Maestro Lucas Richman with members of The Eroica Trio, from left, Sara Sant’Ambrogio (cello), Erika Nickrenz (piano), and Sara Parkins (violin).
The dedicated ladies (and one man!) of the Knoxville Symphony League celebrate the opening concert each Symphony season with a gala at Club LeConte. The one this year was made even more festive by the presence of the three beautiful guest stars of the opening concerts, The Eroica Trio. After wowing the crowd at the Tennessee Theatre for two nights, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra musicians, as well as the guest stars, were ready to unwind. It was a very pleasant evening for audience members like us, as well.
KSO Board Chair Rick Johnson and Executive Director Rachel Ford
With eight Masterworks concerts (sponsored by Moxley Carmichael), five Chamber concerts, four Pops concerts (sponsored by the News Sentinel), the Clayton Holiday Concert and four small shows by Concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz and friends, the KSO season really has something for every musical taste. Here are the shows I’m most looking forward to:
- The Masterworks on Oct. 17th and 18th at the Tennessee Theatre featuring Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.”
- The “Autumn in Italy” Chamber concert in the Bijou Theatre on Nov. 3rd featuring music by Rossini, Mendelssohn, Respighi and Stravinsky.
- The all Mozart Masterworks on Nov. 14th and 15th at the Tennessee starring violinist Lara St. John.
- The biggest seller (so far) of the Pops season at the Civic Auditorium is a tribute to the music of ABBA, if you can believe it! What a hoot that will be on Jan. 11!
- A program called “Strauss for the New Year” will be the Masterworks program on Jan. 16th and 17th at the Tennessee Theatre. That will remind me of my cherished grandmother, Myrtle, who loved Strauss.
- In preparation for Valentine’s Day (gift idea alert!), the Pops series’ “Dancing and Romancing” program on Feb. 8th at the Civic Auditorium will bring professional singers and dancers performing to Broadway and Hollywood tunes.
- The folkie Indigo Girls will join the KSO on March 15 in a Pops show at the Civic Auditorium. That should be fun.
- And Gabriel Lefkowitz and friends will participate in the opening of the fabulous Richard Jolley “Cycle of Life” exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art when they perform on May 1st in the museum’s Great Hall.
This is just a sampling of the great things to come from the KSO in this, the second-to-last year of Maestro Richman’s tenure in Knoxville. We know he is going to go on to even greater things, so you will want to see as much of him as you can while you can.
There are four ways to order tickets. Call (865) 291-3310. Go to the website www.knoxvillesymphony.com. Go to the KSO office in the Emporium Building located at 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 302, on Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Or, lastly, go to the concert venue one hour before each concert.
I hope to see you in one of the concert halls!
Symphony League members, from left, Rose Moseley, Jenny Kitts, Carolyn Lawrence, Jacqueline Newman and Pat Jobe at the Symphony Gala.
Rose Moseley was wearing a stunning outfit by designer Stella McCartney.
Renee and Stewart Anderson were striking.
Bob and Becky Paylor are always fun to sit with at these events.
Mary Johnson, left, with Eroica Trio pianist Erika Nickrenz.
Orchestra members Ruth Bacon, left, and Stacy Nickell Miller
From left, Assistant Concertmaster Gordon Tsai; Concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz; and Eroica Trio cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio.
Orchestra member Cynthia D’Andrea, left, with her daughter, Allison Smith
I thought this centerpiece was pretty clever!
Maestro Richman with the two Orchestra members who have been with the KSO for 45 years: Elizabeth Farr and Norris Dryer.
League member Cynthia Sowa looking lovely.
Pianist Joy Cox tries to play the music on Mike Walters’ tie! It was his first visit to Knoxville. He came here from Laguna Woods, CA, to see a classmate, Rudy Koester and his wife, Elizabeth, whom Walters had not seen in 50 years!
Carolyn and Ron Lawrence join pianist Joy Cox for a song.
From left, Eroica Trio violinist Sara Parkins, Assistant Concertmaster Gordon Tsai, Eroica Trio cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio, and Concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz
Musicians, from left, Bruce Wilhite, Phylis Secrist and Jeffrey Whaley
Musicians, from left, Brad McDougall, Gray Ferris and Aaron Apaza.
From left, musicians Jeffrey Whaley, Ebonee Thomas, Shawn White and Gordon Tsai (Photo courtesy of Rachel Dellinger of the KSO)
From left, Terry Ford, Gabe Lefkowitz and my husband, Alan Carmichael
Click here for a link to the News Sentinel’s review of the concert that night.
Now go get those tickets!
They were amazing musicians and also great fun to look at – beautiful and photogenic women, as you’ve shown above. Thank you, thank you, thank you Moxley- Carmichael for supporting our KSO!