Ashland Symphony Orchestra's 'Dynamic Duos' show coming Saturday

ASHLAND ‒ The Ashland Symphony Orchestra continues its 53rd season with "Dynamic Duos," the latest in its series of guest pianists.

The performance will be 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, in the Robert M. & Janet L. Archer Auditorium at Ashland High School.

The evening will start with a preconcert talk by the ASO’s new Music Director and Conductor Michael Repper at 6:55 p.m. in the rear of the auditorium. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and ticket holders who attend the preconcert talk will be entered into a drawing for a door prize.

The concert begins with "Piano Concerto, op.7, A minor" by Clara Schumann and features soloist Vijay Venkatesh.

Venkatesh has rapidly established a major international reputation as top prizewinner in the San Jose, Seattle, Zimmerli, World Piano, and Waring International Piano competitions. He has also been named a Davidson Fellow Laureate at the Library of Congress, USC Thornton’s Discovery Scholar, Grand Prize Winner of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Awards and featured on NPR’s “From the Top” with host Christopher O’Riley. Venkatesh’s appearance with the ASO is sponsored by George and Ann Franklin and Bud and Cuda Ingmand.

The concert wraps up with "Symphony No.3, op.97, E-flat major (Rhenish)" by Robert Schumann.

Clara Schumann was a child prodigy, completing her concerto and then performing it at just 14 years old. The other half of the Schumann duo, Robert, was inspired to write his Symphony No. 3 after a trip to the Rhineland with his wife Clara. He incorporated elements of the journey and portrayed other experiences from his life in the music.

Friends since childhood, Venkatesh and Repper were neighbors and took piano lessons from the same teacher.

Remainder of the season subscription packages are available for $111 adult and $96 senior age 65 and up. Individual tickets are $24 adult and $21 seniors. Subscriptions and individual tickets may be purchased online, by phone, or at the door. 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. The ASO also offers reduced price tickets ($5) to persons receiving Medicaid, EBT, SNAP and WIC. Free and reduced price tickets are only available by phone or at the door.

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

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Vijay Venkatesh to perform Oct. 8 with Ashland Symphony Orchestra