University Symphony Orchestra
Concert of Soloists
Timothy Russell, conductor
Jacob Harrison, Brandon S. Matthews,
and Jana Minov, guest conductors
Amy Yekel, soprano
Tavit Tashjian, piano
Nadine Luke, flute

School of Music
Herberger College of The Arts
Arizona State University

Monday, February 4, 2008
7:30 p.m.
ASU Gammage

MUSIC
-,'.1-ferberger College
of the Arts
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Program
Johannes Brahms

Tragic Overture, opus 81
Jacob Harrison, conductor
Dich, teure Halle from Tannhauser

Richard Wagner

Amy Yekel, soprano
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Concerto No. 2 in C minor, opus 18
Moderato
Tavit Tashjian, piano
Brandon Stephen Matthews, conductor

Intermission
Joan Tower

Made In America
Timothy Russell, conductor
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
Allegro
Nadine Luke, flute
Jana Minov, conductor
Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, opus 11

Jacques Ibert

Georges Enesco

Timothy Russell, conductor

We would like to express our appreciation to Steinway of Phoenix
for their generosity in providing the
Steinway piano for this evening's performance.

Out of respect for the performers and those audience members around you,
please turn all pagers, cell phones, and watches to silent mode. Thank you.

I

Biographies
Timothy Russell is in his 15 6 year as a Professor of Music and Director of
Orchestras at Arizona State University. He is one of America's most versatile and
dynamic conductors and foremost music educators. He is equally at home
conducting the great symphonic literature, music for chamber orchestra, ballet,
large choral works, pops concerts, and children's programs. An articulate
spokesperson for the arts, his obvious joy in discussing music and building new
audiences is only surpassed by the insight and energy which his concerts possess ..
entertaining and enlightening programs of music spanning over four centuries,
powerfully presented for listeners of all ages. In addition to his conducting at ASU,
Dr. Russell directs the School's graduate orchestral conducting program. He is also
the co-founder and Music Director of the award-winning ProMusica Chamber
Orchestra of Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Russell was the recipient of the 2006 Ohioana
Pegasus Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the arts and
humanities.
Russell has been a frequent guest conductor with The Phoenix Symphony,
including highly acclaimed full-length productions of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake
and Nutcracker ballets, Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia by Leo Delibes,
and the world premiere of Ib Andersen's Play. This season he will lead new
productions of Giselle and Don Quixote in addition to another "Tribute to George
Balanchine" with Ballet Arizona. Other guest conducting appearances have
included the Cleveland Institute Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, Baton Rouge
Symphony, American Classical Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, South
Dakota Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh
New Music Ensemble, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and Summit Brass. In
recent years he has conducted All-State Orchestras in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The conductor/producer of twenty-seven CDs, Russell has received two
Grammy nominations. All of his recordings have been enthusiastically received by
listeners and critics alike, as has his vital and imaginative orchestral leadership.
Maestro Russell just celebrated his twenty-eighth season as music director of
ProMusica. His achievements with that ensemble have been remarkable and
diverse. A recipient of the Greater Columbus Arts Council's "Artistic Excellence
Award," the orchestra continues to maintain its outstanding reputation for artistic
performance and exciting, adventuresome programming. On eight occasions the
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has honored
Russell and ProMusica for their service to contemporary music. Together, they
have been active in the commissioning of new works, including many by some of
the world's most distinguished composers. Russell has conducted the world
premiere performances of over ninety new compositions.
A Danforth Foundation Fellow, Dr. Russell has held academic appointments at
The Ohio State University and the University of Rochester, including in its
Eastman School of Music as an Associate Professor of Conducting and Ensembles.
Dr. Russell regularly leads pre-concert talks and symposia, and continues to be a
featured speaker at featured speaker at music conferences and workshops. He is
actively involved in research and publication, currently writing three books – The
Joyful Musician: A Mindful Approach to Peak Performance, The Conductor's
Anthology, and Mindful Tennis with renowned Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer.
Timothy Russell and his wife, Jill, reside in Phoenix, Arizona as do their
children, Kathryn and Geoffrey.

Soprano Amy Louise Yekel, from Canton, Ohio, received a Bachelor's degree
from The University of Akron in Music Performance (2004), a Master's degree in
Music Performance at Arizona State University (2006), and is currently a student
of Jerry Doan and a doctoral candidate in Voice Performance.
Ms. Yekel has won numerous awards and Scholarships including: The Palm
Springs Opera Scholarship, The Arizona Lyric Opera Scholarship, The Canton
Civic Opera Scholarship, The Akron Symphony Chorus Scholarship, Tuesday
Musical Club Scholarship, The McDowell Scholarship, The Mary S. Bower's
Scholarship, The John Macdonald Scholarship, The Fairlawn United Church of
Christ Scholarship, Tuesday Musical Club Finalists Scholarship, and The
University of Akron's Vocal Performance Scholarship. Other honors and awards
include: The University of Akron's Most Outstanding Student Award, and First
place in the Advanced Woman's Division, Sophomore Division, and Freshman
division at NATS.
Ms. Yekel has performed as the guest soloist for Canton Civic Opera's Viva
Italia, and she has also sung at the Spoleto Festival in Spoleto Italy. Ms. Yekel
made her vocal debut with ASU's Lyric Opera Theater as "Ariadne," in Strauss'
Ariadne auf Naxos (2007) and has performed such roles as: "Lia," in Debussy's
L'enfant Prodigue (2007), 'Pernille/Captain Lovelock," in John Duke's Captain
Lovelock (2007), and as "Lady Brockhurst," in The Boyfriend(2005).

Tavit Tashjian has been described as "having a very particular gift, possessing
impressive technique and a colorful sound with a beautiful cantabile." His playing
has been noted to be "brilliant and attractive", "energetic and virtuosic". Beginning
at the age of age of six in Los Angeles, piano has been an integral part of the life of
the Cyprus-born Armenian.
Tavit began pursuing his education with a Bachelor's in Piano Performance
with the internationally renowned Toradze Piano Studio at Indiana University
South Bend. He was the first prize winner of the Ann Walling Competition and a
finalist in the Arizona Young Artist Competition. His teachers have included Dr.
Baruch Meir, Marcelo Cesena, Alexander Toradze, and currently he is a student of
distinguished Brazilian pianist, Dr. Caio Pagano. He has also participated in many
master classes including Karyl Louwenaar, Leonidas Lipovetzky, Christopher
O'Riley, Leonard Mastrogiacomo, Nelita True, among others.

Nadine Watson Luke is a native of Boise, Idaho. She graduated with honors from
Brigham Young University in April 2005 with a Bachelor of Music in Flute
Performance. During her studies at BYU, Nadine performed with both the BYU
Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. While attending BYU, Nadine was
accepted as a participant in the Vienna, Austria study abroad program, where she
studied flute and attended many inspiring performances. Nadine performed at the
National Flute Association Annual Convention in Nashville and was the Idaho
State Solo Competition First Place winner. She has attended and performed at
festivals and masterclasses across the United States as well as abroad.
Nadine is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance
at ASU where she studies with Dr. Elizabeth Buck. Her past teachers include Dr.
April Clayton, Dr. Liana Tyson, Kathryn Smith and Jennifer Robinson.

In demand as a conductor and an educator, Jacob Harrison is also a passionate
supporter of composers and the arts of our time. He has premiered numerous new
works for orchestras and chamber ensembles. In 2007, Mr. Harrison was appointed
Resident Conductor of the Chaparral Music Fest, a music festival in Prescott,
Arizona. In addition, he is co-director of the Arizona Contemporary Music
Ensemble for the Spring of 2008.
After being appointed Music Director of the North Valley Chamber Orchestra
in 2006, Jacob has increased the ensemble's visibility in the valley through the
development of the ensemble's programming and by reaching out to the
community of North Phoenix. In addition, Mr. Harrison has worked regularly with
other orchestras throughout the Phoenix area such as the Phoenix Symphony Guild
Youth Orchestra, the Scottsdale Community Orchestra, and the Arizona Repertory
Orchestra.
Jacob Harrison's opera conducting debut was in 2006 with the ASU Lyric
Opera Theater in a semi-staged production of Bela Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle.
He followed this as assistant conductor with the Lyric Opera Theater's 2007
production of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos.
Before moving to Arizona, Mr. Harrison lived in Chicago where he worked
with groups such as the Peoria Youth Orchestra, the Lake Shore Symphony
Orchestra, the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Mason Youth
Orchestra in Michigan. He has also worked with the Poston Junior High Orchestra
Program in Mesa and the Highland High School Orchestra Program in Gilbert.
Jacob Harrison studies orchestral conducting with Dr. Timothy Russell and
opera conducting with Dr. William Reber while pursuing a Doctorate in Orchestral
Conducting at Arizona State University. He is director of the ASU Sinfonietta
Orchestra and assistant conductor for the ASU Symphony and Chamber
Orchestras.
Brandon Stephen Matthews is pursuing a doctoral degree in orchestral
conducting at ASU, studying with Dr. Timothy Russell. He is currently a
conductor of the ASU Sinfonietta, and an assistant conductor for the ASU
Orchestra program. Matthews received a Master of Music degree in orchestral
conducting at Brigham Young University under the direction of Kory Katseanes.
During his time at BYU, Matthews conducted the University Orchestra and BYU
Strings and was assistant conductor of both the BYU Philharmonic and Symphony
Orchestras. Among Matthews's other conducting mentors are Harold Farberman
and Sydney Rothstein, with whom he studied at the Conductor's Institute at Bard
College in New York.
Matthews made his opera debut at BYU, conducting Gian Carlo Menotti's
The Old Maid and the Thief as well as P. D. Q. Bach's The Stoned Guest. He also
served as music director for Center Street Musical Theatre Company in Provo,
Utah for the 2004-2005 season, conducting six productions including The Mikado,
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Annie Get Your Gun. Matthews continues his
opera conducting studies with Dr. William Reber at ASU.
Born is Spokane, Washington, Matthews began his musical studies as a
pianist and later began playing viola. His musical training continued during
summers spent at the Brevard Music Center (North Carolina) and the Marrowstonc
Festival (Washington). He received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at
BYU. Matthews now resides in Mesa with his wife, Meghan.

Jana Minov graduated with a degree in conducting from the Conservatory of
Music in Belgrade-Serbia where she studied with Jovan Sajnovie. During her
studies, Minov attended master classes and seminars with prominent conductors
such as Emil Tabakov, Uro g Lajovic, and Mladen Jagust.
Minov's academic honors and work experience include the first prize and a
special award at the International Choir Competition in Shanghai, China in July
2004. She led a series of concerts with the Ni'g Symphonic Orchestra as a guest
conductor. Jana is the youngest conductor to conduct an opera (Mozart's Magic
Flute) in the National Opera Theater in Belgrade. She also conducted stage music
for many operas which were part of the standard repertoire in this prestigious
opera house. Minov had the privilege of organizing, supervising, and conducting a
series of performances with some of the most talented students within the Music
Academy in Belgrade, who were assembled in the school's String Chamber
Orchestra. She conducted a series of concerts with the Army Symphonic
Orchestra and Choir in Belgrade and worked as a conducting assistant. In
addition, she directed many public concerts with the amateur choir "Belgrade
Madrigalists."
Minov also worked with church choirs for a two-year period during her
studies and conducted several highly acclaimed concerts in Serbia and abroad.
Before coming to Arizona, Jana worked as a music professor at the music highschool "Mokranjac." She studies orchestral conducting with Dr. Timothy Russell
and opera conducting with Dr. William Reber while pursuing a Doctorate in
Orchestral Conducting at ASU. She is also a conductor of the ASU Sinfonietta,
and an assistant conductor for the ASU Orchestra Program. Jana expands her
opera repertoire in a forthcoming project with ASU Lyric Opera Theatre, a fully
staged production of Handel's Julius Caesar.

Steinway of Phoenix
Applauds
ASU School of Music
The world's finest pianos are represented,
in our beautiful showroom.
Steinway of Phoenix is the exclusive Represptitivfe for
by Stef w
Steinway & Sons, Boston by Sicinwayr
and Henry F Mi14r.

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STEINWAY
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University Symphony Orchestra
Timothy Russell, Director of Orchestras
Violin I
Sarah Bowlin**
Holly Roberts
Xi Wang
Eliza Besse
Laura Speck
Victoria Gorbich
Christian Simmelink
Aleksandr Spiridonov
Tamara Freida
Cristinel Bácanu
Gina Dyches
Ricardo Elias-Rodriguez
Diane Zelickman
Bonnie Teplik
Molly McCarthy
Violin II
Taylor Morris*
Alisha Bean
Jamilyn Richardson
Kate Bivona
Alyssa Saint
Terra Warger
Chung Gum Kang
Jessica Brooksby
Ellen Chang
Thalia Coombs
Loren Stallcop
Ansel Eklund
Samuel Golden
Vanessa R. Castillo
Tian Long Sun
Viola
Kim Teachout*
Allyson Wuenschel
Louis Privitera Jr.
Matthew W. Gordon
Alexander Vittal
Megan Leigh Smith
Garrett McDaniel
Padua Canty
Whitney Smith
Courtney D. Chapman

Cello
Nelly Rocha ^
Hope Shepherd ^
Mark Schoellhammer
Amy L. Fluzjak
Adele E. Stein
Evan 1-lenley
Molly Rife
Vanessa Belknap
Ruth Wenger
Willie Braun
Sabina Ahmad-Post
Kelly McVey
Kathleen Snyder
Bass
Christopher Rose*
Daniel Stotz
T. J. Maliszewski
Ovidiu L. Manolache
Rossine Parucci
Phil Suzuki
Juan J. Garcia
William Brichetto
John Sims
Joe Tyksinski
Patrick Cooper
Flute/Piccolo #
Dawnya Chavis
Kelly Raymond
Kathryn Schaap
Elizabeth Min
Oboe
Dane Philipsen ^
Caryn Creamer ^
Katie Mordarski
Mary Simon
English Horn
Carly Aylworth
Clarinet
Kim Endel ^
Jonathan C. Robinson ^
Roman Ruiz

Bassoon
Julie Ann Link ^
Hugo Doege ^
Ashley Haney
Mikaela Miller
Horn #
Rachel Seay
Derek J. Wright
Nathan Stark
Jordan Robert
Guan-Lin Yeh
Andrea Barbrie
Robbie Buss
Trumpet #
Jason Johnson
Brittany Hendricks
William Anonie
Kent Foss
Trombone
Patrick Lawrence*
Samuel Winston Price
Bass Trombone
Michael Wilkinson
Tuba
Kevin Bock
Harp
Virginia Miner*
Jessica Grondel
Timpani/Percussion
Scott Mitchell*
Tyler Stell
Matt Watson
Brad Stell

** Concertmaster
* Principal
^ Co-Principal
# For this concert,
this section is
using a rotating
seating plan.
Orchestra Assistants
Jacob Harrison
Brandon S. Matthews
Jana Minov
Orchestra Librarian
Jacob Ilarrison
Orchestra Manager
Rossine Parucci
Orchestra Office
Specialist
Linda Bennett

Upcoming Events
University Symphony Orchestra
Handel Gems

Thursday, February 21, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Organ Hall — School of Music
Sinfonietta
An American Salute

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
7:30 p.m.
ASU Gammage
Jacob Harrison and Brandon Stephen Matthews, conductors
University Symphony Orchestra with ASU Chamber Singers
Handel's Messiah

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 — Evelyn Smith Music Theatre
Thursday, March 6, 2008 — Trinity Cathedral (Downtown Phoenix)
7:00 p.m.
David Schildkret, conductor
Tickets: $12 Adult & $7 Student
Herberger College Box Office 480.965.6447
University Symphony Orchestra & ASU Choirs
Verdi's Requiem

Friday, April 25, 2008
7:30 p.m.
ASU Gammage
Carole FitzPatrick, soprano
Jennifer Roderer, mezzo soprano
Robert Chafin, tenor
Peter Volpe, bass
Timothy Russell, conductor

EVENTS INFORMATION 480.965.TUNE (480.965.8863)
herbergercollege.asu.edukalendar

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