Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra with 'Masterworks' to start the jump – West Central Tribune

Willmar – The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Paula Ulicsni Halvorson will be presented on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Willmar Education and Arts Center, 611 5th St. SW, “Masterworks”. Concert visitors are invited to appear to the director at 2:30 p.m. for a conversation about the music that will perform the orchestra.

Tickets cost 15 US dollars for adults and can be bought on the door.

The program will contain several pieces by master composers, including “Sinfonia in C major”, “Ouverture in C major” called von Marianna Martines (1744-1812). This OUVERTURE was first carried out in the 1770s. Martines was a talented composer, pianist and singer and very well established in the Viennnese music circles. As a child, she lived in the same building as Franz Joseph Haydn and took piano lessons.

Martines and her work have been largely unknown since her death in 1812. Her music has been rediscovered and many of her pieces have now been published for playing modern orchestras.

Joseph Haydn's “Symphony No. 104 in D -Major” – also known as “London” Symphony – will follow Martines' piece. This symphony was premiered on May 4, 1795 at the King's Theater in London. Haydn was recorded by the British composer Johann Peter Salomon with 12 symphonies and some other compositions. “Symphony No. 104” was the last symphony of the series.

The chief reciprocal Joshua Pierskalla will perform Georg Philipp Telemann's “Viola Concerto in G Major”.

Pierskalla has been at the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra for more than 20 seasons. He started playing the viola when he was in third grade to Willmar Public Schools and played the whole school in the orchestra. During his high school career, he was also very active in numerous honor orchestras, chamber groups and small ensembles.

Pierskalla studied with Dr. David Arnott (CBS/SJU), Dr. Natalia Moiseeva (U von M) and Dr. Marion Judish (SCSU).

“In general, only a few people know the difference between a viola and a violin,” said Pierskalla. “I like Telemann's concert because it reveals the warming of the viola and clearly shows that Violas can also be used in a soloist context. It is also one of the best-known viola as a viola concerts and also makes you very funny.”

Pierskalla visited St. Cloud State University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in community psychology and his master's degree in marriage and family therapy. During his training, Joshua played at St. Cloud State University Orchestra and at the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. He is currently working in Woodland Centers in Willmar as a licensed marriage and family therapist and has just reached his 10th anniversary at the agency. He works with young people, families and adult populations.

“I have performed Waso a few times over the years and it has always been a wonderful experience,” said Pierskalla. “I enjoyed getting to know many wonderful musicians over the years and also making many wonderful friendships with big colleagues. This orchestra is really a jewel, and it is an honor to still perform with them.”

The last two parts are “Symphony No. 2 in D -Major” by Joseph Bologne and Ludwig van Beethoven's “Symphony No. 1 in C -Dur, Opus 21”.

Bologne, one of the few early classic composers of color, was born in Guadeloupe in 1799 as the son of an African slave mother and a French aristocratic father. When he was seven years old, he moved to France, where he became known for his fence, boxing, dancing and ingenuity. His ability with the violin led him to lead a large orchestra in Paris and to be a private teacher of Queen Marie Antoinette from France.

Beethoven's “Symphony No. 1”, which crosses the limits of classic style and presents some new ideas and musical surprises, which will be premiered in Vienna on April 2, 1800.

The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra has existed in the Willmar Arts community for over 67 years and consists of around 50 musicians of all ages and occurs several times a year. It carries out a wide range of music genres from the entire history – from classics that were written hundreds of years ago to modern film values.

“Masterworks” is partly sponsored by grants from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and the Willmar Area Community Foundation.