Symphony of the Mountains presents Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope Concerts Featuring Dobyns-Bennett Band, Cindy Hicks, and Steve Sensenig Saturday, September 30, 2017 | 7:30pm | Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center | 400 S. Wilcox Drive | Kingsport, TN 37660 | Tickets: $30 | Children and Students FREE and Sunday October 1, 2017 | 3:00pm | J.W. Adams Combined School | 10824 Orby Cantrell Hwy | Pound, VA 24279 | Tickets: $20 | Children and Students FREE A KALEIDOSCOPE FROM THE PINES OF ROME TO AMERICAN JAZZ Symphony of the Mountains Creates A Stunning Fall Season Opener Kingsport, TN – Symphony of the Mountains will present “Kaleidoscope” on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 7:30pm at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport, TN and Sunday, October 1, 2017 at 3:00pm at the J.W. Adams Combined School in Pound, VA. Opening concerts of our 2017-2018 “Fantastic Fate” season include: •A first-time collaboration with the Dobyns-Bennett High School Band as we perform Ottorino Respighi’s “Pines of Rome” and Richard Strauss’ “Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare”, •A performance by Steve Sensenig playing George Gershwin’s famous “Rhapsody in Blue”, •And principal harpist Cindy Hicks performing Gabriel Pierné’s romantic “Konzertstuck, Op. 39”. The concert creates a musical journey including visits to the profound pine forests of Italy, the romantic timbre of France, and the beginning of the American Jazz era. Each of these pieces come together to create a Kaleidoscope of sounds and feelings that echo the human spirit. The Dobyns-Bennett High School band is the largest band in the state of Tennessee and leads the Southeast in reputation for musical excellence and achievement since its inception in 1926. Having performed in parades and competitions throughout the country, this will be the first opportunity for these students to perform with a fully professional symphony orchestra. This unique occasion allows students to gain firsthand knowledge of the group effort required to perform at such a high level of musicianship. Cindy Hicks is Principal Harpist with Symphony of the Mountains. She also serves as Principal Harpist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Opera, the Oak Ridge Symphony, and the York Symphony Orchestra. During the summer, she performs with the Bear Valley Music Festival Orchestra in California, and the Assisi Music Festival in Assisi, Italy. She is a frequent recitalist in East Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Maryland. She also enjoys teaching both the pedal and non-pedal harps. As a member of the American Harp Society, Cindy was active in the Baltimore Chapter (Charm City) from its inception in the early 1990's to 2005. As chapter president from 2002-2005, she helped organize and present Harpfest, a multi-state event featuring world-renown recitalists, educational programs, and harp related seminars. In 1994, Cindy was one of only 2 U.S. citizens to compete in the prestigious International Harp Contest in Israel held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Cindy received a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University. Her teachers and coaches included Alice Chalifoux, Eileen Mason and Eleanor England Hoadley. Steve Sensenig, originally from southeastern Pennsylvania, began playing the piano at the age of three. Beginning with classical training and the hymns of his childhood, he quickly began excelling in various musical endeavors. With a degree in classical piano performance along with a career that has involved everything from gospel to jazz to rock, country, musical theatre and everything in between, Steve brings a life and energy to every performance that keeps him in high demand. Steve has held Music Director positions at both the Blowing Rock Stage Company (Blowing Rock, NC) and Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA). He has also served as an accompanist at Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) and Emory & Henry College (Emory, VA). In conjunction with Barter Theatre, Steve also performed "Cabaret" (2011), "Les Misérables" (2013), and music directed "Chicago" (2016), all with Symphony of the Mountains. Prior to the concert, Steve Sensenig will teach a masterclass at no cost to participants and is open to the public for viewing. This is an opportunity for students to receive valuable feedback from a professional artist in their area of study. Mr. Sensenig will work with each student one-on-one throughout the session that takes place in front of an audience. Adult tickets are $30 for the September 30 concert and $20 for October 1. As with all Symphony of the Mountains subscription concerts, students and children admitted free. Call our Box Office at (423) 392-8423 or visit www.SymphonyoftheMountains.org to purchase tickets. Sponsored by: Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, City of Kingsport, Eastman Chemical Company, King University, The Estate of James C. Martin In Memory of Mary B. Martin, Marvin & Marcia Gilliam, Jr. Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, The Perry and Vivian Stuckey Foundation, Pro-Art Association, Jim & Laura Rogers Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, United Company Foundation