On January 21 and 22, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra (DSO) performs its second installment of its Classical Series with Wilmington-born flutist Amy Porter, critically acclaimed as an “inspiring American artist.”
A graduate of The Julliard School in New York, and Professor of Flute at the University of Michigan, she has won countless international competitions, including the Kobe International Flute Competition in Japan.
The DSO will accompany Porter as she performs Michael Daugherty’s Trail of Tears for Flute and Orchestra, one of four world premiere pieces that have been written for her. Michael Daugherty is a previous A.I. du Point award winner. Since Daugherty’s Metropolis Symphony debuted at Carnegie Hall in 1994, he has been considered one of the most sought after and respected composers in today’s American music industry.
Also included in this performance is Carter Pann’s Slalom for Orchestra, which debuted in London and has since been performed extensively on the international stage. The orchestra closes with Ludwig van Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” a piece originally written for Napoleon Bonaparte, but, upon his self coronation, was dedicated to simply, “a great man.”
Tickets ($27-$57) to this concert can be purchased by calling the Grand Opera House Box Office at 302.652.5577 or 800.374.7263, or online at www.ticketsatthegrand.org. For additional information, visit the Delaware Symphony Orchestra online at www.delawaresymphony.org, or contact Chris van Bergen in the Orchestra’s administrative offices at 302.656.7442.
Amy Porter, flute
Three-time international prize winning flutist Amy Porter has been acclaimed by major critics as an exciting and inspiring American artist who matches “her fine controlled playing to a commanding, sensual stage presence.” Following a performance of Jacques Ibert‘s Concerto with the Houston Symphony, the Houston Chronicle praised her performance stating: “She has succeeded in avoiding all the overdone playing styles of the most famous flutists today… She also was an exuberant, easily extroverted performer whose enthusiasm for the music made the composition sparkle.”
A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Ms. Porter is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York where she received a full scholarship for her degrees as well as fellowships to Tanglewood and The Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg, Austria. Her teachers at Juilliard were Samuel Baron and Jeanne Baxtresser, and in Austria her teachers were Alain Marion and Peter-Lukas Graf. After Juilliard, she held the position of Associate Principal Flute in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for eight years before becoming Professor of Flute at the University Of Michigan School Of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor.
David Amado, Music Director
Philadelphia native David Amado has been praised by the media, audiences and fellow musicians for his deep insight, visceral energy and imaginative programming. These qualities have allowed him to reinvigorate the Delaware Symphony, turning it into a premier regional orchestra. In September, 2010 the DSO, led by Maestro Amado was nominated for a Latin Grammy award for its recording with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on the Telarc record label.
Descended from a long line of fine musicians, David Amado continues his family’s tradition. He showed a predilection for music at a very early age, but it was not until high school that he became dedicated to a musical career, while training in the Pre-College Division of Juilliard. David continued his college years at Juilliard, studying piano while simultaneously exploring other facets of music, including the world of the orchestra. He received his Master’s in Instrumental Conducting at Indiana University. After graduating he returned to study again at Juilliard, but as a conductor, with Otto-Werner Mueller. David’s first job was an apprenticeship with the Oregon Symphony, followed by a six-year tenure with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. In November 2008, Maestro Amado conducted the Virginia Symphony. Other recent highlights of his career include engagements with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the New World Symphony and the Detroit Symphony.
Maestro Amado lives in Wilmington with his wife, violinist Meredith Amado, and their three children, and is a prominent leader of the Delaware arts community.
The Delaware Symphony Orchestra
Over a century in the making, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra has become a significant cultural and economic asset to the Delaware Valley. The ensemble serves 55,000 audience members annually through a wide array of programming: from the exciting Classical Series and Champagne Chamber Series, to the DSO Family Pops and Special Events like the Fall 2010 “Night of All Nights” Gala with performers from Cirque Productions, the DSO is enabling people to find world class entertainment experiences close to home. In addition to traditional concert programming, the orchestra is dedicated to serving the educational needs of the youngest members of the community. Thanks to the DSO, more than 10,000 children receive exposure to the arts each year through partnerships with schools across the state as well as area non-profit mentoring agencies. The Delaware Symphony recently celebrated its Latin Grammy nomination for its critically-acclaimed recording with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on the Telarc Record label. Highlights for the 2010-2011 Season include appearances by world-class guest artists like Jon Kimura Parker and Alban Gerhardt, as well as Bugs Bunny! For more information, please visit www.delawaresymphony.org.
