Kevin Bartram, FSO music director
“Summon the Heroes” is the theme behind the fifth season of the Fredericksburg Symphony Orchestra. On its surface, it’s a nod to the final two performances of the season — a children’s concert saluting first responders and an annual Memorial Day concert.
But it’s also a theme befitting this professional orchestra that launched in the wake of a global pandemic and continues to sell out performances.
“It’s meant to salute our fifth season and the heroic efforts of a lot of people in this 76-person symphony orchestra and a board of directors that is not only talented, but hardworking,” said FSO founder and music director Kevin Bartram. “And of course, it requires an audience that wants to come and hear us for every concert.”
IF YOU GO
Flights of Fancy, October 25 at 7:30 p.m., James Monroe High School auditorium, tickets range from $22.10 – $73.60
As the orchestra prepares to open its new season with Flights of Fancy on Oct. 26, it’s taking another significant step forward: recording its first album featuring two world premieres by nationally known composer and pianist Matt Riley, who will travel from Minneapolis to perform with the orchestra.
“It’s a groundbreaking performance,” said Bartram, who is something of a Riley superfan. “The orchestra knows this — I hardly do any of my Christmas concerts without playing a Matt Riley piece. His music is very uplifting, very personal and very cinematic.”
Composer Matt Riley will join the FSO for the world premieres of two of his songs. (Photo courtesy the artist)
“Working with Dr. Kevin Bartram has been amazing,” Riley said. “He has an incredible ear and eye for detail, and a deep understanding of orchestration and instrumentation. He knows what his players are capable of and how to get the most out of them. Even from a distance, it’s been an inspiring collaboration, and I’m excited to join them soon for the recording and performance.”
Flights of Fancy will bring even more musical drama in a lineup that includes “The Planets,” a masterwork from Gustav Holst, “Flying by Riley,” an electrified version of Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue” featuring violinist Robyn Bauer, Riley’s new arrangement of “Ode to Joy” and a scherzo from the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
Added Riley: “I wrote some virtuosic material for concertmaster Robyn Bauer, and the clip she sent me was fantastic. I can’t wait to hear it live with the orchestra.”
According to Bartram, “The Planets” is considered one of the great pieces of the 20th century. That, coupled with two world premieres and three numbers featuring the Chamber Chorale of Fredericksburg, has the FSO conductor energized about the show.
“That alone would be sufficient cause to set an album, but with the great masterwork Planets, we felt that this was the time to get in a real beautiful recording, not only for our composer — because any composer always wants a great recording of his new pieces — but it’s also for us, too,” he said.
The digital download should be ready for the holiday season.
The FSO’s success means it has been able to give back to the community in a number of ways. From providing free tickets to children to special music clinics with Riley for high school students, the FSO continues to open the world of music up to new audiences.
“It’s nice to see younger faces at symphony concerts,” said Bartram, who also teaches orchestra at James Monroe High School and Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg. “There’s a lot of ‘gray hairs’ attending symphonies, operas, ballets… It’s a challenge for all arts organizations to bring in new generations. So, given our ties to the school system, we are a natural conduit to the performing arts.”
The performance will be held in the auditorium of James Monroe High School, but don’t let the humble surroundings mislead you — this group of professional musicians is very serious about music.
“The group is so good now that even our audience says … ‘Why do we need to go to the Kennedy Center?’” Bartram said. “I just had a man stop me in the street. He knew who I was, and he said, ‘I can’t hear the difference between you guys and the National Symphony.’”
