A Message from the President
The 2009 – 2010 concert schedule for the Reading Symphony Orchestra (RSO) features an exciting series of concerts with masterpieces including those by Bach, Brahms and Beethoven. Nicole DiBlasi, a gifted young musician, who previously performed with the RSO, will play the Prokofiev violin concerto on November 6th and 8th. Nicole has been a soloist with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, Salem Philharmonic, and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra, and has won several prizes playing with orchestras in New England. On December 2nd, the RSO will bring back an open reading of the Messiah Sing, a long time community tradition. The popular RSO Children’s concert will take place on January 17th with our own entertaining Al Mosier. Concluding the season in May, the Pops concert will present a selection of well-known, lighter classical music and show tunes.
Our conductor, Dr. Roland Vazquez, will begin his 12th season with the RSO. His passion for music and extensive background as a conductor, string player, pianist, musicologist, and teacher has inspired the RSO musicians to expand their orchestral repertoire. While developing community outreach, Roland constantly strives to make the RSO accessible to high school musicians and collaborates with other community groups, such as the New England Treble Chorus and Reading Community Singers, as well as choruses in neighboring communities. Under his direction, the RSO has performed at the Rogers Center, Merrimack College in North Andover and the Philips Academy in Andover. Roland has arranged for RSO performances at the Reading Friends & Family Day in June for the past two years and for a string quartet at the recent Reading Fall Faire in September.
The diversity of the RSO outreach program also includes a generational component with a focus on children as the future of the orchestra. With a grant from the Reading Cultural Council seven years ago, the RSO initiated an annual children’s concert under the leadership of Al Mosier. Much of the revenues from these concerts have been donated to the Parent Teacher Organizations of the elementary schools and their cultural enrichment programs. Two years ago, the RSO founded a scholarship program in conjunction with the Reading Scholarship Foundation in support of talented students desiring to continue their musical education. The RSO appreciates its close alliance with the Reading school system in terms of rehearsing and concert venues, as well as a source of young musicians from faculty recommendations.
On behalf of the RSO and the Board of Directors, I want to thank our loyal patrons for their generous support. We look forward to seeing you during this concert season!
Dr. Jeffrey Everson