Hey Everyone -

Spring has come to Michigan. That means the return of the robin, repeated snowy reminders from Mother Nature, and windy weather. It also means that the Ann Arbor Symphony Classical Season comes to a close. But, we are still very active, with loads of music in store for you in the months to come. We still have some school concerts, Kinderconcerts, fundraising and a big celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary coming up in April and May. This e-newsletter will be your source for information in the coming months.

Glenn Bugala
Marketing Director

CALENDAR

• Afternoon Delights, April 16, 2 pm, Jewish Community Center
• La Traviata, April 18, 8 pm, Michigan Theater --- Buy Tickets
• String Fling, April 23, 11:30 am, Barton Hills Country Club. Call 994-4801
• Kinderconcerts, April 27 (Ypsilanti Library), May 4 (Ann Arbor Library)

Melaine Helton

Eric Ashcraft

La Traviata is one of the most popular operas in America, third in popularity behind only Madame Butterfly and La Boheme. The opera tells the ever-popular tale of: Girl meets boy; girl falls in love with boy; girl tells boy she misses her life as a courtesan; girl gets boy back; girl dies of tuberculosis. Soprano Melanie Helton and tenor Eric Ashcraft will sing excerpts of this tragic love affair in our concert on Friday, April 18 in the Michigan Theater at 8 pm.

The orchestra will also perform Brahms' Symphony No. 2, which is full of sunshine and good cheer-perfect for Spring. The "Brahms' Lullaby" from the first movement is cherished by parents and children for naps and bed time. This light-hearted beginning builds to a conclusion that simply abounds with joy. This performance completes the Ann Arbor Symphony's cycle of Brahms' symphonies under the direction of Arie Lipsky.

Paul Fetler's Capriccio is a playful and ebullient piece that rounds out the season's performances of works by this dynamo composer. Make sure you're in the audience as the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra records this performance live for a CD to be distributed by the Naxos label next year.

If you like to get behind the music, join Maestro Lipsky and composer Fetler at 7 pm for a discussion of the evening's program. Opera's most knowledgeable human being is Ann Arborite Richard LeSueur-he is the man stars like Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman ask what to put on their CDs. He'll also be on hand to talk to us about Traviata. Be there!
Order tickets now for this concert in our online ticketing system .

If you are a young professional (21-39), contact us now about participating in the Dead Composers Society event on April 18th. We'll start at Cottage Inn on William Street at 6:00, and then we'll get to this concert at 7:30. $27 covers the entire night! To get DCS tickets, go to our online ticketing system, select A2$O Bucks and select Dead Composers/DCS.

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Are you a parent like me-looking for something free to do with your young kids that will get their energy worked off but will also be entertaining? Tired of taking them to the Briarwood play area and Jungle Java? Well, let your children's imaginations take flight through music and movement! The A²SO sponsors free of charge, interactive concerts for kids ages two through five in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti:

• April 27 at the Ypsilanti Library, 5577 Whittaker Rd. at 10:30 and 11:30 am.
• May 4 in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Downtown Branch of the Ann Arbor Library at 9:30 and 10:30 am.

Children will learn about drums and other percussive instruments with A2SO principal percussionist John Dorsey (who was featured in Stop, Drop and Listen last month). Gari Stein leads the little ones (and us mom and dads too!) in marches or patterned steps, all set to songs played by Dorsey and pianist Kathryn Goodson. The movements help children enjoy music in an active way that encourages learning and creativity.

Oh no! How can you get tickets? Best of all, you don't NEED tickets. All you need to do is show up! See you there!

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On April 16th at 2:00 pm at the Jewish Community Center, your Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra will host a performance of Haydn and Schumann string quartets with A2SO principals and a guest from U of M. A2SO Music Director Arie Lipsky will play cello with A2SO Concertmaster Aaron Berofsky, A2SO Acting Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Votapek, and UM violin professor Yehonatan Berick.

The group will present two fantastic string quartets: Joseph Haydn's String Quartet in C major, Opus 74, No 1; and Robert Schumann's String Quartet in A minor, Opus 41, No. 1. These are two of the most luscious and melodic pieces in the repertoire. Dessert is served at 1:30 pm followed at 2:00 pm by a one-hour concert. Single tickets are available at the door for $7.

Our Education Director Rebecca Cheskidov says, "This concert promises to be truly breathtaking. It offers some of the great chamber works for string quartet performed by some of the strongest players from the Ann Arbor Symphony and U of M."

The Afternoon Delights series (formerly known as Matinee Musicale) is a midday concert series for everyone, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, and Howard Ando & Jane Wilkinson in memory of Florence Ando. The Jewish Community Center (JCC) is at 2935 Birch Hollow Dr, and can be reached at 734-971-0990.

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The Spring Fashion season is in full swing in Paris and New York. Did you know that Ann Arbor has its very own fashion show, sponsored by its very own orchestra? Following the success of last year's event, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra is presenting its second annual String Fling Spring luncheon and strolling fashion fundraiser on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. Women's fashions from Vintage to Vogue will be featured in this exclusive event at Barton Hills Country Club. Lewis Jewelers will feature their exclusive PANDORA Bead Line. Hand-selected vendors will be selling one-of-a-kind trunk show items, too.

Come at 11:30 for cocktails, and then stay for the 12:15 luncheon and fashion show, featuring Ann Arbor luminaries in beautiful clothes. Reservations are $50, of which $20 will be automatically donated to the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Round tables of 8 are available for $400. To make a reservation, contact the A2SO office at 734/994-4801, lori@a2so.com, or 220 E. Huron, Suite 470, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

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