Symphony Orchestra - 10/11/2023

UCO Symphony: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor With Guest Artist: Ryan Sharp, Professor of Trumpet, UCO School of Music 7:30 P.M. October 10, 2023 Mitchell Hall Theatre Program Overture to Fidelio Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Trumpet Concerto Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Featuring Ryan Sharp, soloist, trumpet Intermission Symphony no. 40, g minor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Symphony Orchestra Personnel Violin I Samuel Gilles Robbie DeWeese Emma Darvin Anna Grace Darvin Madeline Bradley Violin II Piper Rath Briana Donovan Anuja Poulo Zoey Yip Skylar Callan Ashley Selby Sasha Gundersun Azusena Gordillo Viola Alaysia ables Kira Smiley Rowan King Aaronklein Taylor Nguyen Alexis Wartchow Brad Hemphill Chris Bobo Cello Sophia Darvin Valerie Ragon Ashley Haiges Emma Douglas Logan Bycko Yasaman Seif Jeremiah Salem-Jones Ishmael Sutherland Zack Maggard Aria Hansen Bass Tyler dees Alex Chapman Vivian Gallarcio Noah Colson Dawson Gilreath Salvador Pinon Ian Morrison Callen Dozier Woodwinds Melody Soto Kayla Factor Bryanna Louch Nicholas Cockerill Emily King Cristian Celis Fernanda Ceron Micah Adkins Abigail Claussen Brass/Percussion Cristalynne Burns Melissa Deleon Becca Geitzenauer Alex Hamm Trevor Chandler Tyson Lords Naomi Wharry Mateo Rivera Katelynn Moore Biographies Man standing in front of brick building, Mitchell HallAlexander Mickelthwate, conductor As he prepares for his sixth season leading the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate has fully become part of the community. “It’s amazing, and also quite humbling,” Mickelthwate said. “My morning routine usually consists of studying at Harvey Bakery in Midtown. Quite often customers will approach me and say they saw me on television or on the side of a bus. To me, that signifies what we are doing at the OKCPHIL is resonating with the community, and making everyone feel welcome.” The OKCPHIL has been a source of joy and inspiration for 35 years, enriching Oklahoma and its communities through orchestral music. When Mickelthwate came on board, he brought with him an eagerness to build on the successes of the past and pave the way for the future. “Oklahoma City should be known as a breeding ground for fun and creativity,” he said. “That’s my thing. In our first season, we were always surprised how the audiences were really open to the contemporary. It’s crazy how embracing the audience is for adventurous, fun new things. This season, we are tempering the contemporary with traditional. I think audiences will be pleased with what they hear.” Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Mickelthwate grew up in a home filled with classical music. He received his degree from the Peabody Institute of Music, and has worked with orchestras in Atlanta, Winnipeg and Los Angeles. He is Music Director Emeritus of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada, and in 2022, accepted the position of Music Director for the prestigious Bear Valley Music Festival in Bear Valley, California. In early 2023, Mickelthwate traveled to Hanoi where he was Guest Conductor at the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. Since he’s been in Oklahoma, Mickelthwate has received numerous awards and honors, including being twice-named “The Face of Music” by 405 Magazine. The OKC Friday newspaper named him one of the “Top 50 Most Powerful,” and the Ladies Music Club of Oklahoma City lauded him “Musician of the Year.” Accolades aside, one of Mickelthwate’s goals is to tell Oklahoma stories through music. “When I first came to Oklahoma City, I read Sam Anderson’s book, ‘Boom Town,’ and from there I began studying Oklahoma’s colorful history,” he said. “We have so many great stories, and seeing them come to life through music is awe-inspiring. Two seasons ago, I programmed a Native American work by Jared Tate. We commissioned a piece by Jonathan Leshnoff commemorating the Oklahoma City Bombing. And last year we told the story of local civil rights icon Clara Luper through music composed by Hannibal Lokumbe. I want to continue bringing more of these stories to our audiences.” He is active in the community, and in high demand for speaking engagements from Rotary to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. When he’s not studying at Harvey Bakery, Mickelthwate is Artist in Residence at the University of Central Oklahoma where he enjoys working with the next generation of musicians, and conducting UCO’s symphony orchestra. “My personal philosophy is that music has a way of reaching us in a way nothing else does,” Mickelthwate said. “It goes deep inside, creating and facilitating beauty in a harsh world. We want the Oklahoma City Philharmonic to be meaningful, to be fun and a place where we are all one. I have often said we feel the love, Oklahoma City. And we are giving it right back.” Portrait, Ryan SharpRyan Sharp, Guest Soloist Ryan Sharp is an international award-winning soloist and currently Professor of Trumpet at the University of Central Oklahoma, Artistic Director of the Frontier Brass Band, and soprano cornetist for the internationally acclaimed Fountain City Brass Band. Ryan has twice been awarded the Gateshead MBC Trophy for Outstanding Soprano Cornet at the Brass in Concert Championships held every November in Gateshead, England, was named Best Featured Soloist at the 2019 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships and won Outstanding Cornet of the Day award at the 2012 U.S. Open Brass Band Championships. He enjoys an active performing schedule spanning many genres. Ryan has performed with the Alabama Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Mahlerfest Symphony Orchestra, as well as the legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Temptations, and Four Tops. Other notable performances include the Midwest Conference, International Tuba Euphonium Conference, Jazz Educators Network, and the William Adam International Trumpet Seminar. In addition to live music, Ryan has recorded with many gospel artists including Grammy Award-winner Kirk Franklin and on Marvin Sapp’s Grammy-nominated album Be Exalted. From January 2003 to July 2005 Ryan was the lead trumpeter of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus performing across the United States and Mexico for over 15 million people. He has performed in concerts, festivals and master classes in Belgium, Canada, England, France, Greece, Holland, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Scotland, and Spain.