October 12, 2018 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Richmond Symphony Welcomes Back Former Music Director George Manahan to Conduct February Altria Masterworks Concert: Dvořák & American Masterpieces

October 12, 2018 – Richmond Virginia: The Richmond Symphony is pleased to announce the return of former music director George Manahan to conduct an evening of wonderful music from Dvořák, Copland, Kernis and Bernstein during the Altria Masterworks concert on February 9^th and 10^th at the Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Currently the Music Director of both the American Composers Orchestra and Portland Opera, George Manahan‘s career embraces everything from opera to orchestra, and from traditional to contemporary. He is the winner of the prestigious Ditson Conductor’s Award for his promotion of American Music. Mr. Manahan served as Music Director of the New York City Opera for fourteen seasons, following his twelve year tenure with the Richmond Symphony from 1986 – 1998. His guest appearances have included the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the symphonies of Atlanta, San Francisco, New Jersey, and the Hollywood Bowl. He is a regular guest with the Aspen Music Festival, and has appeared with the opera companies of San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, Santa Fe, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera National du Paris, Teatro de Communale de Bologna, the Bergen Festival, and the Casals Festival.

The concert features two prolific twentieth-century American titles with Bernstein’s Symphonic Suite from “On the Waterfront” and Copland’s Suite from “Billy the Kid.” These works are complemented by a contemporary piece from Aaron Jay Kernis, Musica Celestis, and Dvořák’s Concerto for Violin in A Minor, Op.53.

Manahan is replacing the formerly announced Ankush Kumar Bahl who withdrew from the concert to participate in the upcoming Richmond Symphony Music Director search.

Tickets start at $10 for adults, and are free for children 18 and under. Visit richmondsymphony.com or call 804.788.1212 for more information.

The Masterworks series is sponsored by Altria. The media sponsor for this series is Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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About the Richmond Symphony (www.richmondsymphony.com):

Celebrating its 61st Season in 2018/19, the Richmond Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in Central Virginia. The organization includes an orchestra of more than 70 professional musicians, the 150-voice Richmond Symphony Chorus and 300 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. Each season, more than 200,000 members of the community enjoy live concerts and radio broadcasts. The Symphony also provides educational outreach programs to over 55,000 students and teachers each year. The Symphony was recently named one of 21 American orchestras selected as a leader in orchestra innovation by the League of American Orchestras through its Futures Fund Initiative. The Richmond Symphony is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit www.richmondsymphony.com for more information.

Contacts:
Erin Frye
Marketing and PR Manager
804.788.4717 ext. 121
efrye@richmondsymphony.com
Scott Dodson
Director of Advancement and Patron Communications
804.788.4717 ext. 120
sdodson@richmondsymphony.com