MARIPOSA – The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra’s Apr. 27 and 28 Spring Concerts in Mariposa and Yosemite will offer two very accomplished guests: Violinist Ann Miller and Cellist Ira Lehn.
Described by MSO Founder/Conductor Les Marsden as “magnificent” musicians, one is well-known to Mariposa audiences and the other will make her area premiere with the orchestra.In the words of Marsden, “I don’t believe there’s ever been such a remarkable display of classical instrumental accomplishment in our area. This collaboration is an experience not to be missed.” For the full story on the concert and the music to be presented, click here.
Violinist Ann Miller has appeared in concert in North America, Europe, and Asia and made her New York debut as a soloist with the New Juilliard Ensemble in Alice Tully Hall in the North American premiere of David Matthews’ Concerto No. 2.
Ms. Miller recently performed in Switzerland under the direction of venerable composer/conductor Pierre Boulez during an exchange program between the Juilliard School and the Lucerne Festival Academy. An avid chamber musician, Ann Miller is a member of the Trio 180, the trio-in-residence at the University of the Pacific.
In addition to extensive coaching from some of today’s greatest chamber musicians and ensemble members, she has participated in the New York String Orchestra Seminar and has spent summers at Kneisel Hall, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.
Ms. Miller joined the faculty of the University of the Pacific in September of 2008 as an assistant professor of music and holds a M.M. and D.M.A. from the Juilliard School. She received her B.M., summa cum laude, from Rice University.
Cellist Ira Lehn’s degrees include both a Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman (Rochester) School of Music, one America’s pre-eminent music institutions.
Mr. Lehn has served as assistant principal cellist of the Rochester (NY) Philharmonic Orchestra, principal cellist in the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Philharmonic, as well as in California with the Ventura, Santa Barbara, Modesto and Stockton Symphony Orchestras and as cellist in the Alard and Sierra String Quartets.
As soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, under Eugene Ormandy – and in the Yosemite region, with the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra conducted by Les Marsden. Mr. Lehn has also held the position of cellist in residence at the University Of Pacific Conservatory of Music. He teaches privately in Stockton and Modesto. Among his students are members of the MSO.
For several years, Mr. Lehn was the Dean of the UOP Conservatory and prior to his time at UOP he was the cello professor of the music faculty at UC Santa Barbara. MSO audiences will recall Ira Lehn’s memorably moving account of Antonin Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the MSO in Mariposa and Yosemite on April 9 and 10, 2011.
Marsden strongly encourages Ahwahnee concert attendees to leave the driving to YARTS due to this year’s later (2 p.m.) concert time. The stop-on-demand YARTS Run #4 is scheduled to arrive at the Ahwahnee at approximately 1:15 p.m., in perfect time for the concert. YARTS schedule information is available at http://tinyurl.com/cfnzcp6
The MSO’s Spring Concerts featuring Miller and Lehn will be performed on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Fiester Auditorium of Mariposa County High School. Tickets for that concert only are $6 for adults. Students will be admitted free of charge due to a generous donation by MSO patron Domenic Torchia.
Adult tickets may be purchased from the Mariposa County Arts Council (209) 966-3155 and are also available at the Mariposa County Visitors Center, across from Miners Roadhouse. Call for hours (209) 966-7081.
The concert will be repeated on Sunday, Apr. 28 as a 2 p.m. matinee in the Ahwahnee in a free of charge, first-come basis.
All past MSO concerts in the Ahwahnee have been filled to capacity and are presented in partnership with the generous cooperation of the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park and Superintendent Don Neubacher, Delaware North Resorts at Yosemite and the Ahwahnee Hotel.
Full concert details are available at http://tinyurl.com/ayohc8v
