The Putnam Symphony Orchestra

| November 13, 2009 | 0 Comments
The Putnam Symphony Orchestra will open its 33rd season with a performance on Sunday, November 22nd at 3 p.m.  The performance will take place at the Brewster High School Performing Arts Center at 50 Foggintown Road off of Farm to Market Road, approximately one half mile north of Route 312. 

Scheduled repertoire for this concert includes a variety of holiday classics, including Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson, selections from The Nutcracker by P. Tschaikowsky, and White Christmas by Irving Berlin.  The orchestra will also perform A Celebration of Hanukkah by Howard Rowe, Sean O’Loughlin’s Imani (A Kwanzaa Celebration), Baby It’s Cold Outside by Frank Loesser, and music from The Polar Express.

Tickets for the concert are available at the door at $10 for general admission and $6 for seniors and students. Family admission is only $25.  For further concert information please call (914) 299-6646 or visit the Orchestra’s web site at http://www.putnamsymphony.homestead.com

About the Putnam Symphony Orchestra:

PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is a community orchestra comprised of musicians from the community and surrounding areas.  It was organized by Erich J. Miethner in 1976 to address the needs of the community by expanding the opportunities for cultural entertainment.  This new symphonic orchestra was founded with the help of Guideposts and the Putnam Arts Council, both of which are major supporters of cultural activities within Putnam County.
 
The first performance of the PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA took place in the spring of 1977.  Approximately 50 musicians ranging in age from 13 to 73 participated in that performance.  Students, professionals, and amateurs made up the musician roster, and that element of the orchestra continues to this day, with an active musician roster of approximately 150.  The diversity in talent and backgrounds of the individual members of the orchestra provides an opportunity for each to learn from the other as they work together and perform on stage.
 
As the orchestra developed and grew, it was eventually incorporated as a non-profit organization, to be led by a Board of Directors.  The organization continues to be led by the Board with the assistance of a broad base of volunteers.  Members of the Board have included musicians, conductors, philanthropists and ardent supporters, and community members.
 
The PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA performs a broad spectrum of music utilizing various ensembles as well as the full complement of musicians.  Performances have included the classics of Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, and Salieri as well as more contemporary works by such composers as Vaughn Williams and Copland.  Repertoire for each performance is selected on the basis of the ensemble that will perform, and will vary from that which is appropriate for a small chamber ensemble to that suitable for a full symphonic orchestra.
 
The orchestra has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to perform under the guidance of a number of conductors over its history that spans over a quarter of a century.  Each has brought a unique quality of direction, artistic ability, and enthusiasm that has allowed the group to grow, learn, and achieve a level of performance that has had a positive impact on developing and improving cultural opportunities in Putnam County and the surrounding communities.
 
The current conductor is Christine Smith, a professional flutist and a charter member of the PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. Christine holds a BFA Degree from SUNY at Stonybrook, she is a 1981 graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Pre-College Division, and she holds a Master’s Degree in Education.  She has also received a Certificate of Commendation for Meritorious Achievement from the School of Orchestral Studies.  As a professional flutist, Christine has toured England with the Stonybrook Wind Ensemble, and has performed at Paul Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  She regularly performs as a soloist with the Doansburg Chamber Ensemble, of which she is a charter member.  Her solo appearances have also included performances for U.S. Forest Service personnel at the Harding Ice Field in Alaska.  She has performed at Grace Church in White Plains on their Noontime Series, as well as performing with the St. Peter’s Chamber Orchestra.  In addition to being conductor of the Putnam Symphony Orchestra, Christine is the conductor of a number of vocal ensembles.  Her principal teachers have been Alan Cox, Jeff Khamer, Samuel Baron, and Julius Baker. 
 
All musicians with a desire to perform are invited to join the PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.  Section leaders and other qualified individuals frequently assist students, and others with special concerns or needs will find the conductor and members of the orchestra to be fully supportive. 
 
For more information on the PUTNAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA please visit their website at http://www.putnamsymphony.homestead.com/
 
Submitted by:
Kyle Kayler and Cathie O’Conner
psc_2009
 
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