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A Chamber Serenade

Karim Sulayman

A Chamber Serenade

Saturday
Mar 8, 2025
5:00 PM

Sunday
Mar 9, 2025
3:00 PM

Winston-Salem Symphony
Karim Sulayman
Tenor
Christopher Caudill Natural Horn
Michelle Merrill Conductor

Arvo Pärt
Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten

Program Notes

Benjamin Britten
Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings

W.A. Mozart
Symphony No. 41, K551 “Jupiter”

Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s “Cantus,” a meditation on loss and remembrance, unfolds with haunting simplicity and profound solemnity, paying homage to Benjamin Britten’s legacy and musical influence. Britten’s “Serenade,” a masterpiece of chamber music, weaves together tenor and horn solos with ethereal string textures, exploring themes of night, nature, and human existence with tender introspection. Mozart’s final symphony crowns the evening with its exuberant energy and contrapuntal brilliance. Join us for an unforgettable concert experience that traverses the depths of contemplation, beauty, and musical mastery across centuries and styles.

Please note:
The Saturday evening, Mar 8 performance is at 5:00 PM.
Childcare is made available by Centenary Church for a nominal fee.

Chris & Mike Morykwas
Arts Council of Winston-Salem Forsyth County: 75 Years
NC Arts Council

Pre-Concert Talk

Saturday at 6:30 PM | Sunday at 2:00 PM

All audience members are invited to join us in the Judy Voss Jones Fine Arts Center, directly behind Reynolds Auditorium on its west side, for a lively discussion about the music and surrounding context. Local musicologist Dr. Kate Storhoff is your guide—pre-concert talks are free to attend, and occur one hour before any Classics Series concert.

Single tickets to this event go on sale August 1, but you can save your seat with a subscription!

Saturday
Mar 8
5:00 PM

Sunday
Mar 9
3:00 PM

Ray Ushikubo, credit AUP

Ray Ushikubo, piano

Known for his “disciplined focus and clarity… and marvelous dynamic nuance” (Arts Knoxville), Ray Ushikubo is a twenty-three-year-old Japanese-American pianist and violinist who has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Michelle Merrill

Michelle Merrill, conductor

WSS Music Director Michelle Merrill served four years as the Assistant and then Associate Conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and also serves as the Music Director of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, where she has ignited the growth and expansion of the orchestra’s offerings both on and off the stage.  Ms. Merrill is a proud recipient of a 2016 Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award as well as the prestigious 2013 Ansbacher Conducting Fellowship as awarded by members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the American Austrian Foundation, which enabled her to be in residence at the world-renowned Salzburg Festival.

Venue

Centenary United Methodist Church
646 W. Fifth St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Map showing Centenary Church on Fifth Street between Poplar and Spring streets, and adjacent parking

Rideshare and Dining

What will my view be like?

While Reynolds Auditorium’s sightlines and sound are best enjoyed in the Mezzanine, Orchestra-level seating also offers superb viewing and sound, especially in rows F through O. Please bear in mind that Reynolds Auditorium is a historic venue; there is no elevator, thus the Mezzanine and Balcony levels are only accessed via stairs. Accessible seating is available on the Orchestra level at the rear of the house and along the outside left and right.

Music Lovers’ Luncheon

Friday, Mar 7 at Noon
Forsyth Country Club
3101 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem

Enjoy lunch with a side of interesting conversation! Michelle Merrill, Karim Sulayman, and Christopher Caudill talk about the work of Arvo Pärt, Benjamin Britten, and Mozart.

Symphony by the Glass

Thursday, May 2 at 5pm
The Caviste
1100 Reynolda Rd

Stop by for an afterwork glass from a selection of wines specifically paired to this week’s program! Enjoy music by WSS musicians and casual conversation with other Symphony goers. The event is free to attend; wines are available for purchase.

Drinks at The Remedy

Saturday evening, after the concert
The Remedy Cafe & Bar
492 West End Blvd.

After the Saturday concert, join us at The Remedy for a glass of wine and chat with Symphony musicians and fellow concertgoers in a hip, cozy atmosphere.

$29 – $96

Sunday, Mar 9, 2025 // 3:00 pm 5:30 pm

646 W. 5th St.
Winston-Salem, NC United States

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