Ashland Symphony Orchestra opens 54th Season with 'Praise and Celebration'

The Ashland Symphony Orchestra's concert season opens Saturday, Oct. 7, with “Praise and Celebration.”

Grammy Award winning music director and conductor Michael Repper will conduct "Symphony No. 2 Lipsky" by Stefan Swanson and "Symphony No.1, op. 68, C minor" by Johannes Brahms. There will be a pre-concert talk in the Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Auditorium at 6:50 p.m. and performance at 7:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.

“Lipsky” was commissioned by the Ashland Symphony Orchestra in honor of Arie Lipsky, ASO music director laureate, 1996-2019. The commission was made possible with grants from The Friends of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and Ashland County Community Foundation.

“When moving to the small town of Ashland, Ohio, I never imagined having an orchestra in my backyard. I will be forever thankful to The Ashland Symphony Orchestra and Martha Buckner, Executive Director for allowing me a remarkable opportunity to honor such an exceptional man through the outstanding ensemble he had such a profound impact on,” said Swanson, composer and former adjunct faculty at Ashland University.

“Our hope was to be able to present this symphony in honor of Maestro Lipsky’s 25th year with the ASO. Though he resigned just prior to that anniversary year, we moved forward with the commission as a way to honor his legacy and the gift of music that he shared with the Ashland community for so many years," said Buckner, executive director. "The pandemic and conductor search further delayed the premiere of the piece. We are delighted that both Maestro Lipsky and Stefan Swanson will be attending this world premiere performance. Titling the concert “Praise and Celebration” is most fitting for this momentous occasion."

Dates for the remainder of the season are Saturday, Oct. 28, “Rejoice!”; the annual Family Holiday Pops concert on Sunday, Nov. 26; “La Musica D’Italia” on Saturday, Jan. 20,, in collaboration with Northeast Ohio sensation Alla Boara; “Stargazing” on Saturday, March 9, with cello prodigy Aurelia Faidley-Solars; and concluding with “A Grande Finale” on Saturday, April 13, with pianist Kara Huber.

All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. at the Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Auditorium at Ashland High School, 1440 King Road.

Season subscriptions are on sale at $132 for adults and $117 for seniors ages 65 and up. Individual tickets are $26 for an adult and $23 for seniors. Child and student tickets are free with the purchase of an adult or senior ticket, though they may be purchased for $5 each to benefit the symphony. Free tickets and discounts available for persons receiving EBT, SNAP, WIC and Medicaid are available by phone or at the door.

For more information call 419-289-5115 or visit www.ashlandsymphony.org.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Symphony Orchestra opens 54th season Oct. 7