Sinfonia concerts at Lake Harriet are fun for all ages

MINNEAPOLIS, JULY 12, 2017 – The Sinfonia will be joined by 48 of the Twin Cities’ most talented young musicians for their summer season finale concert, “Dvorak 8!” on Friday, July 21 at Lake Harriet.

The concert will feature solo violinist Archie Brown playing the third movement of Bruchs famous first violin concerto, then joining the orchestra to play the Dvorak symphony. Archie is the junior division winner of the Sinfonia’s 2017 Young Artist String Competition.

“Having 48 excited and very talented area students perform such a great masterwork as the 8th Symphony is a joy beyond words,” said Sinfonia Artistic Director and Conductor Jay Fishman.

Also slated on the concert program is a new work by young composer Isadora White, “Macbeth,” a musical description of Shakespeare’s play. Isadora is the winner of the young composer division of the Sinfonia’s 2017 New Works Competition sponsored by the McKnight Foundation.

“Isadora’s work will be a real treat for those familiar with the play.” said Fishman. “This concert is the highlight of the summer for many of these young players, and for the Sinfonia. These are all serious players—both Isadora and Archie say they are considering considering making music a career.”

The concert is the culmination of the Sinfonia’s annual Youth Outreach Week, providing young musicians the opportunity to “live the life” for a week as they learn from, rehearse alongside, and perform with professional musicians.

“We expect well over 2,000 people to attend this free-admission concert. Kids are always welcome at every performance throughout the year, but summertime is especially fun,” said Fishman. “People bring lawn chairs, blankets, dogs, toys, picnics and just relax and enjoy the music.”

Lake Harriet Band Shell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Parkway in Minneapolis

CONCERT PROGRAM

• Macbeth by Isadora White
  Winner of the 2017 New Works Competition
• Violin Concerto No. 1  in g minor, opus 26 by Max Bruch
  Finale Allegro energy
  Featuring Archie Brown, violin
• Symphony No. 8 in G Major by Antonin Dvorak
  Allegro con brio
  Adagio
  Allegretto grazioso
  Allegro ma non troppo

SOLOIST ARCHIE BROWN

Archie Brown

Archie Brown, age 15, lives in Minnetonka but attends school at the downtown St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists.

He has only been playing violin for four years. Archie said he played piano for 10 years before that, but felt drawn to the violin.

Archie won the Junior Division of the Sinfonia’s 2017 Young Artist String Competition in April. “A friend loaned me a special instrument for the competition—it’s a nearly 100 year old Swiss violin made by the Italian August Fiorini—and it’s on loan to me again for the upcoming concert,” he said.

In 2016, Archie competed in Sinfonia’s Young Artist String Competition, and participated in the last summer’s Youth Outreach Week. He said he had a lot of fun, and liked the people, so he decided to compete again this year and came out a winner.

He said he practices every day, but “I practice efficiently, so I don’t have to spend hours every day at it.”

Archie says the best part of playing for him is the social aspect. “I spend a lot of time getting to know other people when we are working together on a piece. I’ve met my best best friends through music.”

Isadora White

COMPOSER ISADORA WHITE