麻豆视频

New Director of Orchestral Studies Gears up for Dynamic Season

VALDOSTA - In today鈥檚 hustled pace, kept in time by the ping of BlackBerrys, some consider the orchestra painfully old fashioned. But Dr. Howard Hsu insists that letting one鈥檚 unplugged mind wander as melodies weave together into an auditory dance is exactly what people need to reflect on their lives.

The Valdosta Symphony Orchestra conductor, who was hired in January as 麻豆视频鈥檚 director of orchestral studies, said he aims to delight established symphony patrons with sophisticated concertos but also introduce orchestra newcomers to the moving harmonies of the VSO. Hsu plans to be instrumental in the cultivation of the Downtown Symphony Club, established in 2009 to entice young professionals to experience the orchestra.

鈥淓veryone, myself included, has so much going on their lives that it can seem like a big time commitment to come to a concert, but I will say that people who do make the commitment will experience something incredibly unique and rewarding,鈥� said Hsu, pronounced 鈥渟hoo,鈥� who earned a doctorate of musical arts at the University of Connecticut. 鈥淭here's something so special about seeing and hearing wonderful musicians come together to recreate great works of art that have survived centuries. Music allows us to escape the quick speed of "now" and lets us take the time to reflect on anything it evokes.鈥�

Hsu, who plays the violin, previously served as the assistant conductor of the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras. Prior to working in the university setting, Hsu debuted as a guest conductor with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and a number of ensembles and symphonies in the Northeast.

The Pennsylvania native said he is eager to begin the VSO鈥檚 20th Anniversary Season, which features five concerts between October and May. Hsu鈥檚 first concert as the VSO conductor was the April 25 season-finale concert featuring piano soloist Alexander Ghindin performing Liszt鈥檚 Piano Concerto No. 1 in Eb Major. He performed in September 2008, however, when he performed a trial concert as one of three conductors considered for the maestro position.

Hsu鈥檚 wife, Tamara Hardesty, a professional opera singer and voice instructor, will serve as an adjunct instructor of voice in the music department. Hardesty, who has performed as a featured soprano soloist at the Kennedy Center, will perform as a soloist during the VSO's December concert. Hsu and Hardesty are proud parents of their 3-year-old son, Hudson.


Valdosta Symphony Orchestra 2009-2010 Season

OCT. 3. Special Concert: 鈥淎 Celebration.鈥� The VSO celebrates its 20th anniversary season with a special opening night concert honoring Leona S. Hudson and her donation to the orchestra, and welcoming new Music Director Howard Hsu. Pianist Robert Henry, a Georgia native, returns to the VSO stage to perform Grieg鈥檚 beloved 鈥淧iano Concerto鈥� and Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淐horal Fantasy.鈥� Also scheduled: Dvorak鈥檚 鈥淢y Home Overture鈥� and Verdi鈥檚 鈥淭riumphal March鈥� from 鈥淎ida.鈥�

DEC. 5. Subscription Concert No. 1. 鈥淭he Human Voice.鈥� 鈥淭he December concert explores the beauty of the human voice with sensational soprano soloist Tamara Hardesty performing Mozart鈥檚 鈥楨xsultate, Jubilate,鈥� and Mahler鈥檚 Fourth Symphony.鈥�

FEB. 13. Subscription Concert No. 2. 鈥淣ative Son.鈥� International superstar violinist and Macon native Robert McDuffie joins the VSO in February to perform Tchaikovsky鈥檚 passionate Violin Concerto. 鈥淢ozart鈥檚 quicksilver Overture to the 鈥楳arriage of Figaro鈥� is sometimes referred to as the 鈥榚gg-timer鈥� overture 锟�" once the overture is done, so is your egg.鈥� Also scheduled: Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Fourth Symphony.

MARCH 27. Subscription Concert No. 3. 鈥淪pirit.鈥� Stunning virtuoso cellist Wendy Warner performs Elgar鈥檚 Cello Concerto with the VSO. Jonathan Bailey Holland鈥檚 鈥淢otor City Dance Mix,鈥� premiered by the Detroit Symphony, is 鈥渁n exciting new work featuring the brass and percussion sections of the orchestra.鈥� Also scheduled: Stravinsky鈥檚 1919 鈥淔irebird Suite.鈥�
MAY 1. Subscription Concert No. 4. 鈥淢usical Colors.鈥� 鈥淭he entire VSO is featured in works by the masters of the orchestra: the world-changing Wagner, the innovative and unpredictable Berlioz, and uncompromising yet lyrical Brahms. A season-closing orchestral tour-de-force by the VSO.鈥� Wagner鈥檚 鈥淭annhauser Overture,鈥� Berlioz鈥檚 鈥淗ungarian March,鈥� Brahms鈥� Second Symphony.

TICKETS

The Valdosta Symphony Orchestra season tickets.
When: Season tickets are available starting this Saturday, Aug. 1.
Where: Season tickets may be purchased by calling 麻豆视频 College of the Arts Outreach, 333-2150; or visit
Cost: Season tickets are $75, and include all five concerts, a savings of $25. Individual concert tickets are $20 each.