Great news for Hburg!

Maestro Stuart Malina to Conduct Harrisburg Symphony for Three More Years
Malina Contract Extension and other Major Changes Announced at News Conference

The Harrisburg Symphony announced that Maestro Stuart Malina has agreed to a three-year contract extension as conductor and music director of the orchestra. The HSO formally announced the contract extension, as well as other major changes at a news conference at the Forum in Harrisburg on Wednesday morning.

“I’m thrilled to be here for three more years with this wonderful orchestra,” Malina said. “It's hard for me to imagine many other situations which combine the extraordinary artistic level of the Harrisburg Symphony with the intensity, commitment, and joy that our players bring to every performance.”

Malina began his tenure with the HSO in June 2000. His new contract will take him through the 2009-10 season, which will be his tenth year as the orchestra’s artistic leader.

Maestro Stuart Malina is one of America’s most versatile and accomplished conductors. In a wide variety of concerts, from masterworks and grand opera to pops, Malina’s ease on the podium, engaging personality, and insightful interpretations have thrilled audiences and helped to break down the barriers between performer and listener wherever he has worked.

“The relationship with Maestro Malina has been an especially happy one for everyone here in Harrisburg—our audiences, the musicians, the Board, the staff, the volunteers,” said Jeff Woodruff, HSO executive director. “I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are thrilled to extend this partnership for three more years. Stuart is not only a great musician, but a joy to work with.

“I hope the community will come celebrate with us as we start our season on October 6.”

In addition to his success with the Harrisburg Symphony, Malina made his Carnegie Hall debut in February 2007 conducting a sold-out performance with the New York Pops in an all-Gershwin tribute including “Rhapsody in Blue,” which he conducted while also performing on the keyboard.

Malina also won a Tony Award for orchestration with Billy Joel for the musical “Movin’ Out,” which Malina helped create with director and choreographer Twyla Tharp. He is the music supervisor for both the National Tour and the London/European Tour of the show.

An accomplished concert pianist, Maestro Malina has impressive credits as a soloist, having performed throughout the United States, the Netherlands, and with the acclaimed Piccolo Spoleto Contemporary Music Festival.

Maestro Malina holds degrees from Harvard University, the Yale School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller.

More details about Malina are available on his website at StuartMalina.com.

GROUNDBREAKING YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Harrisburg Symphony is kicking off a new, groundbreaking program to encourage local students to learn more about classical music. The “Sound Foundation Program” offers extremely discounted season subscriptions to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students, their parents, and their teachers can all get the entire season of the HSO’s Masterworks Series for just $27 each.
Sound Foundation subscriptions are offered in sections 101 and 103 in the Forum. These seats are excellent for students so they can watch Maestro Malina and orchestra musicians up close. The subscription offer is good for a Full Season subscription to either the Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon Masterworks series.
The normal subscription price for this seating area is $175 each. The $27 subscriptions work out to just $3.86 per concert per subscription.
Sound Foundation subscriptions are available for music and school teachers as long as they are accompanied by school students to concerts.
Seats are still available for the 2007-08 season. Interested parents and teachers should call the Harrisburg Symphony at 545-5527 to purchase subscriptions or to get more details.

GET HOOKED ON THE CLASSICS PROGRAM
The Harrisburg Symphony is continuing its other highly successful new subscriber program called “Get Hooked on the Classics.” The program features a 50-percent discount off the regular subscription rate for a Full Season subscription to the Masterworks series for new subscribers.
Since the program started this summer, Full Season subscriptions have tripled over previous seasons. To date, 342 new subscribers have taken advantage of the offer. The 2006-07 season had just 101 new Full Season subscribers.
This offer is open to anyone who has never subscribed to the Masterworks Full Season package before, so even current Mini-4, Mini-3, and Snowbird subscribers can take advantage of this offer to become a Full Subscriber. This offer is good for any seating area. There are seven seating areas to fit every budget.
The 50-percent discount is in addition to the already discounted price of a Masterworks Full Season package over single ticket prices. New subscribers who take advantage of the offer will renew at regular price for the following season.
Individuals interested in subscribing should call the Harrisburg Symphony office at (717) 545-5527.

2007-08 SEASON OPENER
The Harrisburg Symphony begins a season “in perfect harmony” on Oct. 6 and 7, as the orchestra performs works from three classical masters including Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 2,” Dvořák’s “Violin Concerto,” and Wagner’s “Overture to Tannhäuser.”
The “Heroes of the Old World” concert will be performed on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m. at the Forum, located at 5th and Walnut streets in downtown Harrisburg.