Category: Binghamton

In Focus: First ever Wallenberg Festival brings Binghamton Orchestras Together

On Saturday, January 28, the Binghamton Philharmonic celebrated its first “Wallenberg Festival,” a concert of Binghamton’s three orchestras: the Binghamton Community Orchestra (Evan Mecarello, dir.), the Binghamton Youth Symphony (Barry Peters), and the Binghamton Philharmonic (Daniel Hege).

The program was named after Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg, the founders of the Binghamton Symphony in 1955. In his remarks to the audience, Executive Director Paul Cienniwa explained that, while the Wallenbergs did not directly create today’s three orchestras, they were instrumental in sparking substantial interest within a relatively small community.

Each orchestra performed a short set of familiar works. Many of the crowd-pleasers, from von Suppè’s Poet and Peasant to a Brahms Hungarian Dance, are not heard too often these days, and these works were an excellent introduction to the orchestra for many of the concert’s young attendees. “Wallenberg Festival” concluded with a side-by-side performance of the Youth Symphony and the Philharmonic, first playing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Procession of the Nobles under Peters, and then Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave under Hege.

As expected in a concert of one professional and two amateur orchestras, the playing was mixed. The enthusiasm was not, however–especially during the side-by-side. Even more so, the large audience showed again and again its love for Binghamton and its uncommon tradition.

Coming up this month, on Thursday, February 16 at 6:00 pm, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra will present its 8th Annual Mac & Cheese Fest Fundraiser at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Binghamton. Guests should get ready for some cheesy goodness at this all-you-can-eat Mac & Cheese event featuring over sixteen local restaurants. Local chefs will compete for best Mac & Cheese while host Chelsea Cheddar (the Mayor of Macaroni) presides with cheesy proclamations as musicians of the Philharmonic play lively fanfares. Patrons and celebrity judges will determine which restaurant wins the Best Mac & Cheese title for 2023, along with other culinary awards. Tickets are just $25 to support the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra. For tickets and more information, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.bingmacfest.com.

February 1, 2023
Binghamton Philharmonic Announces Wallenberg Festival for Jan. 28

The Binghamton Philharmonic has announced its Wallenberg Festival, a joint concert with the Binghamton Youth Symphony and Binghamton Community Orchestra, coming up this Saturday, January 28.

This Festival is in celebration of orchestra founders Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg, and their lasting legacy of symphonic music in the Southern Tier. The program will include a side-by-side performance of the Youth Symphony and Philharmonic through works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky. The performance is scheduled for Saturday, January 28 at 7:30pm at the Forum Theatre.

Founded by Fritz and Marianne Wallenberg in 1955 as the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra presents an annual series of classical, pops, and chamber music concerts in Downtown Binghamton and throughout Broome County. The professional musicians of the Philharmonic, represented by Local 380 of the American Federation of Musicians, hail from the Southern Tier, New York City, and surrounding states. Maestro Daniel Hege was appointed Music Director in 2018.

A Night Of Classics

The show will be conducted by Daniel Hege, Evan Meccarello, and Barry Peters. The Binghamton Youth Symphony will perform pieces by Antonín Dvořák and Franz von Suppè. The Binghamton Community Orchestra will follow up with more Dvořák and works by Johannes Brahms, while the Binghamton Philharmonic will perform music by Edvard Grieg. The night will conclude with a joint performance by the Binghamton Youth Symphony and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra.

All children 17 and under get in for free, courtesy of M&T Bank, Binghamton Philharmonic’s Classical Series Sponsor.

There will also be a Pre-concert Dinner to support the Philharmonic, held at the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Binghamton. The dinner will be $35 per person and seating begins at 5pm the day of the show.

For tickets and more information, including Pre-concert dinner reservations, contact the Binghamton Philharmonic box office at 607-723-3931 or visit www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv2Unk4BhIo

January 24, 2023
EPAC Rock Project presents “I’m Still Standing” featuring the music of Elton John this February

The Endicott Performing Arts Center EPAC Rock Project starts off 2023 with “I’m Still Standing”, featuring the music of Elton John. The celebration features local musicians for a multi media live rock show, February 9-12 at the Robert Eckert Theater in Endicott, NY.

The EPAC Rock Project has been bringing local musicians together with other performing artists who sing and dance, to create live rock shows with multi media at EPAC for many years now. EPAC Rock Project has featured such classic rock bands as The Beatles, Queen, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Metallica, and many others over the years.

EPAC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide an affordable and high quality venue to local, regional and touring performing artists, enabling them to present, develop, & improve their artistic efforts. For a quarter century, EPAC has renovated and operated out of the 105 year-old “Lyric Theater” (now the Robery Eckert Theater) in Endicott, just west of Binghamton.

This year’s EPAC Rock Project will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of EPAC by featuring the ‘Best of’ Elton John’s music. “I’m Still Standing” will feature the top hits from Elton John’s diverse collection, including ‘Funeral for a Friend’, Benny and the Jets’, ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’, ‘Your Song’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, ‘Honky Cat’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (for fighting)’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Levon’, ‘Don’t Let the Sun’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, ‘I’m Still Standing’, and others.

The live rock show brings together local musicians, singers and dancers performing these hit Elton John songs in front of Big Screen Projections with full stage lighting and sound. Reserved Seating tickets are available to purchase through the EPAC Website, and/or the EPAC Box Office located at 102 Washington Ave. Endicott, NY. Tickets are $20 for Adults and $18 for Seniors (65+) and Children (12 & under).

The EPAC Rock Project runs from February 9–12, with performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm.

January 24, 2023
Binghamton Philharmonic Announces New Musicians

After a lengthy four month blind audition process, the Binghamton Philharmonic has announced the selection of five new musicians.

The Binghamton Philharmonic

Joining this prestigious community of musicians are:

Brianne Lugo, Assistant Principal Viola – Recognizable from her performances at both Carnegie Hall and Saturday Night Live, Ms. Lugo is also a member of Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Punta Gorda Symphony.

Junheng Chen, Assistant Principal Violin II – Well Traveled with performances in Asia and Europe, Ms. Chen will balance Philharmonic duties while pursuing her Doctoral degree at the Eastman School of Music.

John Shuo Zhang, Section Violin – Hailing from Guangzhou, China, Mr. Zhang has taken his Juilliard education across the United States with the Juilliard String Quartet. When not in the States, he holds an assistant concertmaster position in Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.

Yi-Ting (Joy) Kuo, Section Violin – Coming to the Southern Tier from the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Ms. Kuo received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the New England Conservatory and is currently a member of The Orchestra Now.

Shawn Hutchison, Oboe II / English Horn – A Graduate of the Yale School of Music and recipient of The Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award, Mr. Hutchinson is also a member of The Orchestra Now.

Binghamton Philharmonic

The Binghamton Philharmonic is the Southern Tier’s largest and longest-serving symphony orchestra. Founded in 1955 as the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society, the Philharmonic has provided the Southern Tier of New York with live, full-scale orchestral works ever since.

Acting on its mission to build community through the power of live music, the Philharmonic serves over 10,000 people annually through engaging and affordable programming. Music Director Daniel Hege hopes to continue with their goal of connecting professional musicians with audiences to stimulate the economy and expand listenership and education with the 2023 season.

For more information about the Binghamton Philharmonic, and to see a schedule of events, please visit binghamtonphilharmonic.org

January 12, 2023