Ithaca College

The Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra’s final concert of the 2014-15 season on April 21—beginning at 8:15 p.m. in the James J. Whalen Center’s Ford Hall—will challenge the norms of classical performance, adding layers of motion and design seldom seen in a traditional concert setting.  

Dressed in white, the members of ICCO will perform a choreographed program featuring 20th century composers—without pause—intertwined with theatrical images and virtual environments projected on the walls and ceiling of the hall, as well as on the performers themselves. Featuring special guest faculty soloists Elizabeth Simkin on cello and Jennifer Hayghe on piano, the event is free and open to the public.

“The concept of the concert explores and creates new territory in the combination of musical, visual and theatrical elements,” said Jeffery Meyer, Ithaca College Director of Orchestras. “A Bach cello suite will weave together diverse musical selections by American composers from the 20th century, including [Charles] Ives, [John] Adams, and [George] Antheil.”

Spearheading the program and leading the ensemble into new performance territory, alongside Meyer, are the internationally acclaimed German conductor and composer Andreas Delfs and the renowned visual stage designer Jerome Sirlin.

Delfs, conductor of the Honlulu Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, is known for his imaginative programming and has held chief artistic posts with several orchestras both in North America and Europe.

“I would like to stress the experimental character of the evening,” Delfs said, “emphasizing our belief that there is not enough creative energy invested in challenging the standard patterns of classical music presentation.”

Similarly, Sirlin, known for “bridging the gap between theatre and film,” has collaborated on productions with Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg and Lou Reed, among many others. He specializes in visual design for musical theater, opera, and multimedia installations.

The School of Music presents this exciting evening in collaboration with many Ithaca College partners, including the Department of Theatre Arts, the Roy H. Park School of Communication and the School of Humanities and Sciences.

The public is also invited to the open dress rehearsal (free) on Monday, April 20 at 9 p.m. in Ford Hall, located within the James. J Whalen Center for Music.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact the School of Music at 607-274-3717. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.