The Garden State Philharmonic Salutes the American Composer

The Garden State Philharmonic, under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Diane Wittry continues their 63rd Season with The American Composer on Sunday, March 24th at 3:00p.m. at the Jay & Linda Grunin Center for the Arts on the campus of Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey. The Garden State Philharmonic will be joined on stage by the GSP Chorus under the direction of Steven Russell. The American Composer will highlight choral and orchestral works by Randall Thompson and Aaron Copland.

The concert will feature; Thompson’s Frostiana and Copland’s Old American Songs; both featuring the GSP Chorus, as well as Copland’s, Appalachian Spring, and Copland’s Hoe-Down, from Rodeo.

Described as a portrait of America, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs includes Copland's arrangements of the Shaker tune "Simple Gifts”. This Shaker tune was used extensively in his ballet Appalachian Spring.

Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring originally was composed for Martha Graham as music for a one-act ballet. Premiered in 1944 by the Martha Graham Dance Company, it won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Copland later adapted it into a concert suite for full orchestra. The Garden State Philharmonic will be performing Appalachian Spring in its original form for 13 instruments.

Tickets range in price from $14-$50 and can be purchased by contacting the Garden State Philharmonic Office: 732-255-0460 Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They can also be reserved on the Garden State Philharmonic website, www.gardenstatephilharmonic.org.

The Garden State Philharmonic Symphony Society, Inc. (GSP) is dedicated to a mission of maintaining and operating a professional symphony orchestra at the Jersey Shore; to giving concerts of cultural and educational value in and for the community; and to fostering such related activities that will encourage interest in and appreciation of music.