Saturday marks Symphony Orchestra maestro's final performance after 16 years

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Maestro Nick Palmer will have his final appearance with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra as the band's music director and conductor with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Long Center for Performing Arts.

This concert, dubbed "Nick's Picks," will be filled with Palmer's favorite musical selections from his 16-year career with the orchestra. Immediately after the concert, members of the symphony orchestra, staff and friends will throw a farewell party for Palmer.

Attendees are welcome to join in on the afterparty to meet Palmer and enjoy drinks and treats from The Juniper Spoon.

Some of the music pieces to be featured Saturday include the world premiere of "Mesmerism," arranged for orchestra and electric violin. This piece is composed and performed by Grace Brigham and the symphony orchestra's Principal Bassoonist Catherine Marchese on Mozart's Concerto for Bassoon.

Other arrangements in the concert will include works from symphonies by Amy Beach, Johannes Brahms, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Gioachino Rossini’s overture to “The Barber of Seville,” and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris," according to a release.

“We have selected some music that has great meaning to both me and the LSO from the last 16 years, highlighting some of the great moments from recent seasons, plus some new works such as 'Mesmerism,' by Grace Bingham, an exciting new composition, which is both rhythmic and creative," Palmer said in a release.

Palmer further commented to the Journal & Courier about his experiences specifically with the orchestra, in the Lafayette community and overall with both.

"I will miss the orchestra players: the amazing camaraderie, many friendships, great synergy, and flexibility to play just about any style of music really well, makes this orchestra unique," Palmer said. "The greater Lafayette community has been so supportive, so broad minded, and has a great understanding of the importance of the symphony to the community at large…for me it’s also the many friendships I have forged over the years that I will greatly miss.

"...For me, this has been the best partnership ever in my 38 year professional career as a conductor: the orchestra, board/foundation/guild/sponsors/donors/audience/community have joined together to support the LSO and make it part of the fabric of this community. It’s a model that other city should strive for."

Brigham has previously worked as a composer, soprano and violinist in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has performed at the Kennedy Center and Mechanics Hall, the Washington National Cathedral Choir, multiple ensembles at St. Olaf College and many more.

According to the release, her piece "Discoveries" was named the winner of the Cantus Young & Emerging Composer Competition. She also has 20 years experience playing the violin.

Marchese is a solo and chamber bassoonist, according to the release. She has her bachelor's and master's from the Julliard School, where she studied William Polisi and Loren Glickman. She also earned a doctor of musical arts from the École Normale de Musique de Paris.

"An active solo and chamber musician, she is the first woman soloist to have performed on the Vienna Opera stage and has performed as a soloist throughout the US and Europe," the release said. "She is presently principal bassoon with the Lafayette and Bloomington Symphony Orchestras, a founding member of the Glickman Bassoon Ensemble based in New York City, and a faculty member of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana and the FOOSA Summer Music Festival in Fresno, California."

"Nick's Picks" will run for an hour and 20 minutes with no intermission. For information about upcoming events or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.lafayettesymphony.org or call 765-742-6463.

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Nick Palmer will end his 16-year career with LSO with "Nick's Picks"