A message from our soloist, Claudia Schaer

I am very excited to perform with the wonderful Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra and Yaniv Attar this Sunday, collaborating on one of my favorite works of all.
The Beethoven concerto has always been in my mind one of, if not the most sublime work, certainly for the violin, and perhaps at all. It speaks to me of hope and truth and all that's beautiful in the world, not with naiveté, but taking into account all that transpires. When I was a child, I remember my excellent teacher, Dr. Lise Elson, saying that it is a concerto to play after one is thirty; one simply isn't mature enough for it beforehand. Beethoven wrote it when he was thirty-five - now, I'm not sure if I want to betray my age (which is indeed very close to his) but I think I finally feel that I may have enough life-experience to qualify to play it. The form of the piece, as well as the themes and musical lines themselves, are in a way so simple - one could say almost just scales and arpeggios - but how they are varied, orchestrated, put together is so rich and full of meaning - perhaps that is why. Knowing that the concerto was written just a few years after the Heiligenstadt Testament, in which Beethoven contemplates but ultimately rejects suicide, finding meaning in Art, I can add a possible historical meaning to my feeling that the concerto is immensely life-affirming, despite all hardships; reaching joy despite grief and despair.

I am greatly looking forward to share this experience with you.

Yours sincerely,
Claudia

Message from Maestro Attar

I am extremely pleased to enter my second year as Music Director of the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra; the passion and dedication of our musicians is a constant inspiration to me!

I am thrilled to present this season of noteworthy musical intersections: classical standards, mixed with lesser known works; our outstanding musicians, sharing the stage with international virtuosos, right here in beautiful State College.

 I am especially excited about the soloists who will join us for our concerts this year: Canadian violinist Claudia Schaer, Israeli clarinetist Moran Katz, and local artists James Lyon and Timothy Shafer in a double concerto for violin and piano.

 The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra is your own jewel in State College. I am so excited to stand on the podium for each concert; the combined energy from the musicians and you in the audience is truly magical. It is an honor to share this musical journey and I hope to see you all at our concerts.

 Musically Yours,
Yaniv Attar
Music Director

Seven Mountains Summer Music Fest

The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra
Yaniv Attar, Music Director

Presents the 7th Annual
Seven Mountains Summer Music Fest
At Seven Mountains Wine Cellars

Located on Decker Valley Road, just one mile off of US Route 322 between Lewistown and State College, Pennsylvania.
GPS users try 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills PA 16875

Featuring the Curtin Street Chamber Players

Sunday, July 24, 2016
Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 2 pm. Wine is available for purchase by the glass or bottle. The concert begins at 3:00 p.m.

Also included -- a silent auction to benefit PCO

Advance Reservations Requested by July 22
Tickets: $35 available online or call 814.234.8313

The Curtin Street Chamber Players is a new local ensemble of professional musicians based in Bellefonte, PA, with Susan Kroeker, flute - Barry Kroeker, oboe - Mark Weaver, clarinet - Kurt Kroeker, violin - Carly Andriaccio, bassoon - Tricia Andriaccio, piano

In 2015, when Barry and Susan Kroeker moved from State College to Curtin Street in Bellefonte, they were excited to get involved in the musical life in their new town, forming the group with other local musicians. Each of their members are well-known in central Pennsylvania as performers in area orchestras, chamber groups, and as private music instructors. Although the ensemble specializes in classical music, they also enjoy performing some eclectic repertoire of audience-pleasing Broadway selections and light popular tunes. Since their formation less than one year ago, they have been featured performers at Sunday Afternoons at the Library, Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, and the Bellefonte Inter-Valley Chamber of Commerce events. They are pleased to be making their first appearance at the Seven Mountains Summer Music Fest to benefit the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra.

Click here for an article from The Daily Collegian

Maestro Attar describes the February concert

For a concert titled “Music for the Heart”, we wanted to present music from one of the most romantic composers, Gustav Mahler. The breathtaking music of Mahler is the peak of what we call romantic music, and it is a special treat for us, because it is music that is almost never played by chamber orchestras. Each of our players will definitely shine through this concert.

The concert will open with his Adagietto from the 5th Symphony - the slow movement of that gigantic work, but originally Mahler wrote it as a love letter to his wife Alma. He gave her the score to this 10 min. work, scored for only strings and harp, and attached a note that said:

How much I love you, you my sun,
I cannot tell you that with words.
I can only lament to you my longing and love.

It is no doubt one of Mahler’s most frequently performed works.

After that the Children’s choir will join us for a selection of works with the orchestra.

In the 2nd half of the program, we will play Mahler’s 4th Symphony, and again, I can’t emphasis enough how rare it is for chamber orchestras to play a Mahler Symphony, so we are absolutely thrilled to bring this work to life here in State College.

This symphony is based on a song that Mahler wrote a few years before the symphony was written. The song actually became the last movement of the symphony. The song is about a child, walking in heaven, and giving us his impressions of what he sees there. In a way, I see this symphony as a cycle of life. It begins with a very child-like theme, representing youth. This movement was written almost as a homage to Mozart’s music. The 2nd movement is more devilish (maybe a representation of death) and something very special happens there - our concertmaster will play on another violin that is tuned higher than all the other violins, a representation of the devil’s fiddle. The 3rd movement is I think one of the most beautiful things Mahler ever wrote, a peaceful Adagio, with an incredible build up towards the end  - at a climatic moment you can really hear the gates of heaven open up, a moment which then leads to the 4th movement, where the child walks into heaven and sings about his impressions.

It is truly a remarkable work, and it takes the listener through a magical journey. -- Yaniv