Mr. Sords

October 20, 2011 - Internationally acclaimed violinist Andrew Sords is the featured soloist with the Manassas Symphony for its October 29, 2011 concert, Symphonic Spooktacular. The concert begins at 7:30 PM in Merchant Hall at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

Mr. Sords will be performing Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in e minor and Camille Saint-Saens' Danse Macabre. Concert tickets are available at the Hylton Center Box Office, online from tickets.com (http://mso.me/octtix), or by phoning 703-993-7759.

Celebrated for his mature musicality and consummate technique, violinist Andrew Sords has appeared with over eighty orchestras and in countless recital venues across three continents. Having received re-invitations from dozens of venues worldwide, Sords has established himself as a versatile and provocative musician within the modern classical world. The 2011-12 season will showcase the concerti of Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart and Prokofiev.

Born in 1985 in Newark, Delaware, Sords later moved to Shaker Heights, Ohio, and began his violin studies with Liza Grossman. Sords completed his undergraduate education at the Cleveland Institute of Music with violin pedagogues Linda Cerone and David Russell. Sords most recently studied under acclaimed violinist Chee-Yun at The Southern Methodist University of Dallas, Texas in the Artist Diploma program.

During the 2010-11 season, Sords was a featured guest on Nevada Public Radio, NPR Jacksonville, "The Derek and Romaine Show" on Sirius XM Radio, and numerous other media outlets. Sords has also been profiled by the Portsmouth Herald, The Anguillian, Lavender Magazine, Reno Gazette Journal, The Sun News, NPR's Morning Edition, and Cleveland's WCLV among others.

The 2011-12 season features international debuts in Mexico, Poland and Australia. Highlights include concerto appearances with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Cleveland Philharmonic, Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, Toronto Philharmonia, Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Balcones Chamber Orchestra, Saratoga Symphony, and the Kalisz Philharmonic. A popular recitalist, Sords will appear internationally in recital on the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society and Pro-Musica San Miguel Recital Series, as well as making his Washington D.C. debut on the Arts Club Series. Additionally, Sords will continue serving as Concertmaster of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since the 2008-2009 season.

Sords commissioned a violin concerto from acclaimed composer Evan Fein, which was completed and recorded with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra in early 2007. The recording of the concerto has accumulated a multitude of awards, and will be performed in upcoming seasons.

In fall 2009, Sords stepped in on 48 hour notice to helm the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra's season opening concert. In 2007, Sords opened the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea with the Beethoven Violin Concerto. Additionally, in 2006, Sords stepped in on 12 hours notice to perform on the Franciscan University Recital Series with pianist Eric Genuis.

Sords is the featured violinist in a documentary on violin technique recorded at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Strongly committed to the promotion of classical music, Sords dedicates a portion of his time at nearly all engagements to educational outreach, masterclasses and community programming. Sords performs on a 1912 Augustine Talisse violin with strings exclusively provided by Warchal, Inc.

September 15, 2011 - The Manassas Symphony Orchestra is holding auditions for BASS PLAYERS. At least three openings are immediately available to supplement the section.

The audition will consist of two prepared pieces of the player's choosing that demonstrate adequately the player's skill level. The pieces should be contrasting styles - preferably one fast piece that demonstrates technical skills and another slower, lyrical piece that demonstrates intonation and tone quality.  A brief interview with the music director will also be held, highlighting the experience and commitment level of the musician.  

Qualified candidates will have some experience playing in a symphony orchestra, some familiarity with standard orchestral repertoire, acceptable sight-reading skills, and the availability to attend scheduled rehearsals and concerts for the season.

Interested musicians should contact the orchestra to schedule an audition time. This can be done by email at personnel@manassassymphony.org or by phoning (703) 853-0749.

The MSO is a high-quality, full-size, all-volunteer community-service orchestra. The symphony was recognized as one of ten national semi-finalists for the 2010 American Prize for Community Orchestras. All members donate their time and considerable talent, so these are non-paying positions. Further information on the orchestra can be found at http://www.manassassymphony.org. The symphony performs its subscription series in the beautiful Merchant Hall at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.

These positions are open to all interested adults, college students, and exceptionally well-qualified high school students Grade 10 and above. College credit is available through NVCC for. Tuition costs are provided as a scholarship from the Orchestra's Board of Directors. This appointment may continue into future seasons upon agreement of the music director and player.

The 2011-12 concert schedule is as follows:

• Saturday, October 29, 2011 - 7:30
• Sunday, December 18, 2011 - 3:30
• Saturday, March 3, 2012 - 7:30
• Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 7:30

The symphony rehearses Wednesday evenings at Metz Middle School in Manassas.

Updated August 26, 2011 - The Manassas Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of music director James Villani and assistant conductor Michelle Rupert, is pleased to announce its 2011-12 concert season.

Soundtracks of Summer is our annual free pops concert. Saturday evening September 3 at 7:30, we are performing at the M.L. Jackson Amphitheater on the NOVA Manassas campus. The concert will be repeated on Sunday afternoon September 4 at 3:00, at Harris Pavilion in Old Town Manassas. Bring your lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy some popcorn as the Manassas Symphony plays music from favorite movie soundtracks, including Star Wars, Somewhere in Time, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mr. Holland's Opus, and lots more!

A Symphonic Spooktacular, on October 29, 2011, is the Manassas Symphony Orchestra's fun and exciting look at Halloween with great music, both mysterious and whimsical. Andrew Sords, an internationally-renowned young violinist, is the symphony’s featured soloist for the evening. He is playing Mendelssohn’s haunting Violin Concerto in e minor and Saint-Saens’ spooky Danse Macabre. The program also includes Mussorgsky’s frightening Night on Bald Mountain, Berlioz’ chilling March to the Scaffold, and Dvořák’s sublimely terrifying The Noon Witch. The audience will also be smiling unsteadily at Gounod’s creepy Funeral March of a Marionette and taken on a bloodcurdling adventure with Robert Wendel’s Ride of the Headless Horseman.  Everyone is invited to wear their tasteful costumes. A best costume contest will be held for children in the lobby during intermission. Join the Manassas Symphony this year for a Halloween experience like none other!

On Sunday, December 18, 2011, Celebrations Around the World is the Manassas Symphony Orchestra’s annual Family Concert for 2011. This year, the symphony is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and other festivals with an international-flavored program to delight audiences of all ages. The concert features a new work for orchestra by Virginia composer and NVCC professor Jonathan Kolm. The concert also includes music from Russia, Ireland, Italy, Romania, and Korea. Bring the kids and get your tickets early for this annually sold-out performance experience. Start off your family’s holiday break with the Manassas Symphony!

Musical Kaleidoscope, on March 3, 2012, is glimpse through a prism of ever-changing musical colors. Manassas native Geoffrey Haydon is performing Mendelssohn's lovely Piano Concerto No. 1 in g minor. The symphony's brass, woodwind, and string sections will be spread out in the hall for an actual tonal and spacial musical kaleidoscope, as they segue one right into the other playing music by Georges Enesco, Samuel Barber, and a new work for antiphonal brass, commissioned for this concert, by J. Scott McKenzie. Mendelssohn's serene Fingal's Cave Overture, Aaron Copland's remarkable Appalachian Spring and William Grant Still's stunning Wood Notes round out this concert. Greet the early spring by experiencing the musical colors of these great composers as played by the Manassas Symphony.

May-toberfest! on May 12, 2012, brings Oktoberfest to the springtime as we capture the spirit of the festival with fun music from and about Germany, Austria, and Bavaria. JMU tuba professor Kevin Stees joins us as soloist (without leiderhosen) for this concert, playing Martin Ellerby’s vibrant Tuba Concerto. We are also performing great works by Gustav Mahler (Adagietto from Symphony No. 5), Carl Maria von Weber (Invitation to the Dance), Richard Wagner (Rienzi Overture), Edward Elgar (Three Bavarian Dances), and Johann Strauss, Jr. (assorted polkas). The Kings Park German Band is joining us for some pre-concert and intermission fun and there will be German beer sold in the lobby. Join the Manassas Symphony us as we end our season with great fun and great music for May-toberfest!