A GRAND GERSHWIN FINALE
April 18, 2015 • 8:00 PM • St. Andrew UMC
Hector Guzman, Conductor
Alex McDonald, Piano
Please note that seating at St. Andrew is reserved to a particular row and not a specific seat.
Gershwin: Cuban Overture
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F
Gershwin: Lullaby for Strings
Gershwin: I Got RhythmVariations for Piano and Orchestra
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Hector Guzman and the Plano Symphony conclude the 2014 - 2015 season with a celebration of one of the most beloved composers of all times - George Gershwin. The American composer’s works span popular and classical music. Several of his best known works include Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris and the opera, Porgy and Bess. This festive finale begins with Gershwin’s sparkling Cuban Overture. The performance includes a PSO debut with the scintillating I Got Rhythm Variations for Piano and Orchestra and the Piano Concerto in F performed by Alex McDonald. McDonald made his orchestra debut at age 11 and has gone on to perform with numerous orchestras, was a featured performer on From the Top on National Public Radio, and studied in Dallas for 13 years with Lois Nielson with coaching from Stephen Nielson, Pamela Paul and Sam Wong. He is a graduate of New England Conservatory, holds a Masters from Juilliard and is currently completing a Doctorate at Juilliard. The season concludes with Gershwin’s An American in Paris, based on Gershwin’s perceptions of Paris during a visit.
http://planosymphony.org/concerts/14-15/8-gershwin.asp