News Release
"Flora and Fauna" April 20
04/01/2010
Walla Walla, WA - (April 2, 2010) An evening that will please all the senses is planned at the Walla Walla Symphony concert, “Flora and Fauna” on Tuesday, April 20 at 7:30 pm at Cordiner Hall in Walla Walla. Maestro Yaacov Bergman conducts Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus Opus 61, or Concerto for Birds and Orchestra which includes a multi-media show by artist Liz Gill Neilson including recorded bird songs and paintings of birds, Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals with duo pianists Alexander and Andrew Scott as well as narrator Jim Bock reading text by Peter Schickele, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F Major, the “Pastoral” symphony. Sponsoring the concert are the Bicycling and Tennis Friends of Cora Dee Hunt. Season sponsors are The Kinsman Foundation and Washington State Arts Commission. Wine sponsor is Dusted Valley. All seating for the concert is reserved. Tickets for the concert are available online at www.wwsymphony.org, by calling the Symphony office at 509-529-8020, or at the Symphony office at 13-1/2 E. Main, Suite 201. Tickets are also available at the door.
Liz Gill Neilson is a painter, printmaker, and designer. In her recent work in painting and multimedia collaboration with musicians and storytellers, she strives to create a mythology of form that reveals the web of connection between humans and the natural world. Liz received her B.A. in visual arts from Columbia University and shows her work in New York, Virginia, Portland, OR, and the Boston area. She and her husband, composer Duncan Neilson, are currently visiting artists at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Liz has recently created multimedia projects for the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Walla Walla Symphony, and the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble of the College of William and Mary, in collaboration with Duncan, storyteller David Robinson, and other artists and performers. She is also working on her own graphic novel, entitled No-Tail. Liz also works as a freelance designer, designing books and other print material for artists and organizations. In 2006, with Duncan and pianist Deborah Bradley-Kramer, Liz founded the White Buffalo Music and Art Salon series in New York City, a concert series dedicated to exploring the links between music, art and ecology; a gathering of artists, performers, speakers and listeners in an atmosphere of philosophical and artistic enquiry and community.
Alexander and Andrew Scott, brothers born 20 months apart, have enjoyed growing up in the Walla Walla Valley. Both began piano lessons at the age of four with teacher Debra Bakland. After weighing several options Alexander is now a sophomore history major at Walla Walla University. He studies cello with Benjamin Gish and is a part of the University string quartet and orchestra, and is also a College Place City Councillor. He also enjoys playing pick-up basketball.
Andrew is completing his senior year at Walla Walla Valley Academy, where he serves as first semester president of the student body and editor of the newspaper. He studies violin with Dr. Amy Dodds and is Concertmaster with the Academy Orchestra. An avid athlete, he also enjoys playing varsity soccer and basketball.
Narrator Jim Bock has been a local radio broadcaster for 30 years. Born and raised in Walla Walla, he is an alumnus of Walla Walla University and San Diego State University. Jim has performed in and directed productions at the Little Theatre of Walla Walla and Walla Walla University, and appeared on stages from London to Los Angeles. Dubbed by former Walla Walla City Councilman Keith Soper in the mid-80’s as ”the Voice of the Valley,” Jim is perhaps currently best known as the host of KUJ Radio’s “Walla Walla Live” morning show, and as the longtime Walla Walla Hot Air Balloon Stampede announcer. This is Jim’s second appearance with the Walla Walla Symphony, having been narrator for “Peter and the Wolf” in a previous concert. Jim is the Sales Manager and News Director for Alexandra Communications and their family of stations KUJ, KUJJ Smooth Jazz, KVAN and KGSG The Groove. He is married to Ester Bock.
The Walla Walla Symphony, the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi, has been under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Yaacov Bergman since 1987, and has performed in Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College campus since 1967. The Symphony is recognized for its adventurous programming, school programs, and tradition of performing original compositions. From October through June, the Walla Walla Symphony plays or sponsors concerts in a schedule that includes a mix of symphony concerts, chamber concerts, special concerts and a Discovery series exploring music traditions from around the world. For more information, visit the Symphony’s website at www.wwsymphony.org or call the symphony office at 509-529-8020.
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