Berkshire Symphony Orchestra

The Berkshire Symphony is conducted by Ronald Feldman and includes nearly 70 members, half of whom are students and half of whom are professional musicians. The ensemble presents four major concerts each season; the programs balance orchestral standards with contemporary works. Recent offerings include the Violin Concerto, Coriolan Overture, and Symphonies Nos. 1, 5 and 7 of Beethoven; the Cello Concerto and Symphonies Nos. 7 and the "New World" by Dvořák; The Skylark Sings by faculty member David Kechley; "Prelude and Liebestod" from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde; Mahler Symphony No. 4; Mozart Symphonies Nos. 31, 38, and 40; Schubert's Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5; Serenade No. 2 in A major and Symphonies Nos. 2 and 4 by Brahms; Ravel's Tzigane; Mendelssohn's Fingal's Cave; Dumbarton Oaks, the Ebony Concerto, and Symphony in Three Movements by Stravinsky; Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by Bach; Shostakovich Symphony No. 9; Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune; the Harp Concerto by faculty member Robert Suderburg; Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5; An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise by Peter Maxwell Davies; and Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish."

The symphony received and ASCAP award for innovative programming during the 1990-1991 season, in which works for soloist and orchestra by living American women composers (Joan Tower, Marilyn Bliss, Elizabeth Vercoe and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich) were performed, one at each concert. World premiers have included works by David Kechley, Robert Suderburg, Augusta Read Thomas, David Ott and others. Soloists have included Artist-in-Residence Doris Stevenson (piano), Professor Douglas Moore (cello), violinists Victor Romanul, David Kim and Joel Smirnoff, violist Patricia McCarty, cellist Andres Diaz, harpist Marilyn Costello, pianist Frederick Moyer, and trombonist Ronald Barron.

One program each spring features the winners of the juried Berkshire Symphony Student Soloist Competition; recent soloists have included pianists, vocalists, a cellist, violinists, flautists, a harpsichordist and a marimbist.

Programs 2007/2008:    Dec. 7, 2007   Feb. 29, 2008   April 11, 2008   Student Soloist Competition

Spring 2007 Photos Click here

Spring 2008 Rehearsal Photos, click here

2007-08 Rehearsal Schedule:

 First series:

Johann Strauss: Overture to Die Fledermaus

Arnold Schoenberg: Kammersymphonie, Op. 9

Schubert: Symphony No. 5

9/30 7:30 - 10 in Chapin
10/2,
10/7
10/9
10/11
concert 10/12 at 8
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Second series;

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring

Ezra Laderman: Viola Concerto
Steven Ansel, viola  (Premiere)

Copland: Quiet City

Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from 'West Side Story'

11/27 7:30 - 10 in Chapin
11/29
12/2
12/4
12/6
concert 12/7 at 8
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Third series;

Felipe Lara: Onda

David Kechley: Wakeful Visions

Kevin Kaska: from the video game 'Lair'

George Gershwin: An American in Paris

2/17 (&:00 - 10 in Chapin)
2/19 (change)
2/25
2/26
2/28
concert 2/29 at 8
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Fourth series;

Featuring the winners of the 2008 Student Soloist Competition;
Ravel: Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe; plus other works tba.

4/1 (7 - 10 in Chapin)
4/3
4/6
4/8
4/10
concert 4/11 at 8