Come out and catch a ferry to Block Island on August 16th to see ECSO perform at 6:00.
To close out the summer season, we are partnering with the Block Island Chamber of Commerce for a beautiful evening concert at Champlin’s Hotel and Marina Resort situated on Block Island’s beautiful Great Salt Pond. The natural beauty, historical charm, and laid-back vibe you can only find on Block Island will make it the best summer day in our book, spent overlooking New Harbor, soaking in the serene atmosphere of the Island, and listening to the sweet sounds of our chamber orchestra.
Concertmaster, Stephan Tieszen, will lead a solo performance of Mozart’s 5th Voilin Concerto and Music Director & Conductor, Toshiyuki Shimada led musicians in Chevalier de Saint George 1st Symphony and Elgar Serenade. It was a pleasure to play once again on Block Island.
We hope to see faces both from the mainland and those of island residents. The money raised from their support is going towards supporting music education efforts. The ECSO is so grateful to be a part of such an amazing event and even more to contribute to the cause of advancing musical interests all over New England. Stay tuned for more events to come in the fall, and stay tuned for our program book that will be linked below to learn more about Summer Symphony at Champlin’s Marina.
The ECSO held its annual meeting on Tuesday, July 12th, at the Thames Club to celebrate a successful 2022-23 season and year. Thank you for being part of our musical family and this community that supports our orchestra. We heard moving and inspiring remarks from the Mayor of New London, Michael Passero as well as our Board President, Liane Crawford, and closing words from our beloved Music Director and Conductor, Toshiyuki Shimada.
One of the most uplifting aspects of our meeting each year is to incorporate music, and it was such a treat to hear ECSO Concertmaster Stephan Tieszen perform everything from Gershwin’s Summertime to Saint-Saëns’ The Swan from Carnival of the Animals.
Click here to read more about our activities through the frame of our mission to “inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.
CONTACT: Caleb Bailey 860-443-2876, [email protected]
MENDELSSOHN & DEBUSSY– Saturday, April 22, 2023, 7:30 pm
Click here for announcement PDF
Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London, CT 06320
In celebration of Earth Day, the concert will open with Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage by Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period. Mendelssohn’s “Calm Sea” lacks the eerie “dead silence” and instead takes a more inclusive view, placing us in the scene by ambiguously interweaving objective imagery with emotional responses –the vague anxiety in the groping lines and the fervent prayer in the urgent but hesitant lyricism. Shirley Kim, ECSO’s 2022 Instrumental Competition winner will then perform Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque, composed by Ernest Bloch. According to Bloch’s description, the solo cello in Schelomo is the personification of King Solomon, and the orchestra represents the world around him, and his life.
After the intermission, Voices Shouting Out, composed by Nkeiru Okoye, who specializes in composing in a variety of musical styles, will be performed; this piece is considered her response to the 9/11 tragedy, reflecting the determination of a people to move forward in faith and unity. ECSO will also perform Jeder Baum spricht (Every Tree Speaks) by Iman Habibi, an Iranian-Canadian composer and pianist. Inspired by Beethoven’s ideas about nature, Iman Habibi composed Jeder Baum spricht, which aims to explore climate change.
Finally, ECSO’s season will conclude with La mer by French composer Claude Debussy, whose work depict the sea perfectly, expressing its ever-changing shapes, shimmering surfaces and mysterious depths. Although some call La mer a symphony, it may be more accurately described as an anti-symphony, as it deliberately eschews traditional symphonic forms. Instead, it erodes those traditions by revealing alternatives, just as the waves have reshaped even the most rugged shores.
Shirley Kim, Cello for Bloch:
Shirley Kim is currently pursuing her master’s degree in orchestral performance at the Manhattan School of Music with Alan Stepansky. Prior to studying at the Manhattan School of Music, Shirley completed her undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music with Steven Doane and Rosemary Elliot. At Eastman, Shirley served as principal cellist of the Philharmonia and was part of the honors quartet. An avid chamber musician, she was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Celentano chamber award for excellence in chamber music at Eastman.
Her other notable chamber prizes include 2nd prize at the MTNA chamber competition and 1st prize at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music Chamber Competition in 2017. Shirley is a Los Angeles native and she began the cello at age four with Nancy Yamagata at the Colburn School and studied with Dr. Richard Naill in her highschool years. She served as principal cellist of the Colburn Youth orchestra in 2017 and in 2016, she was the prizewinner of their 2016 concerto competition in which she performed Lalo’s Cello Concerto at the LACMA’s Bing Theater.
Shirley has performed in venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Zipper Hall, and the Morgan Library Museum. During the summers Shirley has attended Music Academy of the West, Sarasota Festival Orchestra, Heifetz International Music Festival, Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, Bowdoin International Festival, and Orford Musique. Shirley enjoys hiking and cooking in her free time.
Covid Policy:
New concert attendance guidelines have been implemented in order for concertgoers to safely enjoy the new season. While ECSO maintains its commitment to the importance of COVID-19 vaccination and encourages patrons to be up to date with their vaccinations according to their personal health requirements, as of August 11, patrons are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or negative proof of COVID-19 testing at ECSO for events. It is not mandatory to wear a mask while indoors, but you may choose to wear one.
We will continue to review the current situation and any updated guidelines from the CDC and the State of Connecticut to determine what changes may be necessary.
ECSO general copy:
We are thrilled to continue our 22-23 Season’s lineup, curated by Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. This season marks the 13th year under the musical leadership of Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Visit www.ectsymphony.com for more information and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) @ectsymphony. The ECSO offers a range of affordable seating options from $65 to as low as $12 for attendance to one concert. The ECSO will continue to offer those under 40 years of age and active or retired military members $12 tickets in premium sections. ECSO is also active in promoting music education in New London by offering educational programs, watch our website for details.
Founded in 1946 by Norwegian immigrant, Victor Norman, the mission of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra is to inspire, educate, and connect our communities through live orchestral music.