Press Release

Newtown, PA. Newtown Chamber Orchestra, celebrating its 24th concert season, will perform its third concert of the season, “A Night at the Opera & More!” Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 7 PM at the Lutheran Church of God’s Love, 791 Newtown-Yardley Road, Newtown, PA 18940.

All Newtown Chamber Orchestra concerts are conducted by Russell W. Hoffmann, Music Director and Conductor. Mr. Hoffmann is the founding Music Director of the Newtown Chamber Orchestra and has a wide diversified musical background.

Music to be performed will include:

  • Overture to "L'Italiana in Algeri" by Rossini
  • Selections from "Carmen" by Verdi. Carmen (sung by Alyssa Lehman, mezzo-soprano) tells the story of a soldier, Don Jose, who is seduced by the fiery gypsy, Carmen. Don Jose (sung by Steven Snow, Tenor) deserts his childhood sweetheart for the love of Carmen who then dumps him for the glamorous toreador Escamillo (sung by Clayton Mathews, Baritone). In a jealous rage, Don Jose finds Carmen and kills her. (The singers for this performance are guest soloists from The Opera Project, of Stockton NJ, Walter MacNichol, Director).
  • Ziguenerweisen for violin and orchestra by Pablo de Sarasate (Performed by Ms. Sophia Yoo).
  • Symphony No. 1 in D Major was composed by Franz Shubert in 1813 when he was 16 years old. The Symphony is written in four movements and is reminiscent of Haydn’s Symphony 104

Participating Soloists:

  • Sophia Yoo, Winner of the NCO 2013-2014 Young Musicians Competition, will be playing “Ziguenerweisen” for violin and orchestra by Pablo de Sarasate. Ms. Yoo is a homeschooled student and fifteen years old. She has been studying violin since age four and piano and harp for eight and five years respectively. In 2010, she won first prize in the junior harp division of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Harp Society and in 2011 was awarded a scholarship from a Korean youth orchestra in Washington, D.C. Ms. Yoo is an Advanced Study Scholarship recipient as a member of the Newman Quartet and in 2013 she received prizes in the Tri-County Youth Festival as well as the Bucks County Youth Competition.
  • Steven Snow, tenor, (Don Jose) will perform “La Fleur que tu m’avais (Flower Song). Recently, in Los Angeles, he became the first North American singer to perform the role of Soltan Bey in the Azerbaijani operatta Arshin mal alan among other performances. Mr. Snow has had a varied career touring the U.S. and Canada as Juan Peron in Evita and as Giuseppe in David Bell’s Phantom, appearing at Carnegie Hall singing Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae soleness de confessors, and singing the National Anthem for the Somerset Patriots, Philadelphia Flyers and Trenton Thunder. Mr. Snow is a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, President of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and co-founder of the Hunterdon Vocal Workshop.
  • Alyssa Lehman, Mezzo-Soprano (Carmen), will sing Habanera from Act 1 and with Steven Snow, tenor, (Don Jose) will sing the famous duet from Act IV, C’est toi! – C’est moi! Ms. Lehman is a versatile artist and musician who made her professional soloist debut with the Maine Music Society and has since collaborated with various musicians, opera companies and groups. Recently she played in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with the Delaware Valley Opera Company and Orchestra and was a guest soloist with the Southampton Chamber Music Society performing works by Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi. She has participated at the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium in Italy and at the Mozarteum music Conservatory in Salzburg , Austria.
  • Clayton Mathews, Baritone, (Escamillo) will sing Votre Toast from Act 11. Mr. Mathews, a native of St. Louis has been praised for his rich, colorful tone and profound character interpretations. Among other performances, in 2005 he won the South Florida Chapter National Association of Teachers Singing competition. He has performed professionally in opera companies across the U.S. Recently Mr. Mathews performed George Gershwin’s opera Blue Monday as Mike at the legendary Cotton Club, Harlem Opera Theater. He has also performed the Manchester Music Festival concert Rising Stars. Mr. Mathews holds a B.M. in Voice Performance from Barry University and currently attends Rutgers University’s Opera Institute and is Resident Artist at the Crested Butte Music Festival.

Open seating at all concerts. Complimentary refreshments served at each concert. Programs are subject to change. If you have any questions concerning ticket sales, please e-mail us at: tickets@newtownchamberorchestra.org

The Newtown Chamber Orchestra is a non-profit organization proudly contributing to the rich cultural tradition of Bucks County. Individual concert tickets are: Adults $25; Seniors $20; Students and Children are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance through our website (address below). There will be open seating, and complimentary refreshments are served at all concerts.

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