FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News media contact
Joey Burdette
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The Winston-Salem Symphony Presents Classics Series Concert Music from the Homelands
Music Director Candidate Vinay Parameswaran to Conduct with Guest Violinist Lara St. John
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (February 10, 2023) – The Winston-Salem Symphony presents its next Classics Series concert cycle for the 2022–23 season entitled Music from the Homelands on March 4 and 5, 2023. The concerts feature guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran, one of six candidates for the Symphony’s Music Director position, and guest violinist Lara St. John.
Music from the Homelands spotlights the European folk music traditions that strengthened the notions of inspiration and cultural pride in the concert hall in the 19th and 20th centuries. Lara St. John returns to perform Antonin Dvořák’s delightful Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra with expressive Slavic melodies and vibrant dance rhythms. This piece is nestled between Jean Sibelius’s seminal Nordic work, Finlandia, and Witold Lutosławski’s powerhouse Concerto for Orchestra.
“This program features some of my favorite works, and I cannot wait to share this music with our audiences,” said Parameswaran. “I am thrilled to be coming to Winston-Salem and to work with the wonderful Winston-Salem Symphony. I look forward to making music with your orchestra and getting acquainted with your community.”
The Music from the Homelands concerts take place on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 3 p.m. at the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, 405 West Fourth Street, in downtown Winston-Salem. Tickets begin at $25 and are available by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145 or online at wssymphony.org.
“We are excited to welcome our fifth Music Director candidate to Winston-Salem for an engaging and compelling pair of concerts,” said E. Merritt Vale, Winston-Salem Symphony President & CEO. “The week prior to the concert is full of opportunities to meet Vinay Parameswaran. We want audience input as we choose our next Music Director and would love to know what you think of his presence both on and off the stage.”
The public is invited to several opportunities to interact with Parameswaran throughout the week leading up to the concert. There will be an open coffee and meet and greet on Thursday, March 2, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Reynolda Manor Branch Library, 2839 Fairlawn Drive. Symphony by the Glass returns to The Caviste, 1100 Reynolda Road, on Thursday, March 2, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. and provides an opportunity to hear from Parameswaran while listening to Symphony musicians and enjoying wines paired with the music of Dvořák, Sibelius, and Lutosławski.
Another chance to meet the Music Director candidate is at the Symphony’s Music Lovers’ Luncheon. This fun and informative pre-concert event will feature a discussion between Music Director Candidate Vinay Parameswaran and guest artist Lara St. John on Friday, March 3, from 12–1:30 p.m. Attendees have a chance to learn about the weekend’s programming while enjoying a gourmet lunch. Attendees will gain insights into the music presented and learn more about the performers’ careers and backgrounds. The lunch is $35 per person, and advanced registration is required. Visit wssymphony.org/luncheon for more information and to make a reservation. The March Music Lovers’ Luncheon will take place at The Historic Brookstown Inn, located at 200 Brookstown Avenue, in Winston-Salem. Parking is available in the lot directly behind the hotel.
After the Saturday concert, patrons can walk across the street from the Stevens Center for a drink at The Ginger Fox. Parameswaran and other orchestra musicians will be on hand to mix and mingle.
About Vinay Parameswaran
Vinay Parameswaran joined The Cleveland Orchestra as Assistant Conductor beginning in the 2017–18 season and was promoted to Associate Conductor in 2021. In this role, he led The Cleveland Orchestra in several dozen concerts each season at Severance Hall, Blossom Music Festival, and on tour. He also served as Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. Recognized for his energetic presence, imaginative programming, and compelling musicianship, Parameswaran came to Cleveland following three seasons as Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony, where he led over 150 performances. For a full biography, visit vinayparameswaran.com.
About Lara St. John
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by The New York Times. She has performed in esteemed concert halls alongside the most notable orchestras across the globe. St. John owns and runs her own record label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1997. Past recordings have topped the iTunes charts and won St. John a Juno Award. For more information, visit larastjohn.com.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony just celebrated its 75th Anniversary. The 2022-2023 season concludes a year-long search for a Music Director from six virtuosic candidates. The Symphony will continue inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Gala Diamond Sponsor Chris and Mike Morykwas; as well as the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and the North Carolina Arts Council.
Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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