Symphony of the Redwoods 2017 Spring Concert

Brahms: Symphony No. 3
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4, featuring Spencer Myer, piano

Concert Sponsors: John & Kathryn Hughes

Pianist and Steinway & Sons recording artist, Spencer Myer, will join the Symphony of the Redwoods to close out their 2016-2017 concert season. Performances will be on Saturday, April 8, at the new time of 7:30pm and Sunday, April 9, at 2pm at Cotton Auditorium in Fort Bragg. The Symphony, led by maestro Allan Pollack, will perform Brahms’ Symphony Nº 3, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Nº 4, with Myer as the featured soloist.

This upcoming concert program holds a special place in Myer’s heart. He lists Beethoven’s fourth Piano Concerto in his top three favorite piano concerti to perform, and has played this particular piece nearly 20 times since he first performed it in 2004. Moreover, Myer played this piece in his only performance with his hometown symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, during the final round of the Cleveland International Piano Competition. “While one may often choose a more ‘impressive’ concerto for a final round of a piano competition, my thought in this case was not on winning, but rather what I would desire to play with the Cleveland Orchestra were I to make it all the way to the final round,” he explained. “For those 35 minutes on stage with one of the world’s greatest ensembles, my only thought was on enjoying every moment with them, recreating this gorgeous work.”

Myer is also celebrating his debut on the Steinway & Sons label with the release of his latest album, Piano Rags of William Bolcom. Contemporary American composer and piano prodigy, William Bolcom, began studying music composition at the University of Washington at age 11. After a career of demonstrating his unique blend of pop and classical genres, Bolcom was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music and earned the National Medal for the Arts. “It was wonderful to immerse myself in that terrific music for a period,” said Myer. “The process of recording was a joy from beginning to end, thanks to an amazing team at the Sono Luminus studio.”

These upcoming performances will mark Myer’s third visit to Mendocino County. “I have enjoyed a recurring relationship with the folks at the Mendocino Music Festival, and have treasured each time I’ve come,” he said. “I think northern California is one of America’s most special places and landscapes, and the love for the arts in the community there is unlike most I’ve encountered around the country. I look forward to this trip, and to coming back many times!”

There is still time to support the Symphony in their Twelve Nights Out dinner raffle. The grand prize is dinner for two at 12 great local restaurants. More than half of the allotted 100 tickets have been sold. Purchase yours for $100 before the grand prize drawing at the final concert, Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Tickets can be purchased from any Symphony board member or from Tess Albin-Smith, tess@alumni.ucdavis.edu or 707.961.1123.

All Symphony of the Redwoods concerts will be at Cotton Auditorium, 500 N. Harold Street, Fort Bragg. Tickets are available for $20 at Harvest Market and the Redwood Coast Senior Center in Fort Bragg, Out of This World in Mendocino, online at SymphonyoftheRedwoods.org/tickets, and at the door. Attendees 18 and under are always free.

For more information, please contact our executive director, Alex Pierangeli, at 707-946-0898 or symphony@mcn.org.