Verde Valley Sinfonietta (“little symphony”) ended its 10th season with a bang: a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring 13-year-old piano prodigy Samuel Xu. Capitalizing on that momentum, the symphony has expanded its season to include five concerts – that’s one more than in previous seasons. The 2015-16 season kicks off with Autumn Magic Oct. 25 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sedona Performing Arts Center. Russell Fox will conduct the performance, which will feature trumpet soloist Carl Rowe. Past concerts have taken place at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, but Marion Maby, president of the sinfonietta’s board of directors, says bigger audiences meant it was time to find a larger home.
“Word is spreading that the caliber of our orchestra is great,” says Marion, who served as the sinfonietta’s concertmaster for many years. “The music is a mix of well-known pieces and those you might not have heard. Russell Fox does a marvelous job picking pieces that are interesting, and his commentary is entertaining.”
Autumn Magic showcases music by Haydn, Holst, Handel and Schubert. One of the sinfonietta’s major fundraisers, Soiree for the Sinfonietta, will take place after the October concert (visit the organization’s website for details). Concerts include anywhere from 32 to 40 musicians, the majority of whom live in northern Arizona. The season continues with performances Feb. 14, April 10 and May 15. The sinfonietta also hosts Kids Concert Club, which takes place during rehearsals the Thursday prior to each performance (details online).
Marion, who has a master’s degree in violin performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, says there’s something special about the musicians who perform with the sinfonietta. Though they are compensated, very few are full-time musicians. “There’s a certain edge and tension with freelance musicians that you won’t find with more established orchestras,” she says. “It contributes to the excitement of the concerts.” – Erika Ayn Finch. Photo by Sai Chang.
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
