Press Release Archives

THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC PERFORMS THE BROADWAY HITS OF RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN!

PR CONTACT – Sabrina Cozine, sabrina@lvphil.com
WHEN – Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 8 pm
Doors open at 7 pm
WHERE – UNLV Campus, Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
TICKETS – www.lvphil.com or call the UNLV Box Office at 702-895-2787

The Las Vegas Philharmonic and four sensational vocalists will perform songs from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s award winning musicals including Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Sound of Music, Carousel, and The King and I. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein started their collaboration in the early 1940s. Their first musical, Oklahoma!, started a new genre which combined Rodgers’ musical comedy with Hammerstein’s operetta, resulting in the musical play. Over the next twenty years, their musicals earned 35 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, two Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Pops performance will feature guest vocalists Derrick Davis, from Disney’s Theatrical Las Vegas production of The Lion King, Larry Wayne Morbitt from Phantom The Las Vegas Spectacular, Lynnette Chambers from operatic roles including Madame Butterfly, and Joan Sobel who won artist of the year for her performance in Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Syracuse Opera).

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lvphil.com or by calling the UNLV box office at 702-895-2787. Ticket price by section is A) $75, B) $50 and C) $35. The Las Vegas Philharmonic provides a shuttle service from Summerlin's Starbright Theatre and Anthem's Independence Center in the Henderson area for your convenience. Bus passes can be purchased through the UNLV box office for $15. For a full listing of concerts for the 2010-2011 season, visit the Las Vegas Philharmonic website at www.lvphil.com.

For additional information contact Sabrina at the Las Vegas Philharmonic office at 702-258-5438 ext. 226 or sabrina@lvphil.com.

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC AND FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE WARMTH AND CHEER OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

PR CONTACT - Juliet Meyer - Juliet@lvphil.com
WHEN - December 12, 2009 2:00pm and 8:00pm
WHERE - Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus
TICKETS - www.lvphil.com and the UNLV box office at 895-2787

No holiday is complete without the familiar melodies of this festive season! The Las Vegas Philharmonic invites you to join them for two performances of their "Christmas Celebration" concert. For the third year in a row, this Pops concert will enchant audiences with the traditional themes for the season, plus some new surprises sure to please both the young and the old.

Sure to turn any scrooge into a cheery caroler, the "Christmas Celebration" Pops Concert features not only the Philharmonic but several choirs from around the Las Vegas valley for a robust concert that will lift up your spirits and leave you ready to sing along! Joining the orchestra will be the Las Vegas Master Singers, and the University Children's Chorale as well as Soprano Joan Sobel, Tenor Matt Newman and Baritone Tod Fitzpatrick. A great event for any family and for the young and young at heart; there are two concerts to fit any busy holiday schedule. Tickets are available for both the 2pm concert and the 8pm concert, both performed at the Artemus Ham Hall on the UNLV Campus.

Leading the Philharmonic is Maestro David Itkin, who is in his third year with the Orchestra. The Philharmonic is in its 11th year proving that not only does Las Vegas have culture, but class and style as well.

Tickets are available online at www.lvphil.com, or by calling the UNLV box office at 895-2787. Three levels of tickets are available at $35, $50 and $75. Mini-Subscription Series tickets are also available for the Masterworks Series, the Pops Series, or both. The Philharmonic provides a shuttle service from the Summerlin and Anthem area respectively for ease of parking. These are available for $15 and leave from the Starbright Theatre for those in Summerlin and the Independence Center for those coming from Anthem in Henderson. Bus passes can be purchased at the Box office when buying concert tickets.

For interviews with David Itkin contact the Las Vegas Philharmonic Office at 258-5438.

THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC’S MASTERWORKS SERIES FILLS UNLV'S HAM HALL WITH MUSICAL LUMINARIES OF THE 20TH CENTURY!

PR CONTACT - Juliet Meyer - Juliet@lvphil.com WHEN - November 21, 2009 8:00pm
WHERE - Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus
TICKETS – www.lvphil.com and the UNLV box office at 895-2787

20th Century Masters: Bartok and Gershwin, provide the musical landscape
for the second concert in the Masterworks Series on Saturday, November
21st on the UNLV Campus at Artemis Ham Hall. Accompanying the
Philharmonic for Gershwin's "Piano Concerto in F" is Joel Fan, an
acclaimed artist with a "probing intellect and a vivid imagination" by the
New York Times. A Harvard graduate, Fan is a top 10 Classical Billboard
artist whose skill for the classics and grasp of world music makes him a
joy for the casual listener and the seasoned concert patron alike!

The Masterworks Series is a chance for more then just fantastic music, but
an education in musical craftsmanship as well! Led by Maestro David Itkin,
the evening's concert will be preceded with a lecture that begins promptly
at 7:15pm, giving attendees a chance to learn more about both the music
and the composers featured. Bela Bartok and George Gershwin, considered
two of the most celebrated composers of the last century, will be explored
for this Masterworks performance. Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra” and
Gershwin's timeless "Piano Concerto in F" will captivate audiences with
their dazzling and familiar melodies.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic is led by David Itkin who is in his third year
with the Philharmonic. November's concert is the second in a series of
five Masterworks concerts for the Las Vegas Phil’s 2009-2010 season. The
series will include an upcoming concert in February featuring Brahms
Double Concerto. In April the Las Vegas Philharmonic will be celebrating
a once in a lifetime opportunity with Chopin's 200th Birthday. All of the
information on these events and the rest of the Philharmonic’s exciting
2009-2010 season can be found online at www.lvphil.com.

Tickets are available online at www.lvphil.com, or by calling the UNLV box
office at 895-2787. Three levels of tickets are available at $35, $50 and
$75. Season tickets are also available for the Masterworks Series, the
Pops Series, or both. The Philharmonic provides a shuttle service from
the Summerlin and Anthem area respectively for ease of parking. These are
available for $15 and leave from the Starbright Theatre for those in
Summerlin and the Independence Center for those coming from Anthem in
Henderson. Bus passes can be purchased at the Box office when buying
concert tickets.

For interviews with David Itkin or Joel Fan please contact the Las Vegas
Philharmonic Office at 258-5438.

MOVIE MAGIC LETS THE THEATRE OF THE MIND TAKE FLIGHT WITH THE LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC

PR CONTACT - Juliet Meyer - Juliet@lvphil.com
WHEN - October 3, 2009 8pm
WHERE - Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus
TICKETS – www.lvphil.com and the UNLV box office at 895-2787
 
Experience your favorite movie soundtracks with the vivid resonance of The Las Vegas Philharmonic on October 3rd at 8pm in the Artemus Ham Hall on the UNLV campus.  Kicking off the 2009-2010 Pops Concert Series, Maestro David Itkin leads the Orchestra in a fun family night with beloved favorites including "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Pirates of the Caribbean", James Bond films, "Harry Potter" and more!  Not only will this be a night of excitement on stage, but you’ll be able to win a chance at taking some of the excitement home with you!  During the show Maestro Itkin will challenge the audience, awarding prizes to theatergoers with the keenest trivia skills.
 
The Pops Concert Series is always a family favorite energizing our younger patrons about music with selections from their best-loved movies.  More then just a concert, the Pops Series gives the audience a chance to immerse themselves in some of the greatest music written for the silver screen! 
 
This is the second season of Pops for the Las Vegas Phil, and the series will include this upcoming event in October, as well as the Christmas Celebration on December 12th, and the Broadway A La Carte Concert in March.  All of the information on these events and the rest of the Philharmonic’s exciting 2009-2010 season can be found online at www.lvphil.com. 
 
Tickets are available online at www.lvphil.com, or by calling the UNLV box office at 895-2787.  Three levels of tickets are available at $35, $50 and $75.  Season tickets are also available for the Masterworks Series, the Pops Series, or both.  The Philharmonic provides a shuttle service from the Summerlin and Anthem area respectively for ease of parking.  These are available for $15 and leave from the Starbright Theatre for those in Summerlin and the Independence Center for those coming from Anthem in Henderson.  Bus passes can be purchased at the Box office when buying concert tickets.

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC LEADS 2009-2010 MASTERWORKS SERIES WITH YOUNG VIRTUOSO!

PR CONTACT - Anita Meyer 258-5438, Ext. 226; anita@lvphil.com
WHEN - September 12, 2009 8pm (7:15 for pre-concert lecture)
WHERE - Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus
TICKETS – www.lvphil.com and the UNLV box office at 895-2787


Ushering in the 2009-2010 concert season, the Las Vegas Philharmonic welcomes violinist Giora Schmidt for the first Masterworks concert, "Opening Night with Tchaikovsky" at 8pm on September 12, 2009 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. Captivating audiences with his distinctive sound, Schmidt will perform alongside Maestro David Itkin and the Las Vegas Philhamonic performing Sibelius' Finlandia, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D, and the well known Beethoven Symphony #7 in A.

Hailed to be one of the most commanding young violinists of his time, Schmidt has performed across North America, and studied under Itzhak Perlman at the Julliard School in New York. Renowned for his effortless technique, Schmidt is a distinguished artist years ahead of his time. "This concert brings together three of the most popular works among symphony audiences worldwide," Itkin stated, "Beethoven's dazzling and colorful Seventh Symphony, Tchaikovsky's pyrotechnic violin concerto, and the spiritual and patriotic 'Finlandia'. Giora Schmidt is one of the most extraordinary young violinists performing today, and it will be a great thrill for Las Vegas audiences to hear him."

This season marks Itkin's third year as conductor with the Philharmonic, which has become a staple in the Las Vegas cultural revival and the third largest arts organization in Nevada. All of the details on their 11th season concert series can be found online at a href="http://lvphil.com">www.lvphil.com including future guests and program guides.

Doors open for the concert at 7:00, and a pre-concert lecture held by Maestro Itkin will begin at 7:15, with the Masterworks Performance commencing at 8pm. The pre-concert lecture is included in the ticket price and is available to all those who arrive early.

Tickets are available online at www.lvphil.com, or by calling the UNLV box office at 895-2787. Three levels of tickets are available at $35, $50 and $75. Season Pass tickets are also available for the Masterworks Series, the Pops Series, or both. The Philharmonic provides a shuttle service from the Summerlin and Anthem area respectively for ease of parking. These are available for $15 and leave from the Starbright Theatre for those in Summerlin and the Independence Center for those coming from Anthem in Henderson.

Las Vegas Philharmonic's Star Spangled Spectacular Moves to Springs Preserve

Contact:  Marilyn LaRocque   240-4944; 
Photos and interviews available.

June 19, 2009:  The Las Vegas Philharmonic's traditional flag-waving July 4th Star Spangled Spectacular will toot its horns this year at the Springs Preserve.  For the past decade, the concert was held at the Hills Park in Summerlin.  Fittingly, this year the place where Las Vegas began will be the setting for celebrating America's birth.  The event is hosted by Springs Preserve.  The performance in the outdoor amphitheater begins at 8 p.m.  Doors open at 6 p.m.

After a rousing Star Spangled Banner, the Philharmonic, under the baton of Music Director David Itkin, will swing into our local anthem, Viva Las Vegas.  Toe-tapping marches like National Emblem and Washington Post and all-time favorites The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Finale of Tchaikovsky's thundering 1812 Overture set the patriotic beat.  Adding Hollywood flair are the overture to "Gypsy" and the march from "Raiders of the Lost Ark."  Once again, the "Armed Forces Salute" will bring the crowd to its feet. 

The change of venue also brings a change in program.  True to its eco-awareness, Springs Preserve has planned an outdoor light show instead of fireworks to accompany the festive finale.

Three levels of tickets are available:  Assigned amphitheater seating is $27.50 per person; grounds passes, which include non-seated access to the concert venue, at $17.50 per person; and VIP Packages, at $82.50 per person, which include a pre-concert VIP reception in the ORIGEN Rotunda and an exclusive tabled seating area in the amphitheater.

Springs Preserve annual pass-holders receive a discount of $7.50 off VIP or reserved amphitheater seating. Children 12 and under receive $7.50 off amphitheater seating or grounds pass (cannot be combined with pass-holder discount). VIP and Amphitheater seat assignments will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6 p.m. on July 4. Please bring your printed ticket with you.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.springspreserve.org and at the Springs Preserve box office. The Springs Preserve is at Valley View Boulevard and U.S. 95. For more information:  (702) 822-7705.  Information and tickets are also available at www.lvphil.com.

PLEASE NOTE:  No outside food, beverages or chairs will be allowed on the premises. Food and beverages will be available at both amphitheater concession areas and the Springs Cafe by Wolfgang Puck.

Paint Flies to Music at the Philharmonic "Pops" at Henderson Pavilion June 20

Paint Flies to Music at the Philharmonic "Pops" at Henderson Pavilion June 20
Phone contact, May 9-June 1:
Anita Meyer 358-5438, Ext. 226
Interviews available

Performance DVD available

Extreme Artist Jean Francois Detaille literally throws himself into his work, using not only brushes but brooms and his body to create amazing paintings at warp speed. He's been known to paint while hanging upside down on a burning rope! He's also painted the "Mona Lisa" while blindfolded. His unique comedy routines are as quick as his paint brush.

On Saturday, June 20, at 8 p.m. at Henderson Pavilion, members of the Las Vegas Philharmonic will inspire his efforts in "LV Philharmonic Goes to the Extreme…with Artist Jean Francois," a family friendly blending of the arts.

The orchestra will have its work cut out for it keeping pace with the whirlwind artist. While the orchestra plays rousing American music, Jean Francois will dazzle with his amazing ability to paint a picture upside down…then reveal it as the Statue of Liberty when turned right side up. Paintings with international themes take the audience on a parallel worldwide musical journey. For the grand finale, Jean Francois and the orchestra will pair a giant mural of pop music legends with their music. By the end of the evening, Jean Francois frequently has as much paint on himself as on his canvases.

Las Vegas is half a world away from Jean Francois' birthplace, Namur, Belgium. A chance meeting with flamboyant artist Salvador Dali in Spain convinced the fledgling artist that a sequestered studio life was not for him. Nevertheless, formal training was a necessity. So he enrolled in the Academy des Beaux Art in Belgium, best known for such painters as Jan van Eyck, Brueghel, Rubens, Magritte, James Ensor, Alechinsky and others, and then continued his studies at the Academy des Beaux Arts in Paris. This school, which inspired famous impressionists Monet, van Gogh, Millet, Gauguin, and Matisse, cubist Pablo Picasso, and surrealist Salvador Dali, also produced performance artist Yves Klein. The stage was set.

Jean Francois' unique vision of the arts scene catapulted him into a career as a mile-a-minute artist filling large canvasses with vibrant colors in record time. His first gig in Vegas was in "Madhattan" at New York New York in 1997. That served as springboard for appearances as an "event painter" throughout the world, including Hong Kong, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, London, and Monaco. He has taken center stage at global events such as the Olympics, the World Soccer Tournament, political conventions, and world summit meetings, and also performed for the King of Belgium, the Sultan of Brunei, Prince Charles, the Sheik of Kuwait, and the Grimaldis. He's also starred on TV, including The Today Show and Larry King Live.

Tickets for "LV Philharmonic Goes to the Extreme…with Artist Jean Francois" are available by phone at 267-4849 and on the Pavilion website. Reserved seats are $50, Section A; $30, Section B; $25, Section C. Children 4-12, $10; Children 3 and under, free. Lawn seating is also $25 but will be available only after all reserved seats are sold. The Henderson Pavilion is located at 200 South Green Valley Parkway, Henderson.

Please note: There are no refunds or exchanges on all ticket purchases. All performances will continue as scheduled, rain or shine.

About the City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts & Tourism

The City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism is dedicated to creating and promoting innovative events, entertainment, programming and venues that celebrate diverse cultural arts, enhance tourism, involve and serve the community and enrich the economic and cultural fabric of Henderson.

The Henderson Pavilion, Henderson Convention Center. and Henderson Events Plaza are all managed by the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism.

For additional information on our programs and entertainment, please contact us directly at (702) 267-2171. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Rules and Regulations

For detailed information regarding rules and regulations for events at Henderson Pavilion, access: http://hendersonlive.com/about-us/facilities/pavilion

A few specifics: One unopened bottle of water per person, blankets and animals assisting disabled are allowed. Items prohibited from entering the Pavilion include: coolers, bottles, cans, weapons, laser pointers, chairs, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, illegal drugs, outside food and beverage, pets, recording devices, cameras, umbrellas and any items deemed inappropriate by the management.

Smoking is only permitted in designated area. Shoes and shirts are required. All bags are subject to search at anytime. Management reserves all rights.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony Climaxes Philharmonic Season on May 16

Contact: Marilyn LaRocoque 240-4944; larocquemr@aol.com
Alternate: May 8-June 1: Anita Meyer 258-5438, Ext 226; anita@lvphil.com
Interviews and photographs available

EVENT: Las Vegas Philharmonic Concert - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with Four Soloists and Two Choruses - Season Finale

WHEN: Saturday, May 16; 8 p.m.

WHERE: Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall UNLV Campus

TICKETS: Tickets are available online, by phoning the Ham Hall UNLV box office at 895-ARTS (2787), and also at the Box Office. Regular prices are: $75, $50, $35, and $25. Prices for seniors (over 62), military, and students (18 and under), all requiring ID, are discounted 10%. Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to performance at 50% off regular prices. ID is also required.

DETAILS:

Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony with its magnificent “Ode to Joy” climaxes the Tenth Season of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Over 200 musicians and singers, including four soloists and two choruses, will fill the stage at Artemus W. Ham Hall on the UNLV campus on Saturday, May 16, for the at 8 p.m. concert.

“Beethoven's masterwork represents one of the pinnacles of symphonic music,” said music director and conductor David Itkin. “Its message of universal brotherhood and peace is even more important and timely today than it was when it was written nearly two centuries ago.”

Like the Symphony itself, the “Ode to Joy,” which is based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller, is divided into four “movements” with rich vocal harmonies and intensity comparable to the power of the orchestra. Beethoven wrote the symphony when he was completely deaf. Participating in its premier in Vienna on May 7, 1824, he could not hear the wild applause that erupted throughout the work and was finally turned towards the audience by one of the soloists so he could see the enthusiastic ovation.

Soloists soprano Veera Khare Asher, mezzo-soprano Juline Barol-Gilmore, tenor Mark Thomsen, and baritone Paul Rowe will be joined on stage by the Desert Chorale, under the direction of Nancy Helm, and the Las Vegas Master Singers, led by Jocelyn K. Jensen, PhD. Three of the soloists--Asher, Barol-Gilmore, and Thomsen--have local connections.

Veera Asher earned her BA at the University of British Columbia and her MA from Hartt School of Music in Connecticut and recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her research into alternative methods in vocal pedagogy led to the development of “The Olympic Singer” method which integrates Pilates training into voice studies. She is currently teaching voice in Santa Monica. Last year she premiered Virko Baley's one-woman opera “Not Medea.” She is also a composer.

Juline Barol-Gilmore also earned her doctoral candidate in voice at UNLV and, in addition, is an adjunct professor teaching diction and private voice. She moved to Las Vegas in 1995 and recently became Minister of Music at Green Valley United Methodist Church. She also teaches privately in Henderson. She's performed in many choral works by masters such as Mozart, Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. Her Bachelor of Music is from New Mexico State University, her Masters from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory.

At six-feet, two-inches tall, Mark Thomsen is hardly the stereotypical tenor. A resident of Las Vegas, he has his career not only in the U.S. but in Vienna, Japan, and France, performing in a variety of cities, including Santa Fe, Washington, Dallas, Houston, Minnesota, Boston, Portland, and at Kennedy Center. In true hero fashion, at the last minute he saved the opening night of Chicago's Lyric Opera's “Carmen,” substituting for an ailing tenor as Don José. In a lighter vein, he's appeared on Garrison Keillor's “Prairie Home Companion radio program,

Baritone Paul Rowe is Professor of Voice at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He has balanced his teaching with a career spanning the globe from the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa at Symphony Hall in Boston and Carnegie Hall in New York to Asia and South America. He has sung at the American Ballet Theater at the Met, as well as at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, and at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He's has recorded both classical and American folk music.

Currently celebrating its 26th year, the Desert Chorale under the direction of Nancy Helm is a 60-voice, non-profit, community chorus whose members are chosen by audition. Their performances include music from sacred to secular, 14th Century to contemporary. They have not only appeared locally but in Mexico and Canada. They have sung in the Temple Square Concert Series and at Kennedy Center in Washington DC, as well as Disneyland, and have released four professional recordings. They appeared at the Bellagio Hotel with Martha Stewart, and subsequently appeared on her national TV broadcast and were featured with Sarah Brightman at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. This year their annual “Memorial Day Extravaganza” concert will be presented May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Ham Hall.

Also a community choir, The Las Vegas Master Singers was founded in 1993 by Susan L. Johnson. UNLV professor Dr. Jocelyn K. Jensen became music director in 2002. Chosen by audition, the almost 75 singers represent a wide segment of Southern Nevada's community. Most have performed as soloists and choristers in a variety of settings around the United States. Many hold music degrees and have worked professionally as teachers, choral directors, organists, pianists, or performers. The Master Singers perform a wide range of sacred and secular choral music, from classical masterworks to jazz, patriotic songs, spirituals, and twentieth-century compositions. Concerts have included traditional works of Handel, Haydn, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms and more contemporary compositions of Bernstein, Gershwin, Berlin, Orff, and Rutter.

Also on the Philharmonic's May 16 program is Milhaud's "The Creation of the World." “It combines jazz, French theatre music, and classical orchestral styles to build a thoroughly unique and delightful creation,” Itkin remarked.

Tickets are available online, by phoning the Ham Hall UNLV box office at 895-ARTS (2787), and also at the Box Office. Regular prices are: $75, $50, $35, and $25. Prices for seniors (over 62), military, and students (18 and under), all requiring ID, are discounted 10%. Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to performance at 50% off regular prices. ID is also required.

Las Vegas Philharmonic Raises the Roof with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony May 16

Over 200 musicians and singers will raise the roof with Beethoven's magnificent Ninth Symphony in the grand finale concert of the Tenth Season of the Las Vegas Philharmonic on Saturday, May 16, at 8 p.m. at Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus. The glorious "Ode to Joy" concludes the monumental work, which features four soloists and two choruses.

"Beethoven's masterwork represents one of the pinnacles of symphonic music," said music director and conductor David Itkin. "Its message of universal brotherhood and peace is even more important and timely today than it was when it was written nearly two centuries ago."

Based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller, the "Ode to Joy" is divided into four "movements" like the symphony itself and resonates with rich vocal harmonies and intensity comparable to that of the orchestra. Beethoven wrote the symphony when he was completely deaf. Participating in its premier in Vienna on May 7, 1824, he could not hear the wild applause that erupted throughout the work and was finally turned towards the audience by one of the soloists so he could see the enthusiastic ovation.

Soloists soprano Veera Khare Asher, mezzo-soprano Juline Barol-Gilmore, tenor Mark Thomsen, and baritone Paul Rowe will be joined on stage by the Desert Chorale, under the direction of Nancy Helm, and the Las Vegas Master Singers, led by Jocelyn K. Jensen, PhD. Three of the soloists--Asher, Barol-Gilmore, and Thomsen--have local connections.

Veera Asher is equally at home with classical, contemporary and jazz. In addition to singing, she plays piano and violin. She earned her BA at the University of British Columbia and her MA from Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. She is currently studying for her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Voice Performance at UNLV. Last year she premiered Virko Baley's one-woman opera "Not Medea." She is also a composer and performed at the Weill Hall I Carnegie Hall with an original composition for voice and flute.

Juline Barol-Gilmore is also a doctoral candidate in voice at UNLV and, in addition, is an adjunct professor teaching diction and private voice. She moved to Las Vegas in 1995 and recently became Minister of Music at Green Valley United Methodist Church. She also teaches privately in Henderson. A versatile performer, Barol-Gilmore has scored operatic success in Omaha, St. Louis, and Des Moines in such diverse operas as "Cosi fan Tutte," "Rigoletto," "Barber of Seville," and "Die Fledermaus" and also starred on the musical stage in "South Pacific" (Nellie), "Camelot" (Guinevere), and "Man of La Mancha" (Aldonza). She has sung with the Southern Nevada Opera Association and the UNLV Opera Theater, as well as at the Aspen Music Festival. She's performed in choral works by Mozart, Bach, Handel, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. Her Bachelor of Music is from New Mexico State University, and she holds a Masters in Music from the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory.

At six-feet, two-inches tall, Mark Thomsen is hardly the stereotypical tenor. A resident of Las Vegas, he has amassed a global career beyond U.S. borders in Vienna, Japan, and France. He has sung in Santa Fe, Austin, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Washington, Dallas, Houston, Minnesota, Boston, Portland, and at Kennedy Center. In true hero fashion, he saved the opening night of Chicago's Lyric Opera substituting for an ailing tenor as Don José in "Carmen" at the last minute.

Thomsen's road to fame started at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota. After graduation, he apprenticed with the Minnesota Opera before receiving his Masters in applied voice from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He headed to New York where legendary opera diva Beverly Sills mentored him at the New York City Opera. He landed coveted roles in La Clemenza di Tito and Don Giovanni and sang Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. He also premiered Argento's Casanova. After his first year in New York, he was named the New York City Opera Debut Artist of the Year. His extensive, versatile repertoire includes Cavalli, Bach, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and Richard Strauss; and he has premiered operas by composers such as Argento, Bernstein, Floyd and Liebermann. In a lighter vein, he's appeared on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion radio program several times, to sing and perform in the raconteur's inimitable skits.

Baritone Paul Rowe hails from Wisconsin, where he is Professor of Voice at the University of Wisconsin Madison. He has successfully balanced his teaching with a career that spans the globe and includes singing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa at Symphony Hall in Boston and Carnegie Hall in New York and with the Alabama and Arkansas Symphony orchestras. He has sung at the American Ballet Theater at the Met, as well as at Alice Tully Hall, and at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. His engagements have included the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and the Smithsonian Chamber Players. The Far East and South America beckoned for a tour with the Waverly Consort. He's recorded both classical and American folk music.

Also on the Philharmonic's program is Milhaud's "The Creation of the World." "It combines jazz, French theatre music, and classical orchestral styles to build a thoroughly unique and delightful creation," Itkin remarked.

Tickets are available online, by phoning the Ham Hall UNLV box office at 895-ARTS (2787), and also at the Box Office. Regular prices are: $75, $50, $35, and $25. Prices for seniors (over 62), military, and students (18 and under), all requiring ID, are discounted 10%. Student rush tickets are available one hour prior to performance at 50% off regular prices. ID is also required.

Philharmonic 2009-2010 Season Spotlights Gershwin to Grand Opera

Five Masterworks concerts and three Pops concerts guarantee variety and musical excitement in the just-announced Las Vegas Philharmonic 2009-2010 Season, the orchestra's Eleventh. Music Director and Conductor David Itkin continues his imaginative programming by including diverse works from Gershwin to Grand Opera, as well as popular favorites such as Jean Sibelius' Finlandia and Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.

When planning a season, Itkin gives a lot of thought to the interests and preferences of the audience. "I also consult with our guest artists," he said, "and consider what will challenge and interest the musicians and contribute to the development of the orchestra and the overall raising of the arts in Las Vegas. Each of our guest artists represents a particular facet of our overall program including the different instruments they play and whether they're international or local. There are many exceptional soloists right here in Las Vegas, including singers, as well as two principals from the orchestra who will be featured in our February 2010 Masterworks concert," Itkin remarked.

The Masterworks and Pops concerts are in different months, extending the Philharmonic's season from September 2009 through May 2010, excluding January 2010. They will be held at Artemus W. Ham Hall on the UNLV campus on Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with the addition of a 2 p.m. matinee of the Christmas concert. Also, on June 20 at Henderson Pavilion, internationally acclaimed "Extreme Artist" Jean Francois Detaille will create "on-the-spot" artworks in harmony with music played by the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

Violinist Giora Schmidt performs with the Philharmonic on September 12 in the first Masterworks concert of the season. "This concert brings together three of the most popular works among symphony audiences worldwide," Itkin stated, "Beethoven's dazzling and colorful Seventh Symphony, Tchaikovsky's pyrotechnic violin concerto, and the spiritual and patriotic 'Finlandia'. Giora Schmidt is one of the most extraordinary young violinists performing today, and it will be a great thrill for Las Vegas audiences to hear him."

On November 21, a spectacular program features pianist Joel Fan. "The Philharmonic explores two sides of music from the 20th Century with masterpieces by two very different composers," Itkin remarked. "Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra represents a zenith of orchestral music in the 20th Century. It's written in five movements and includes western art music and eastern folk music. Unlike a typical concerto, various sections of the orchestra are featured instead of a single solo instrument. George Gershwin's brilliant combination of jazz and traditional piano idioms makes his Concerto in F Major one of his very greatest works."

Two principals of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, concertmaster DeAnn Letourneau, violinist, and Andrew Smith, Principal cellist, take the spotlight on February 27, 2010. "Featuring outstanding members of the Philharmonic as soloists is a great moment for our orchestra and our community," Itkin asserted. "The Brahms Double Concerto is sure to be one of the highlights of our season. Cesar Franck's Symphony in D Minor is his only major orchestral work and is always an audience favorite."

Ukrainian-born pianist Valentina Lezitsa stars on April 3, 2010. Her playing has been described as "electrifying" and "dazzling." She'll be performing Frédéric Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in E-minor. Itkin added, "Her brilliant virtuosity and elegant phrasing are sure to heat up Ham Hall."

Debussy's most important orchestral work, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, opens the concert. "It blends subtle moods and poetic orchestral colors," Itkin said. "Edvard Grieg's Symphonic Dances conclude the program. They're not very often heard and have delightful energy and beautiful melodies."

Itkin's imagination has created a novel and fascinating theme for the season's concluding concert on May 8, 2010-A Night at the Opera "for people who think they hate opera!" Soloists are Patricia Johnson, soprano, Eugenie Grunewald, mezzo soprano, Arnold Rawls, tenor, and Tod Fitzpatrick, baritone. They will be joined by the Las Vegas Master Singers.

"Anyone who thinks they are not an opera fan will be singing a different tune after this concert," Itkin stated. "It will feature the greatest hits from the greatest operas every written and include music from 'Turandot'-Nessun Dorma, which always brings down the house, 'Rigoletto', 'Aida'-Celeste Aida, another tenor thriller, and much more."

The Philharmonic's Pops series opens on October 3 with the memorable music from the movies, including "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Schindler's List," James Bond films, and many others. During the evening the audience will be invited to test their movie trivia knowledge with David Itkin and win prizes. The Christmas Celebration Pops is scheduled for December 12. "Broadway a la Carte" on March 6, 2010, will showcase musicals such as "Les Miserables," "Hello Dolly," "Evita," and "South Pacific." Soloists include Mary Ann Robinson, soprano, Kristi Tingle, mezzo soprano, Elly Brown, mezzo soprano, and Bruce Ewing, tenor.

"The 'Night at the Movies' and 'Broadway a la Carte' programs are both concerts I have conducted several times," Itkin revealed. "Since I know that audiences love them, I wanted to bring them to Las Vegas."

In addition to its two Las Vegas Philharmonic concert series, the Philharmonic has scheduled a full complement of free Youth Concerts exclusively for fourth and fifth graders in the Clark County School District in 2010. They will be held in January, also at Ham Hall, UNLV.

Season tickets for the Philharmonic's Masterworks and Pops series are on sale now. They offer a 15% discount for the eight performances encompassing both the Masterworks and Pops Series if purchased before June 1, 2009. Prices are $235, $340, and $495. After June 1, prices increase to $270, $390, and $570 for the eight-performance season. There is a 10% saving on season tickets purchased before June 1 for only the five Masterworks concerts, $157, $225, $337, with prices at $174, $250, and $374 thereafter. The Pops series of three performances also has a 10% discount before June 1, $94, $135, and $202, increasing to $104, $150, and $225 post-June 1. If available, single tickets for all concerts, both Masterworks and Pops, will be $35, $50, and $75.

Tickets are available online, by phone at 702/895-ARTS (2787), and by FAX 702/895-1940. They may also be ordered by mail using the order form and envelope enclosed in the Season Ticket brochure. Call 702/258-5438, Ext. 226, if you wish to receive the Las Vegas Philharmonic's 2009-2010 Season Brochure.

Inaugural Pops Series Opens on Oct. 11, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2008

**ATTENTION CALENDAR LISTING EDITORS AND ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA **

The Las Vegas Philharmonic Announces Premiere Concert in Pops Series

Pops I welcomes trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling performing a tribute to Louis Armstrong
with the Las Vegas Philharmonic


What:
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary season, the Las Vegas Philharmonic has added an exciting new pops series to its impressive line up of concerts. The pops series will feature contemporary music including jazz and Broadway guest musicians, as well as a Christmas concert celebration. Pops I will include the Las Vegas Philharmonic orchestra performing with trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling in a jazzy tribute to Louis Armstrong.

When:
Saturday, October 11, 2008 – 8 p.m.

Where:
Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
University of Nevada Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Concert Ticket Prices:
Concert ticket prices range from $25 to $65, excluding tax and fees. To purchase concert tickets or to subscribe to the entire season of Pops concerts, please call the UNLV Box office at (702) 895-2787 or visit LasVegasPhilharmonic.com.

About Las Vegas Philharmonic:
Founded in 1998, the Las Vegas Philharmonic is the third largest arts organization in the state and six-time recipient of the Best Performing Arts Group award. The Philharmonic has grown into a nationally recognized orchestra, entertaining growing audiences with a continuously expanding program which currently includes: a Masterworks Series featuring some of the best touring artists in the world; a Connoisseur Series that presents top soloists performing in some of the city's most luxurious homes; a variety of special events; a new Pops Concert Series for 2008-2009; and its annual Fourth of July “Star Spangled Spectacular” concert. The Philharmonic has created an extraordinary impact on the cultural and educational life of Southern Nevada and will find its new home in the $475M Smith Center for the Performing Arts slated to open in 2011.

Press Contact:
Leslie Thuet
Preferred Public Relations & Marketing
(702) 254-5704
leslie@preferredpublicrelations.com

The Las Vegas Philharmonic Celebrates Israel’s 60th Anniversary

LAS VEGAS – August 26, 2008 – The Las Vegas Philharmonic will celebrate Israel @ 60 with an exclusive concert and grand gala event on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. The Israel @ 60 grand gala event begins at 6:30 p.m. VIP tickets to the grand gala reception and concert are $300 per person and includes premium concert seating. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and ticket prices are $30, $60 and $90, on sale now.

As Israel embarks upon its 60th anniversary, the Las Vegas Philharmonic will honor this significant milestone with a concert and grand gala celebration featuring a musical night filled with traditional Israeli and Jewish folk, patriotic, liturgical and Klezmer music. The concert will feature a special performance by world-renowned mezzo-soprano Eugenie Grunewald, performing the 3rd movement of Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah,” and performances by the Las Vegas Hebrew Academy choir and four of the city’s top cantors, including Cantor Daniel Friedman (Temple Beth Shalom), Cantor Marla Goldberg (Temple Sinai), Cantor Philip Goldstein (Temple Ner Tamid) and Cantor Andres Kornworcel (Midbar Kodesh Temple). The celebration of Israel @ 60 will be lead by Las Vegas Philharmonic music director and conductor, David Itkin.

“The Philharmonic's concert celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary, which is being so generously supported by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, is going to be one of the most exciting community-wide events in our history,” said David Itkin, music director and conductor of the Philharmonic. “We are very excited to be able to bring such a beautiful and unique celebration to Las Vegas and to take part in the ongoing international celebrations commemorating this historic occasion.”

The Las Vegas Philharmonic’s celebration of Israel @ 60 is supported by Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson. Ticket sales will benefit the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus and the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic Announces New Executive Director

LAS VEGAS – August 20, 2008 – The Las Vegas Philharmonic announces new Executive Director Peter D. Aaronson. Aaronson will be responsible for all aspects of orchestra operations and will report to the Board of Trustees, working in tandem with the Philharmonic’s public relations and marketing firms, Guild and all other appropriate sub-organizations. Some of Aaronson’s duties include fund-raising, grant solicitation, audience development, internal operation policies and procedures, contract negotiations, program development in conjunction with the Philharmonic’s Music Director and Conductor David Itkin and all strategic short, medium and long-range planning.

Aaronson has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, entertainment and special events at a director and vice president level. Most recently the Vice President of Entertainment, Systems and Staging for Norwegian Cruise Line, Aaronson’s extensive résumé includes Vice President of H&H of Nevada, where he handled operations of the C2K Showroom at the Venetian Hotel Casino Resort; Director of Entertainment for Bally’s Las Vegas; Director of Entertainment for Universal Studios Hollywood; Vice President of Entertainment and Special Events for Carnival’s Crystal Palace Resort and Casino in Nassau, Bahamas; and Entertainment Manager for the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.

Aaronson earned a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Juilliard School of Music, and orchestra conducting at the Mozarteum Hochshule für Musik in Salzburg, Austria. He is past President of the Board of Opera Las Vegas (Southern Nevada Opera Association), past Advisory Board Member of the Mastersingers of Las Vegas and served as an adjunct faculty member in UNLV’s fine arts department.

Itkin Receives Full Professorship

Las Vegas, Nev.--The Las Vegas Philharmonic announced today that its Music Director David Itkin has been appointed full professor at the University of North Texas College of Music (UNT) as Director of Orchestral Studies, effective with the 2008-09 academic year. Itkin is concluding his first season with the Las Vegas Philharmonic and will remain as its Music Director in 2008-09 and future seasons. For the 2008-09 season he will also continue as Music Director of both the Arkansas Symphony and the Abilene Philharmonic orchestras. Conducting more than one orchestra is not uncommon for regional orchestras such as these.

UNT is recognized as one of the leading schools of music in North America. Itkin's appointment to its extraordinary faculty reflects favorably upon his skills as an orchestra builder. The Philharmonic’s Interim Executive Director Bill Granda adds, “We are honored that our Music Director was chosen for this prestigious position with the University of North Texas. It says that we made a great choice in picking Itkin to lead the Las Vegas Philharmonic into the next phase of our exciting growth.”

Itkin will conduct the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s expanded schedule of Masterworks, Pops and July 4th concerts in Las Vegas next season and will continue to bring his artistic vision to the Philharmonic as it prepares to enter into the new Smith Center for the Performing Arts in 2011.

Contact: Bill Granda, interim executive director The Las Vegas Philharmonic
(702) 258-5438 ext. 229.

# # #

The Philharmonic's 2008-2009 Season

The 2008-2009 concert season marks the 10th anniversary of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

The Philharmonic will offer, for the first time, two series of concerts: the traditional Masterworks series and the new Pops series. In addition to the beautiful classical works offered in the Masterworks series, the Pops series will feature jazz, Broadway, and contemporary pieces over three concerts.

The Masterworks season opens on September 6 with Maurice Ravel''s one-movement Boléro, his most famous musical composition. World-renowned pianist Misha Dichter will then perform Edvard Grieg''s Piano Concerto in A minor. The evening closes with the tempestuous Symphony No. 7 in D minor by Antonín Dvořák.

Masterworks II on November 15 brings the magic of Scheherazade. The program begins with the Hebrides Overture (also known as Fingal''s Cave) by Felix Mendelssohn followed by Henri Tomasi''s Concerto for Alto Saxophone. This piece will highlight Eugene Rousseau, one of the leading saxophone performers and pedagogues in the world. The popular and epic Scheherazade by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff will wrap up the evening.

On February 14, 2009, Masterworks III is a special all-Tchaikovsky concert, making it the perfect show to see on Valentine''s Day. In paying tribute to the works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the Philharmonic will start the evening with the passionate Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Pathétique. The next pieces, Roccoco Variations and Nocturne for cello and orchestra, will feature internationally acclaimed musician Zuill Bailey on cello. Finally, Tchaikovsky''s Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy closes the romantic evening.

The Masterworks IV concert on April 4, 2009 first begins with the Overture to Don Giovanni, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart''s opera buffa or "comic opera." The program continues with Niccolò Paganini''s dramatic yet melodic Violin Concerto No. 1 and then concluded with the popular Symphony No. 5 in D minor by Dmitri Shostakovich. Young violin prodigy Shannon Lee is the featured guest artist.

The Masterworks grand finale on May 16, 2009 opens with Darius Milhaud''s La Création du Monde, but the feature of the evening is Ludwig van Beethoven''s majestic masterpiece, Symphony No. 9 in D minor—the "Ode to Joy." Collaborating with The Philharmonic are the Las Vegas Master Singers, directed by Jocelyn K. Jensen, Ph.D., and the Desert Chorale, directed by Nancy Helm. Soloists for the evening will be soprano Veera Asher, mezzo-soprano Juline Barol-Gilmore, tenor Mark Thomsen, and baritone Paul Rowe.

The inaugural Pops series begins on October 11, 2008 paying tribute to American jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong. Trumpet virtuoso and showman Byron Stripling will bring the influential jazz musician''s sound to life.

On December 13, 2008, Pops II presents "A Christmas Celebration!" with classic holiday songs. There will be a matinee show at 2 p.m. for the whole family as well as the evening show at 8 p.m.

Pops III on March 21, 2009 features a night on Broadway with Brent Barrett, star of "Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular." The Philharmonic and Barrett will perform a program called "You and the Night and the Music."

At-a-Glance:

Masterworks I
September 6, 2008
Maurice Ravel, Boléro
Edvard Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor, Misha Dichter.
Antonín Dvořák,.Symphony No. 7

Masterworks II
November 15, 2008
Felix Mendelssohn, Hebrides Overture “Fingal’s Cave”
Henri Tomasi, Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Eugene Rousseau, alto
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff, Scheherazade

Masterworks III
February 14, 2009
All-Tchaikovsky concert
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Pathétique
Roccoco Variations
Nocturne for cello and orchestra, Zuill Bailey, cello
Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy

Masterworks IV
April 4, 2009
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Overture to Don Giovanni
Niccolò Paganini, Violin Concerto No. 1, Shannon Lee, violin
Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5 in D minor

Masterworks V
May 16, 2009
Darius Milhaud, La Création du Monde
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor

Pops I
October 11, 2008
Tribute to American jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong
Byron Stripling on trumpet

Pops II
December 13, 2008
“A Christmas Celebration!”
Matinée at 2 p.m.
Evening show at 8 p.m.

Pops III
March 21, 2009
“You and the Night and the Music.”
A night on Broadway with Brent Barrett

Performances begin at 8 p.m. in Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas unless otherwise noted. Subscriptions are available by calling 895-ARTS (2787), or by visiting our website. Single tickets go on sale August 6, 2008. Visit www.lvphil.com for more information.

Shuttle bus service to the concerts departs from the Starbright Theatre Parking Lot in Summerlin about 6:20 p.m. the evening of the show. To sign up, call 895-2787.

Longtime Executive Director to Lead Development Efforts

The Las Vegas Philharmonic (LVP) today announced that it has appointed Philip Koslow as its first full time director of development. Mr. Koslow previously served as executive director of the Philharmonic. A search for a new executive director has begun.

“The board of the Philharmonic has implemented an aggressive growth strategy with the appointment of our new music director and in anticipation of the orchestra’s move in to its new home at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts,” said LVP Board Chairman William Freyd. “We are fortunate to have a person of Phil’s professional capabilities to assume this crucial new position for our growing organization.”

Mr. Koslow was engaged by the LVP in December of 2002. During his tenure, the LVP’s operating budget grew 70 percent, the Masterworks Series of concerts was expanded, the LVP Guild and the Young Professional Organization (Muse) were both launched and the Youth and Education program was established highlighted by the “Kids to Concerts” fund that underwrites the LVP’s Youth Concerts for Clark County School District fourth and fifth graders.

“The opportunity to serve the organization as its first effective full time development director fulfills my professional and personal goal to continue to contribute to the LVP’s success,” said Mr. Koslow.

LVP Music Director David Itkin commented, “The Las Vegas Philharmonic is poised to become one of the nation’s leading regional musical institutions. The organization has made impressive strides in recent years and our musicians have re-committed themselves to a program of artistic growth and exploration. To achieve our promise, we must be financially sound and I am personally gratified that Phil is taking on this enormously important role within the LVP family.”