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UPCOMING CONCERT
Wrexham Symphony Orchestra
“Russian Nights”

7:30 PM
Saturday 13th December 2008, NEWI William Aston Hall
Conductor: Kenneth Woods
Mussorgsky: Night on a Bare Mountain
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.1
From the WSO Website

Our Fortieth Anniversary Season already promises to be the most exciting and ambitious group of concerts Wrexham Symphony Orchestra has ever put together, with a mix of international and local conducting talent combined with a local but internationally renowned soloist for our May concert
Hailed by the Washington Post as an “up-and-coming conductor” and a “true star” of the podium, American * conductor Kenneth Woods has built a reputation as a multifaceted musician whose credits range from the Mahler symphonies to collaborations with members of James Brown’s classic band. He is currently conductor of the Oregon East Symphony, Surrey Mozart Players and the Rose City Chamber Orchestra.
Already known in America as one of the most exciting conductors of the new generation, Kenneth Woods is quickly becoming recognized as major talent on the international scene. He has worked with many orchestras of international distinction including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared on the stages of some of the world’s leading music festivals, including Aspen, Lucerne, Round Top and Scotia. His work on the concert platform and in the recording studio has led to numerous broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, National Public Radio, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Despite this international acclaim, Kenneth has held his links with WSO since 2004, when he acted as tutor and conductor for its morning’s workshop with members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He returned in Spring 2007 for a memorable full programme which included Elgar’s First Symphony. It will indeed be a pleasure for the orchestra to work alongside him once more, with an exhilarating Russian trio of works.

* FYI- The orchestra are at pains to advertise me as an American because when I last appeared with them, they listed me as Canadian, which given the state of world affairs at that time was a good thing for all involved. Post-election, I can come out of hiding again, unless Obama turns out to be  another Blairite totalitarian….. Please be sure to read Glenn Greenwald every day as the new government gets up to speed- I’m full of hope, but having seen New Labour betray its base and turn the country into a police state, I’m thinking that vigilance and accountability have to be our watchwords….

In any case, I hope to have lots to say about this program, but we’ll see what I can manage to write between trips up and down the spine of Wales.