CAPE ANN SYMPHONY
THE 67th SEASON
Yoichi Udagawa, Music Director
A Festive Musical Celebration for
Orchestra and Chorus
Featuring
The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus,
The Ipswich High School Bel Canto Select Woman’s Chorus &
The Manchester-Essex Regional High School Select Chorus
AND
INTRODUCING .JAKE COPP,
WINNER: INAUGURAL CAS YOUNG MUSICIANS COMPETITION in
HIS PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
The Cape Ann Symphony’s Annual Holiday Pops Concert, kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA; Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm at Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA with a joyful program of music from Anderson, Bach, Herbert, Tchaikovsky and many others. The 2019 Holiday Pops concert led by CAS Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa features the return of the Cape Ann Symphony Chorus under the direction of Rockport’s Wendy Betts; the Ipswich High School Bel Canto Select Woman’s Chorus and the Manchester-Essex Regional High School Select Chorus; as well as the CAS debut of cellist Jake Copp the winner of the first annual Cape Ann Symphony Young Musicians Competition.
The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus and Orchestra are joined by the Ipswich High School Bel Canto Select Woman’s Chorus on Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA; and joined by the Manchester-Essex Regional High School Select Chorus on Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm at Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. The student choruses will perform Handel’s Hallelujah and Holcomb’s Festive Sounds of Hanukkah with the CAS Chorus and Orchestra. Cape Ann Symphony Conductor and Music Director Yoichi Udagawa is looking forward to this year’s Holiday Pops Concert, ““ The musicians of the orchestra and I always thrilled to perform the Holiday Pops concerts. We love sharing the stage with our wonderful chorus, as well as the student choruses from both Ipswich and Manchester. This year we are especially excited to introduce our audience to young Jake Copp, the winner of the CAS’ first ever Young Musicians Competition.”
A holiday tradition, the Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concerts regularly sell out. The December 1 Sunday Matinee in Manchester is currently SOLD OUT! There are still tickets available for both Saturday, November 30 concerts. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
The 2019 Holiday Pops program includes Tchaikovsky’s Selections from The Nutcracker; Anderson’s Christmas Festival , Bach’s Little Fugue in G minor, Rondol’s Gloria; Herbert’s March of the Toys, Davis/Wright’s Carol of the Drum, Custer’s Winter Wonderland, Rutter’s What Sweeter Music, Handel’s Hallelujah and Holcomb’s Festive Sounds of Hanukkah
CAS Young Musicians Competition winner 16 year old cellist Jake Copp makes his professional debut at the Holiday Pops. He performs Saint-Saëns Allegro Appassionato for Solo Cello and Orchestra at all 3 Holiday Pops Concert on November 30 and December 1 with the professional musician of the CAS orchestra. Mr. Copp is a student of CAS cellist Dorothy Braker. Maestro Udagawa is eager to introduce the first ever competition winner to CAS audiences,” We had some terrific young candidates, and it was a difficult choice. But I know everyone will really enjoy Jake’s passionate playing. We are thrilled to be presenting such an accomplished young talent. And extremely grateful to Dr. Ed and Mrs. Ann Marsh for their generosity which made this competition possible.”
The Cape Ann Symphony launched The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus at the 2005 Holiday POPS Concert. The Cape Ann Symphony Chorus is a chorale with over 75 voices from the North Shore area. The group performed with the Cape Ann Symphony at Holiday POPS Concerts in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 2013, 2014. 2015, 2016. 2017 and 2018. The 75 plus member chorale under the direction of Wendy Betts is comprised mostly of North Shore residents, the majority of which live on Cape Ann. According to Betts, “It is such a pleasure to work with the singers in our CAS Chorus! They work hard, are disciplined in their music tasks, and put out a lovely choral sound. But best of all, they truly enjoy one another, which is what choral singing is all about! Making music TOGETHER! And this year we are looking forward to again singing with the young people from Ipswich High School and Manchester-Essex Regional High School.
A voice teacher and choral director, Ms. Betts is the Organist/Director of Music Arts as well the Director of handchime and newly formed handbell ensembles at Our Savior
Lutheran Church in Topsfield. In October 2017, to celebrate 500 years of the Protestant Reformation, Wendy directed a Bach choir of over 50 voices of North Shore choral singers, performing portions of Bach’s cantata #80 Ein feste burg ist unser Gott with trumpet, organ, piano, and percussion, as well as incorporating area soloists and ensembles in singing several of Bach’s beautiful arias and magnificent chorales. Ms. Betts has an independent voice studio and teaches piano and voice as well as leading seminars with area vocalists and choral groups and sharing music ministry with church and studio choirs in North of Boston rehabilitation centers. She is also the Founder and Director of Share the Music, a group of 20-plus singers who present favorites from the American Songbook each March. Ms. Betts’ vocal performances include several Victorian Parlor Concerts and two Emily Dickinson programs. Ms. Betts presently serves as Music Chairman for the Women’s Council of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Wenham, MA.
Founded in Gloucester in 1951, the Cape Ann Symphony is a professional orchestra of over 70 players from throughout the New England area. They perform a subscription season of four concerts per year plus several Pops and youth concerts. The Symphony Board of Directors named Yoichi Udagawa the Music Director and Conductor of the Cape Ann Symphony in the summer of 2000 after a yearlong search. In addition to his leadership of Cape Ann Symphony, he is Music Director and Conductor of the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and a cover conductor at the Boston Pops Orchestra. Frequently invited to guest conduct, Mr. Udagawa has worked with many different orchestras including the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Nobeoka Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Indian Hill Symphony, the Garden State Philharmonic, the Brown University Orchestra, the Syracuse Society for New Music, the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, the Newton Symphony, the Austin Civic Orchestra, and the Mid-Texas Symphony. Mr. Udagawa is at home in popular and contemporary music as well as the standard symphonic repertoire. He is known for his relaxed manner and ability to speak from the podium which has helped new audiences as well as enthusiasts gain a greater appreciation for symphonic music. His programs often include premieres of new works – some specially commissioned for the orchestra — as well as great orchestral works across the symphonic repertoire and lively Pops programs. He is also an integral part of the Cape Ann Symphony Youth Outreach programs to area schools.
Cape Ann Symphony’s Holiday Pops Concert is Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm at the Dolan Performing Arts Center at Ipswich High School on 134 High Street, Ipswich, MA; Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 pm and a SOLD OUT concert on Sunday, December 1 at 2 pm at Manchester-Essex High School auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Single ticket prices are $43 for adults, $38 for senior citizens, $15 for Students of any age; $5 for youth 12 years old and under. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
Good Morning Gloucester 