The Austin Symphony Orchestra plans "Simply the Best" for concert-goers in the 1999-2000 season.

Monday, August 30, 1999

The Austin Symphony Orchestra plans "Simply the Best" for concert-goers in the 1999-2000 season.

Letters will be mailed soon, soliciting memberships for the upcoming concert season: the 43rd in the history of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Stephen J. Ramsey returns as musical director and conductor.

This season’s concert schedule taps the talents of skillful musicians both far away and closer to home.

"A Russian Fairytale" will be performed Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Knowlton Auditorium at Austin High School.

The concert will feature the gifted and talented musician, Yi Huang, age 11, who has been studying piano for six years.

Born in China, she studied with Professor Honhghau Yang there before her family moved to the United States, where she resumed her studies under the tutorship of Dr. Horacio Nuguid, who played with the ASO last year.

She has played in many concerts, parties and contest. Last year, she won first place honors in the St. Paul Teachers Association competition in her age group.

She plays pieces by Bach, Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart and many other famous composers.

Most recently she has been a student of Linda Quiu in St. Paul for two years before studying with Dr. Nuguid in the spring of 1999.

David Giese will narrate "A Russian Fairytale," which includes Stravinsky’s "Firebird Suite" and Mozart’s "Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor as well as Chopin’s "Fantasy Impromptu."

Then, the ASO will perform the "Millennium Messiah" Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. also in Knowlton Auditorium at AHS.

The beloved music of Handel is guaranteed to lift one’s spirits throughout the holiday season.

The new year begins with a Feb. 13, 2 p.m. concert, "Winter Vanquished."

Richard Roberts, violin, and Natalie Racine, viola, highlight the concert of Mozart, Copland and Sibelius music.

Roberts is currently serving as concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that appointment, Roberts was for eight years assistant concertmaster of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under conductor Lorin Maazel.

ASO fans will remember when Roberts played with the orchestra during the 40th anniversary season.

Violist Racine is currently serving in the viola section of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra after graduating from the Montreal Conservatory of Music, where she was awarded first prizes in both solo work and chamber music.

The 1999-2000 ASO season concludes with "Spring Rejoices" April 9 at 2 p.m. in Knowlton Auditorium.

The music will include pieces by Weber, Saint-Saens and Copland, but this concert arguably will feature the talents of simply one of the best musicians AHS has produced.

Brian Larson, a senior at AHS, will be the featured soloist.

Larson studied cello with Sylvia Picket, Austin, beginning in 1992 and has since studied with David Carter at St. Olaf College and most recently, Tanya Remenikova at the University of Minnesota.

He has been a member of the Southeastern Minnesota Youth Symphony, the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, All-State Orchestra for three years.

Larson also performed with the Austin High School Symphony Orchestra and the AHS Chamber Orchestra

He has played with the ASO for three years and now also plays with the LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra.

Suzanne Bross, publicist for the Austin Symphony Orchestra, also reminds concert-goers of the Oct. 11, Children’s Concert.

It will be held in Knowlton Auditorium, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and all students in Mower County grades fourth, fifth and sixth will be the special guests.

They will hear one of their own, Austin’s Yi Huang perform on piano with David Giese’s narration.

Bross said she applauds the ASO efforts to broaden the classical music audience, including the special provisions for students in grades kindergarten through twelfth who are admitted free of charge to the individual concerts during the season. Those in grades kindergarten through fifth must be accompanied by an adult.

The fall and winter concert season will mark the ASO’s first reappearance on the stage since the Independence Day Concert in the Park pops concert in July.

Adult season tickets are $26 and senior citizens season tickets are $23. College student season tickets are $15.

The ASO welcomes patrons at the maestro level, $1,000 or more with four free tickets and dinner with the conductor; benefactor level, $500-$999, including four season tickets; donor level, $250-$499; sponsor level, $150-$249; patron level, $100-$149; friend level, $50-$99; and other contributions.

For more information, call 507-433-5647.