (1824)         Juan Crisostomo Arriaga

•  Allegro con brio

•  Tema con variazione

•  Menuetto

•  Andante ma non troppo—Allegro

Círculo, Op. 91, for Violin, Cello and Piano (1936)     Joaquin Turina   

•  Amenecer lento

•  Mediodia allegretto quasi andantino

•  Attacca Crepúsculo

Intermission

Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 114 (“Trout”) (1819)     Franz Schubert

•  Allegro vivace

•  Andante

•  Scherzo: Presto

•  Andantino

•  Allegro giusto

__________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2008

Contact: Paul Helfrich 561-3522 or manager@wvsymphony.org

WVSO to present WEST SIDE STORY

Fully-staged and costumed version of landmark Broadway musical

to be performed Saturday, May 17

CHARLESTON WV - The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will present the landmark Broadway musical West Side Story in a fully-staged and costumed production at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.

West Side Story takes Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and moves it to 1950s New York City , where the young lovers Tony and Maria are caught between warring street gangs in a world of violence and prejudice. Their bittersweet tale is set to some of Leonard Bernstein's greatest music, including instant standards like I Feel Pretty , Maria and Tonight . With its willingness to confront troubling social issues and its elevation of dance to equal partnership with singing and acting, this landmark work changed the face of Broadway theater forever.

West Side Story is celebrating its 50 th Anniversary in the current 07-08 season, and it is in honor of this anniversary that the WVSO has scheduled the show as its annual Rome H. and Bessie Walker Opera Theater presentation. While written for Broadway, the show is frequently performed by opera companies worldwide, including perhaps the most storied company of all, Teatro Alla Scala in Milan , Italy . Leonard Bernstein himself recorded the score with opera singers Jose Carreras and Kiri te Kanawa in the roles of Tony and Maria.

The cast includes local favorites Mariel van Dalsum-Boggs and Evie Victorson in the roles of Maria and Anita, respectively. The role of Tony will be played by New York based singer Bryan Burdick.

West Side Story is being choreographed by Kim Pauley , Artistic Director of the Charleston Ballet. The stage director is Thomas Loughlin , a faculty member at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Sets are courtesy of Virginia Opera, and costumes are being designed by Charleston 's own Penny Fioravante .

Grant Cooper , Artistic Director & Conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, will conduct. The production is sponsored in part by The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.

Tickets begin at $12 for adults and $8 for students and children and are available through the Clay Center Ticket Office, 304-561-3570 . Tickets may also be ordered online at www.wvsymphony.org .

The complete ticket price range, cast and production staff listing, and plot synopsis appears below.

###

Ticket Prices for West Side Story, May 17, 2008

Adult E     $12

Student E   $ 8

Adult D     $20

Student D   $13

Adult C     $34

Student C   $23

Adult B     $55

Adult A     $68

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Grant Cooper, Artistic Director & Conductor

Saturday, May 17, 2008 , 8:00 p.m.

Maier Foundation Performance Hall

Walter E. Clark Performance Place

Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia

The Rome H. and Bessie Walker Opera Theater production of

WEST SIDE STORY

Based on a conception of Jerome Robbins

Book by Arthur Laurents

Music by Leonard Bernstein

Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Entire original production directed and choreographed by

Jerome Robbins

Originally produced on Broadway by Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince by arrangement with Roger L. Stevens.

Grant Cooper, conductor;

Kim Pauley, choreographer;

Thomas Loughlin, stage director

CAST

The Jets

Tony: Bryan Burdick

Riff: Eric Deiboldt            

Action: Sean Watkins

Arab: Robert Priore          

Baby John: Dane Wagner       

Snowboy: Adam Gearhart        

Big Deal: Joseph Carson

Diesel: Rob Royce

Gee Tar: Ian Spring

Mouthpiece: Jacob Paulson

Their Girls

Graziella: Rhiannon Turley

Velma: Erica Knowles

Minnie: Audrey Wright

Clarice: Lindsay Scott

Pauline: Elyse Campbell

Anybody's: Angela Price

The Sharks

Bernardo: Joti Gore

Chino : Michael Phillips

Pepe: Raymond Interior

Indio : Duane Gosa

Luis: Matthew Munson

Anxious: Addison Brasil

Nibbles: David Hernandez

Juano: Lance Russell

Toro: Freddie Fourie

Their Girls

Maria: Mariel van Dalsum-Boggs

Anita: Evie Victorson

Rosalia: Jesse Tidquist

Consuelo: Keri James

Teresita: Allene Conner

Francisca: Emily Duncan

Estella: Chelsie Crider

Margarita: Kathleen Sweat

Shark Girl: Noelle Frame

PRODUCTION STAFF

Paul A. Helfrich, Executive Director

Marcia Graves, Executive Assistant & Properties Master

Jill Hermes, Stage Manager

Deborah Jo Barrett , Assistant Stage Manager

Thomas Pasinetti, Technical Director & Lighting Designer

Penny Fioravante, Costume Coordinator

Kelly Strom, Makeup Coordinator

Megan Martin, Hair & Wigs

Vicki Berneking Cavendish and Mary Beth Norman, Rehearsal Accompanists

Scenery is provided courtesy of VIRGINIA OPERA

Scenic designer: Peter Dean Beck

Costumes designed by Penny Fioravante

Properties Crew Chief             April Ritter

Properties Committee              Polly Diller

                                                 Gale Stocking

                                                 Betsy Trammell                

                     Jan Howard

West Side Story is presented through special arrangement with

Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54 th Street , New York NY 10019 .

Phone 212-541-4684; Fax 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

The Story

The story takes place in August of 1958 in and around the West 60s of Manhattan Island. As Act I opens, the Jets, a gang of teenagers from European descent, and the Sharks, a gang of teenagers recently arrived from Puerto Rico , are vying for control of their "territory." A fight ensues and is broken up by the police. The Jets decide that the time to settle their gang war is now, and they send their leader Riff to bring back their former leader Tony for the planned rumble. At first Tony refuses to come back, but is persuaded by Riff to meet him at a dance being held in the local high school gym that evening. At the dance, Tony meets Maria, the sister of Bernardo, who is the leader of the Sharks. She and Tony immediately fall in love, but their meeting is interrupted by Bernardo, who sends Maria home with his friend Chino . The two gang leaders agree at the dance to hold a "war council" later that evening at Doc's, a local drug store and soda shop.

Leaving the dance, Tony searches for Maria, and finds her on her apartment fire escape. The two pledge their love for each other. As Tony leaves, Bernardo, along with his girlfriend Anita and the rest of the Sharks, discuss their lives in America . Later that evening the war council takes place. While Riff and Bernardo are discussing terms, Tony breaks in and gets the two gangs to agree to nothing more than a fist fight.

The next day, Tony visits Maria at the bridal shop where she works, and their relationship is discovered by Anita. Anita promises to keep quiet, and Tony tells Maria he has reduced the rumble to a fair fight. Maria begs Tony to stop the rumble altogether, and he promises to do so. As the gangs meet and prepare for the fight, Tony appears and attempts to stop the fight from happening. The action gets emotionally heated and out of control, and during the confusion, Bernardo accidentally stabs Riff to death. Without thinking, Tony then stabs Bernardo to death. The gangs continue to fight until the sound of sirens breaks up the fight and the gangs scatter.

Act II begins in Maria's bedroom, where she shares how much she is in love with her friends. Once they leave, however, Chino bursts in and tells Maria about the rumble, and that Tony killed her brother Bernardo. As Chino leaves with a gun to look for Tony and kill him in revenge, Tony appears at Maria's window. Although angry with him, Maria nonetheless collapses in his arms. They express their fears and hopes for the future, and fall asleep together in Maria's bed.

The next evening, the Jets re-assemble to discuss their plight and what to do next, when they hear that Chino is out with a gun looking for Tony. They begin a search for Tony to protect him. In the meantime, Tony leaves Maria's bedroom with a plan for them to make their escape out of the city. As he leaves, Anita enters and discovers Tony has been there. Maria and Anita argue, but Maria convinces Anita of her continued love for Tony. She asks Anita to go to Doc's and tell Tony she will meet him there.

As Anita arrives at Doc's, she encounters the rest of the Jets there. She attempts to give them Maria's message for Tony, but the Jets taunt and insult her until Doc comes up to stop them. Enraged, Anita tells the Jets that Chino has shot Maria dead. Doc tells Tony that Maria is dead, shot by Chino , and Tony goes out into the street calling for Chino to shoot him as well. As he is shouting, he sees Maria alive and goes to her, but Chino , hiding in a corner, steps out and shoots Tony. Tony and Maria exchange final words of love, and Tony dies. As the gangs assemble, they finally come together over their grief for their lost friends. 

- Thomas Loughlin   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2008

Contact: Paul Helfrich 561-3522/ manager@wvsymphony.org

or Kathy Bush 561-3514/ kbush@wvsymphony.org

WVSO presents

Bayer Symphony Sunday 2008

Annual family fun event invites you to “Let Music Sail You Away” on June 1

CHARLESTON WV - The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony League, and principal sponsor Bayer present the 26 th anniversary edition of Symphony Sunday on Sunday, June 1, 2008 , all day long on the riverfront lawn of the University of Charleston.

“Bayer is delighted to once again serve as the principal sponsor of Symphony Sunday”, said Nick Crosby, Site Manager for Bayer CropScience at the Institute site. “We are delighted to have our name associated with such a wonderful event freely available to all in the community.”

Symphony Sunday is a full day of music, food, and family fun, culminating in a FREE performance by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and a spectacular fireworks display.

A full day of entertainment on the Symphony Sunday main stage will get under way at 1 p.m. Performing acts include the Kanawha Valley Ringers, West Virginia Kickers, Mountain State Brass Band, Charleston Neophonic Orchestra, Charleston Metro Band, the West Virginia Youth Symphony, and the Kanawha Valley Community Band.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Grant Cooper will perform a FREE concert as the climax of the day's events, beginning at 8 p.m. , followed by fireworks over the Kanawha River .

Other highlights of the day include children's games and hands-on learning activities, arts & crafts, a “Hats off to the Symphony” exhibit, and a used book, DVD, and video sale . A tempting array of food items will also be on sale throughout the day.

The traditional “rehearsal dinner ,” one of the important fundraising aspects of Symphony Sunday and an eagerly-awaited culinary and social event, will take place on Saturday evening, May 31, beginning at 7:30 p.m. This year's edition, titled “The Maestro's Dinner – A Spectacular New Zealand Feast” features menu items from land and sea – sumptuous New Zealand cuisine that draws inspiration from the traditional kitchens of France and Italy . Following dinner, guests may place the winning bid on an exquisite masterpiece in The Art Auction . The auction showcases an eclectic collection of fine art works donated by well-known local artists including Kathy Boland, Helen Chilton, Emily Roles and Susan Sibley. Guests also have the opportunity to bid on an exciting trip to Tuscany . The evening's entertainment features the Orchestra as they rehearse for Sunday's concert and a special performance by “Symphony Idol”, Ryan Hardiman. Reservations for the dinner are $75 per person and may be made by calling Jane Powell at 344-4799.

Also on the menu –the Jazz Brunch , from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 1 in the University of Charleston 's Riggleman Hall Rotunda and Patio. In addition to a sumptuous meal, the jazz brunch will feature "The Freeloaders", an all West Virginia Boys' Jazz Band. The cost for the Jazz Brunch is $35 per person, $15 for children 12 and under, and free for children under 3. For reservations call Jane Powell at 304-344-4799. Reservations are strongly suggested; tickets will be available at the door as space allows.

Events of the Symphony Sunday weekend will also include a 5K “Fun Run” on Saturday, June 1, beginning at 9 a.m. at the University of Charleston . Titled “Beat Beethoven, ” the event challenges participants to finish within the time it takes to perform Beethoven's 5 th Symphony. Registration for the Fun Run begins at 8:00 a.m. The Fun Run is sponsored by the Downtown Symphony Club.

Symphony Sunday is made possible by a generous gift from Bayer. Additional funding and support s provided by the Kanawha County Commission and the University of Charleston .

Special in-kind support is provided by Columbia Gas Transmission , Port Amherst Ltd., Madison Coal & Supply and Portman Equipment .

Parking for Symphony Sunday is available at the University of Charleston and in the parking lot of Columbia Gas Transmission, 1700 MacCorkle Avenue SE . Shuttle service will be provided between the Columbia Gas parking lot and the University of Charleston .

SYMPHONY SUNDAY 2008

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Entertainment Schedule

Mainstage Entertainment Schedule

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.    Kanawha Valley Ringers

1:30 – 1:45 p.m.   WV Kickers (substage)     

1:45 - 2:15 p.m.    Mountain State Brass Band

2:15 – 2:30 p.m.   WV Kickers (substage)

2:30 – 3:00 p.m.    Charleston Neophonic Orchestra

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.   WV Kickers ( substage)

3:15 – 3:45 p.m.    Charleston Metro Band

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.   WV Kickers (substage)

4:00 – 4:15 p.m.    WVYS Cadet Strings   

4:25 – 4:45 p.m.   WVYS Youth Strings   

4:55 – 5:15 p.m.   WVYS Wind Ensemble   

5:25 – 5:45 p.m.    WVYS Youth Orchestra

6:00 – 6:30 p.m.    Kanawha Valley Community Band

8:00 p.m.      WEST VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA featuring

      Grand Finale with fireworks!