Welcome Spring with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra

 Embrace the season of renewal as the Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents Aaron Copland’s nostalgic Appalachian Spring and other spring favorites.

 A Tribute to American Music

 The celebrated American ballet, Appalachian Spring which first captivated audiences in 1944, tells the poignant and uplifting story of a frontier couple on their wedding day, set against the backdrop of a world emerging from the shadows of war. A masterful reflection of hope and rebirth, Copland’s Appalachian Spring embodies the spirit of a new beginning as Europe’s war years drew to a close. Copland’s evocative score earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1945 and has since become one of the most cherished works in the American orchestral repertoire.

 Under the expert direction of Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Advisor Joel Smirnoff, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra will bring this timeless piece and other orchestral favorites to life.

The evening begins with music by Australian composer Percy Grainger, featuring beloved Irish favorites such as the Irish Tune from County Derry and Molly on the Shore. It will end with Ludwig van Beethoven’s evocative Symphony No. 6 in F major, “Pastorale,” a celebration of harmony, joy, and a nod to nature and spring. 

Led by Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Joel Smirnoff, the CSO will take you on a musical journey that celebrates rich cultural traditions.

What: Appalachian Spring & Beethoven’s Pastorale, Symphony No. 6 in F major

When: Saturday, March 16th at 7:00 pm

Where: The Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts

1 Carter Green, Carmel, IN 46032

Tickets: Reserved seats start at $67. Senior and student discounts are available.

Program:

Percy Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry (Londonderry Air) 

Molly on the Shore

Shepherd’s Hey

Aaron Copland: “Appalachian Spring”

~ intermission ~

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major, “Pastorale”

Parking: Free parking is available on surrounding streets and in the city’s self-parking garages, which are within easy walking distance of Allied Solutions Center’s venues. 

Meet & Greet the musicians for this performance at the CSO After Party in the Brham Founders Club by Brahm. Tickets are available as a $25 add-on to the regular ticket price or as a season benefit to Gold Level donors to the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

About Joel Smirnoff

Conductor and violinist Joel Smirnoff, a native of New York City, was President of the Cleveland Institute of Music and held the Mary Elizabeth Callahan President’s Chair from 2008 to 2015. He joined the Juilliard String Quartet in 1986 as the second Violinist and performed on four continents with the group. 

In 2011, Mr. Smirnoff received the Lifetime Grammy Award for his many recordings with the Juilliard String Quartet and the Alumni Professional Achievement Award from the University of Chicago, his Alma Mater.

Encouraged by Seiji Ozawa in the early 90s to “take up the baton,” Mr. Smirnoff developed into a highly acclaimed conductor with an impressive and wide-ranging repertoire. Smirnoff made his official American conducting debut with the San Francisco Symphony in July 2000. He has worked with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Chicago Philharmonic and the New World Symphony, and the Carmel Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted throughout Europe.  

He also plays jazz and has performed frequently as an improvising soloist with Tony Bennett. His solos were featured on the Grammy award-winning CD Tony Bennett Sings Ellington Hot and Cool. He has also been a guest soloist with Gunther Schuller, the American Jazz Orchestra, and the Billy Taylor Trio.