Symphony honors parents with performance

January 20, 2012

By ANGIE CARNATHAN
sdnlife@bellsouth.net

The Starkville/Mississippi State University Symphony Orchestra begins its 2012 season this evening with a concert dedicated to parents of the performing musicians.
Professor and music department head Michael Brown said the program begins at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium and features the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
“An anonymous donor to the symphony orchestra did not want any recognition of their own, but asked that we instead recognize all the parents of the performing artists involved, which we felt was a lovely gesture,” Brown said. “The concert is free and open to the public, and we want to encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the beautiful concert.”
MSU clarinet instructor Sheri Falcone will be featured in the famous Mozart Clarinet Concerto.
“I’m ecstatic about playing and very honored to have been asked to do this,” Falcone said. “It is a very challenging piece and the only clarinet concerto that Mozart wrote, so I’m really elated to be given this opportunity.”
Falcone said she usually plays with the MSU/Starkville Symphony as their principal clarinet player, but this will be her first time playing as a soloist.
“When Dr. Brown asked me, I had absolutely no hesitations,” Falcone said. “I was just thrilled to be asked.”
In addition to also teaching saxophone and woodwind and instrumental technique classes, Falcone directs the music department’s clarinet and saxophone ensembles. Beyond campus duties, Falcone maintains a private studio and performs as a soloist in other venues.
According to a release, Nadezda Potemkina, the orchestra’s principal violist, is serving as guest conductor this evening’s program. A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Potemkina began studying music at age 5 and has performed with numerous U.S. orchestras and ensembles. She is also a prize winner in student conducting competitions.
Potemkina recently completed two years as a music director and conductor of the Mid-South Young People’s Chamber Ensemble and Wind Ensemble in Memphis, Tenn. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Memphis.
For more information, visit http://www.starkvillemsusymphony.org.