How to go
What: Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s Mozart Festival
Where: Various locations around Springfield and Cedarville
When: Jan. 16, 17, 18, 21, 24 at various times
Admission: Varies by event
More info: 937-325-8100 or go to www.springfieldsym.com
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is welcoming in 2015 with a festive mood.
January celebrates the birth month of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a festival of collaborative programs and concerts beginning Jan. 16 and running through Jan. 24.
“We’re kind of going to be everywhere,” said Ashley Cain, Symphony director of operations and education. “All of these are ambitious programs and fun; we haven’t done this before. We hope people will love it.”
Cain said the festival has been goal of Symphony conductor and music director Peter Stafford Wilson for a long time, and is geared at all ages and tastes to explore the depth of Mozart’s genius over the six-event festival. Admission varies, with some events free to the public and others at cost.
Events are at various locations throughout the area, an aspect Cain said the Symphony is excited about.
“We’re trying to be more collaborative so the community is getting access to a lot of great music in different settings,” she said.
Events will include:
• Mozart at Cedarville University at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, is the kickoff event at the Dixon Ministry Center, 251 N. Main St., Cedarville. This concert is free to the public.
The program will include “Sonata for Violin and Piano in Bb Major” and several other selections.
• Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage with Classical Kids Live is a concert for the family, especially ages 4-up at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Clark State Performing Arts Center.
The voyage will take the family through Mozart’s best-loved music by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, while actors recreate moments from Mozart’s life. The concert is about 50 minutes long and aimed at children’s first concert experience.
The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 17 and younger.
• Mozart at the Museum is a grand evening of wine, hors d’oeuvres and chamber music at the Springfield Museum of Art, 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17.
Maestro Peter Stafford Wilson and select Symphony musicians will present an intimate works of two Mozart chamber works. Larry Coressel will reenact a monologue. The food and drinks begin at 6 p.m. and the concert at 7. Tickets cost $40 for season subscribers and $50 for nonsubscribers.
• The Chorale Grandeur of Mozart! with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Chorale will be 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Southgate Baptist Church, 2111 S. Center Blvd., Springfield.
This event will feature Mozart works for voice and orchestra. Soprano Minnita Daniel-Cox of the University of Dayton will also perform. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students.
• Mozart at Wittenberg University is a free event at Krieg Hall on the campus at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21. Works will be “Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-Flat.”
• 1788! is the grand finale to the 2015 Mozart Festival at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Clark State Performing Arts Center. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra will perform Mozart’s final three works he created during the summer of 1788.
These popular symphonies include “Symphony No. 39,” “Symphony No. 40” and “Symphony No. 41.” This is part of the Symphony’s MasterWorks series. Ticket prices vary.
To purchase tickets or for more information, call 937-328-3874.
“If this works out, we may look into doing similar festival events in other future seasons,” Cain said.
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