Dr, Wayne Pierce will provide previews of five of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concerts at the Noah Webster Library in West Hartford, with the first presentation taking place on Sept. 25.

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Join music educator and composer Dr. Wayne Pierce for informative and interactive preview presentations of five of Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s 2017-2018 Masterworks Series concerts. These one-hour discussions, approximately two weeks prior to the concerts, will:

• Provide historic and cultural background of the works to be performed
• Uncover details about the composers
• Explore important musical details through audio and video examples
• Provide Q and A and commentary on the concert repertoire from HSO musicians
• Prepare attendees for a more informative and immersive concert experience

The five previews include:

1. Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont, Symphony No. 3 in E-flat (“Eroica”) and Yugo Kanno’s Revive Concerto for koto and shakuhachi. Concert dates at The Bushnell: October 6, 8, 2017
2. Hector Berlioz’s La Corsaire Overture, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and Claude Debussy’s La Mer. Concert dates at The Bushnell: November 10, 12, 2017
3. Stravinsky’s Jeu de Cartes (Game of Cards), Symphony in Three Movements, and Tchaikovsky’s music from Swan Lake. Concert dates at The Bushnell: March 9, 11, 2018
4. Shostakovich’s Tahiti Trot, Cello Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 5. Concert Dates: May 4, 6, 2018
5. Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana (with the Hartford Chorale). Concert dates at The Bushnell: June 8, 10, 2018

Five Hartford Symphony Orchestra Masterworks Previews are free and open to the public.

Educator, conductor, composer Dr. Wayne Pierce is an adjunct professor of music at UConn and a member of Kingswood Oxford’s Creative Arts Department. He has served as music director of Simsbury Light Opera and Manchester Symphony and guest conductor of Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra and Hartford Symphony Orchestra. The FVSO premiered his Symphony No. 1: Psalms and Dances for orchestra, chorus and soloists during its 30th anniversary concert.

His music reviews have appeared in the journal American Music.

The first preview will be held on Monday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the West Hartford Public Library, 20 South Main St. in West Hartford. More information can be found at www.westhartfordlibrary.org. Call 860-561-6990 with any questions.