St. Louis Symphony Orchestra introduces new chamber music series in collaboration with The Sheldon

(September 28, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details for a new, five-concert chamber music series in collaboration with The Sheldon. Showcasing the talents of SLSO musicians in smaller ensembles, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon series presents a wide variety of chamber music at the SLSO’s neighbor in Grand Center, known for its exceptional acoustics and intimate atmosphere. Curated and performed by SLSO musicians, concerts spotlight the musicians and the instruments they play with programming that spans chamber music repertoire. From beloved standards to the first performances of music by established and emerging composers of today, the series presents 14 pieces performed by the SLSO for the first time.

The inaugural concert takes place on October 25, featuring SLSO woodwind players and curated by Principal Clarinetist Scott Andrews and Principal Bassoonist Andrew Cuneo. Future concerts feature musicians from the SLSO’s strings, piano, percussion, and horn sections with concerts curated by violinist Angie Smart and cellist Bjorn Ranheim (December 6); Concertmaster David Halen and Principal Second Violinist Alison Harney (February 7); Principal Timpanist Shannon Wood (March 6); and Principal Horn Roger Kaza and Fourth Horn Julie Thayer (April 7).

The series is sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

Marie-Hélène Bernard, SLSO President and CEO, said, “Giving a voice to our musicians to explore chamber repertoire and elevate their superb artistry through this new collaboration is very exciting. We are delighted to continue a meaningful partnership with The Sheldon near our home in Grand Center as the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall is in full swing. This new series builds on our long partnerships with The Sheldon and the University of Missouri, in our shared mission to present engaging chamber experiences for our audiences while uplifting emerging musical voices.”

Peter Palermo, Executive Director of The Sheldon, said, “The Sheldon has been a gathering place for St. Louis’ finest musicians for over a century. This new partnership allows us to continue that great tradition. The Sheldon’s perfect acoustics coupled with SLSO’s incomparable musicians will make any chamber music lover’s dreams come true. We are delighted to partner with SLSO and bring these concerts to our community.”

Concerts this season include works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonín Dvořák, Maurice Ravel, and Richard Strauss; paired alongside lesser-heard voices including Bohuslav Martinů, Florence Price, and Louis Spohr; and composers of today including Valerie Coleman, Jessie Montgomery, Christian Quiñones, and Shannon Wood (SLSO Principal Timpanist). Unique to these concerts, the series also includes the first SLSO performances of five chamber music pieces—four of which are world premieres—composed by emerging artists at the University of Missouri, continuing a long-standing and multi-faceted partnership with the Mizzou New Music Initiative that includes full orchestral performances of student compositions and mentoring opportunities.

Tickets start at $31 ($15 for students) and are on sale now.

In addition to this new series, the SLSO performs a full season of orchestral programs under the leadership of Music Director Stéphane Denève and renowned guest conductors alongside the world’s great visiting soloists. Programming includes orchestral performances featuring timeless masterpieces to exciting collaborations; the 20th anniversary season of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at the Pulitzer, which features chamber ensemble performances celebrating music of today; a variety of holiday concerts, film concerts, and concerts with popular artists; Family and Education concerts, part of a portfolio of education programming that and serves more than 330,000 teachers and students annually; and a variety of community concerts.

While the transformative expansion and renovation of historic Powell Hall continues, the SLSO will perform classical concerts at two landmark performance venues: the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis. Additional concerts take place at The Sheldon, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, the J. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University, and throughout the region.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Live at The Sheldon Concerts:

All concerts will take place at The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63108.

Valerie Coleman and Louis Spohr: Winds with Strings
Wednesday, October 25, 7:30pm CDT

Scott Andrews, curator and clarinet
Andrew Cuneo, curator and bassoon
Matthew Roitstein, flute
Philip Ross, oboe
Tod Bowermaster, horn
Celeste Golden Andrews, violin
Chris Tantillo, viola
Jennifer Humphreys, cello
David DeRiso, double bass

Valerie Coleman Tzigane
Atticus Schlegel Forgotten Fantasy (First SLSO performance)
Carl Nielsen Serenata in vano (First SLSO performance)
Richard Strauss (arr. Hasenöhrl) Till Eulenspiegel, einmal anders!
Louis Spohr Nonet in F Major (First SLSO performances)

Curated by Scott Andrews (SLSO Principal Clarinet) and Andrew Cuneo (SLSO Principal Bassoon).

SLSO wind and string musicians launch the new Live at The Sheldon chamber music series with a fascinating program including music by Valerie Coleman and Carl Nielsen, plus Louis Spohr’s inventive and charming Nonet, and Richard Strauss’s playful take on a German prankster of lore in Till Eulenspiegel, einmal anders!

Schubert, Jessie Montgomery, and Christian Quiñones: Strings
Wednesday, December 6, 7:30pm CST

Angie Smart, curator and violin
Bjorn Ranheim, curator and cello
Andrea Jarrett, violin
Shannon Farrell Williams, viola
Aleck Belcher, double bass

Jessie Montgomery Strum
Harry González New Work (World premiere)
Christian Quiñones Pasemisí, Pasemisá
Franz Schubert String Quintet in C major

Curated by Angie Smart (SLSO violin) and Bjorn Ranheim (SLSO cello).

A celebration of strings brings together a quintet of SLSO string players performing a rich array of music by Jessie Montgomery and Christian Quiñones, as well as Franz Schubert’s Quintet in C major.

Ravel and Dvořák: Strings with Piano
Wednesday, February 7, 7:30pm CST

David Halen, curator and violin
Alison Harney, curator and violin
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Melissa Brooks, cello
Peter Henderson, piano

Florence Price Andante Cantabile from String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor
Robyne Sieh New Work (World premiere)
Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F Major
Antonín Dvořák Piano Quintet in A major, op. 81

Curated by David Halen (SLSO Concertmaster) and Alison Harney (SLSO Principal Second Violin).

SLSO Concertmaster David Halen leads a program that showcases the lush sounds of Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet and Antonín Dvorák’s masterpiece Piano Quintet in A major, featuring pianist Peter Henderson. Florence Price’s delicate and soulful Andante Cantabile opens the program.

Stravinsky, Martinů, and Shannon Wood: Percussion Spotlight
Wednesday, March 6, 7:30pm CST

Shannon Wood | curator, timpani, and percussion
Cally Banham, English horn
Tzuying Huang, clarinet
Julia Paine, bassoon
Victoria Knudtson, horn
Steven Franklin, trumpet
Amanda Stewart, trombone
Peter Henderson, piano
Shawn Weil, violin
Elizabeth Chung, cello
Erik Harris, double bass

Bohuslav Martinů Quartet for clarinet, horn, cello, and side drum (First SLSO performance)
Morima Yerby New Work (World premiere)
Shannon Wood Abballanu Cifalutani (First SLSO performance)
Igor Stravinsky  The Soldier’s Tale Suite

Curated by Shannon Wood (SLSO Principal Timpani).

A diverse and dynamic program features the SLSO percussion section, with performances of Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale Suite, Bohuslav Martinů’s Quartet with snare drum, and a new work by Shannon Wood, the SLSO’s Principal Timpanist, for English horn, cello, piano, and timpani.

Beethoven and Hindemith: Horns with Strings
Sunday, April 7, 3:00pm CST
 
Roger Kaza, curator and horn
Julie Thayer, curator and horn
Thomas Jöstlein, horn
Blaine Dodson, horn
Tod Bowermaster, horn
Victoria Knudtson, horn
Jessica Cheng Hellwege, violin
Asako Kuboki, violin
Andrew François, viola
Alvin McCall, cello

W.A. Mozart March in F Major, K. 248 (First SLSO performance)
Jean Sibelius “Solitude” from Belshazzar’s Feast (First SLSO performance)
Paul Hindemith Sonata for Four Horns (First SLSO performance)
Franz Biebl  “Ave Maria”
Richard Wagner Tristan Fantasy (First SLSO performance)
J.T. Wolfe New Work (World premiere)
Ludwig van Beethoven Sextet in E-flat major (First SLSO performance)

Curated by Roger Kaza (SLSO Principal Horn) and Julie Thayer (SLSO Fourth Horn).

Majestic horns herald the arrival of spring with a program of music including Ludwig van Beethoven’s enchanting Sextet in E flat major for two horns and string quartet and Paul Hindemith’s masterly Sonata for Four Horns.