“Classical Rock Star” Joshua Roman Returns to Perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with your Illinois Symphony Orchestra!
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Contact Beth Wakefield
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bwakefield@ilsymphony.org
Dynamic cellist Joshua Roman returns to central Illinois performing Dvořák’s stunning Cello Concerto with the talented musicians of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) led by guest conductor Andrew Joon Choi at Epic Ending on Friday, May 5th in Springfield, and Saturday, May 6th in Bloomington-Normal. Joshua Roman is a world-renown cellist, accomplished composer, and curator whose performances embrace musical styles from Bach to Radiohead.
Roman was named a TED Senior Fellow in 2015 and is currently the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s inaugural Artist in Residence. Before setting off on his unique path as a soloist, Roman was the Seattle Symphony’s principal cellist - a job he won at 22. He has since earned renown for genre-bending repertoire and wide-ranging collaborations. His performance of the complete Six Suites for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach on TED's Facebook page garnered 980,000 live viewers, with millions more for his Main Stage TED Talks/Performances, including an improvisational performance with Tony-winner/MacArthur Genius Bill T. Jones and East African vocalist Somi.
The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “Joshua Roman, a cellist of extraordinary technical and musical gifts. His Symphony debut, in fact, was so striking in so many ways that it left a listener eager for something more.” Experience this world-renown artist along with the gifted musicians of the ISO at Epic Ending on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7:30 PM at UIS Performing Arts Center in Springfield or Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 7:30 PM at the Center for the Performing Arts at Illinois State University. The Epic Ending concerts will also feature Michael Torke’s highly spirited Javelin and Bela Bartók's epic Concerto for Orchestra.
Order your tickets and we’ll see you there! Tickets may be purchased in Springfield through the UIS Ticket Office at 217-206-6160 and in Normal through the ISU Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office at 309-438-2535 or online at ilsymphony.org/epicending. Single ticket prices range from $5 for students (11 & under) to $63 for premium seating. Senior and group discounts are also available.
Epic Ending is sponsored by season sponsors The Landmark Automotive Group and Debra & Daniel Brownstone, M.D., concert sponsor Ken & Laura Berk, and guest artist sponsors Barbara & Charles Schweighauser and Trevor & Liz Orthmann.
Winner of the prestigious Neeme Järvi Prize at the 2018 Gstaad Music Festival & Academy, and 2nd prize winner of the National Radio Television Albania Conducting Competition 2019 and 3rd prize winner of the IONEL PERLEA International Opera Competition 2021, Andrew Joon Choi is a classically trained, Korean American Conductor based in Princeton, New Jersey.
He has conducted many orchestras throughout Europe including Sinfonieorchester Basel, Kammerorchester Basel, Basel Sinfonietta, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Gstaad Festival Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, ORF-Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, LEAD! Festival Orchestra, Janáček Philharmonisches Orchester, Josef Kajetán Tyl Theater, Filharmonie Hradec Králové, Staatstheater Cottbus, Das Kurpfälzische Kammerorchester - Mannheim, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Pazadzjik Sinfonieorchester, and Russe Philharmonisches Orchester.
Until January of 2020, he was the Assistant Conductor of the Basel Sinfonietta, a renowned contemporary arts organization bringing modern classical music closer to the audience using innovative and provocative programming. It is also known as the only organization of its kind to perform contemporary classical music for full orchestra, every program of the season. In 2022 and beyond, he makes his U.S debut with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra as well as planned concerts with the Opéra Orchestre Montpellier, the Berner Symphonieorchester, and the National Radio Orchestra Tirana Albania.
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is central Illinois’ largest professional orchestra serving over 35,000 patrons in the communities of Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and the surrounding region with symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, and Concerts for Kids series in each community. In addition to concert performances, the Orchestra's music education and outreach programs serve pre-K and elementary schools through the Itsy Arts and Music Matters education programs and reach middle schools, high schools, universities, community organizations and senior centers through guest artist residencies and musician and ensemble performances. The ISO also has an active Around the Town Chamber Music Series and virtual Sunday at Six Recital Series. The Illinois Symphony Orchestra has a budget of approximately $1.3 million.
In July 2020, the ISO acquired the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony (SVYS) organization that was started in the early 1970s by parents, music teachers and musicians to keep string programs and youth orchestra in Springfield and surrounding communities following the elimination of all school orchestra programs. Now, the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (ISYO) programs consist of Starter and Junior Strings, Preparatory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra serving over 150 students. The ISO also has a partnership in education and community engagement (PEACE) with the UIS-School of Music and Illinois State University’s Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and School of Music.
Additional information about the Illinois Symphony Orchestra is available at www.ilsymphony.org.
The ISO is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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