This preview provided by North Carolina Symphony.
The North Carolina Symphony’s 2016 UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series continues at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre with a tribute to the music of John Williams in a two-night festival. NC Symphony Music Director Grant Llewellyn conducts Friday evening’s performance and guest conductor Alastair Willis conducts Saturday’s performance.
On Friday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m., the program features selections from several films in the Harry Potter series—plus stirring melodies including the march from Midway, music from J.F.K. and Schindler’s List, and the beloved tango Por Una Cabeza, arranged by John Williams and featuring NC Symphony Concertmaster Brian Reagin. The Friday Concert Sponsor is Crabtree Valley Mall.
On Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m., the program opens with brand new music from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The program also includes music from E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and more, ending with the Star Wars Suite—including the Imperial March and the original, unforgettable title music. Concertgoers can also meet and take photographs with costumed Star Wars characters from the all-volunteer 501st Legion.
Both concerts include Picnic of the Week contest and North Carolina Symphony’s popular Instrument Zoo for kids of all ages to try out orchestra instruments before the concerts.
Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.
Willis is currently in his fourth season as Music Director for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Previous positions include Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra’s Coffee Concert series 2008-2011, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony 2000-2003, Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor’s degree with honors from England’s Bristol University, an Education degree from Kingston University, and a Masters of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Willis currently resides in Seattle.
The North Carolina Symphony’s popular UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest concerts bring great music for relaxed listening to Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre through July 9. While concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., concertgoers may bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs as early as 5:30 p.m. to enjoy the striking natural surroundings before the music begins. Children 12 and under are admitted free on the lawn, and the Symphony’s Instrument Zoo will be at both this weekend’s concerts, so kids of all ages can experience symphony instruments for themselves.
Summerfest 2016 is presented by UNC REX Healthcare, co-sponsored by First Citizens Bank, and hosted by the Town of Cary. Summerfest Instrument Zoos are sponsored by MetLife Foundation. Media sponsors are Cary Magazine, FOX 50, WRAL.com/TV5, and MIX 101.5/WRAL-FM. This year’s UNC REX Healthcare is also included in VisitRaleigh.com’s “Artify: The Arts in Parks, a convergence of arts organizations celebrating 100 years of parks, the art that happens in them and the art inspired by them.”
Booth Amphitheatre is located at 8003 Regency Parkway in Cary, N.C.
The 11-concert UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series offers music lovers a perfect family outing, and once again, concertgoers who display the biggest and boldest culinary skills can win prizes. The Whole Foods Market of Cary Picnic of the Week contest returns for the seventh year. Throughout the summer, groups of concertgoers selected as the most impressive picnickers of that weekend’s concert will receive a $100 gift basket from Whole Foods Market of Cary. Two honorable mentions in the form of $25 gift cards will also be awarded. Select UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series concerts also feature other pre-concert activities, including Summerfest Instrument Zoos sponsored by MetLife Foundation for kids of all ages.
Tickets and Subscriptions
General admission lawn seating for either of the John Williams Festival concerts is $33 in advance, $35 at the door. Covered table seating is also available for $35 in advance, $37 at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free for lawn seating at all UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series concerts.
Flex tickets on the lawn and reserved seating for covered tables are also available for the entire series, on sale through June 10. Flex tickets allow music lovers the easiest access to the UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series, for savings of up to 40% when compared to single-concert ticket prices. For more on becoming a series subscriber, visit the UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest Series page at www.ncsymphony.org/subscriptions.
About the North Carolina Symphony
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony performs over 175 concerts annually to adults and school children in more than 50 North Carolina counties. An entity of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the orchestra employs 66 professional musicians, under the artistic leadership of Music Director and Conductor Grant Llewellyn, Resident Conductor and Summerfest Artistic Director William Henry Curry, and Associate Conductor David Glover.
Based in downtown Raleigh’s spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and an outdoor summer venue at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C., the Symphony performs about 60 concerts annually in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary metropolitan area. It holds regular concert series in Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines and Wilmington — as well as individual concerts in many other North Carolina communities throughout the year — and conducts one of the most extensive education programs of any U.S. orchestra.
About the Town of Cary and Koka Booth Amphitheatre
The Town of Cary focuses every day on enriching the lives of its citizens by creating an exceptional environment and providing exemplary services that enable the community to thrive and prosper. Cary has more than 20 public parks, 20 miles of trails, cultural arts programs and facilities as well as concerts and other special events throughout the year.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, the Town’s state-of-the-art performance center venue nestled in the trees by Symphony Lake, is the summer home for the North Carolina Symphony. Celebrating its 16th season, in addition to Summerfest, patrons can look forward to another exciting season of national touring acts, outdoor movie series, weekly jazz, country and bluegrass concerts and its many cultural, food and beverage fun festivals.
Concert/Event Listings:
North Carolina Symphony
John Williams Festival – Night 1
Grant Llewellyn, conductor
Brian Reagin, violin
Friday, June 10, 2016, 7:30 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)
Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
North Carolina Symphony
John Williams Festival – Night 2
Alastair Willis, conductor
Saturday, June 11, 2016, 7:30 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)
Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
Program Listing for Friday, June 10:
North Carolina Symphony
John Williams Festival – Night 1
Grant Llewellyn, conductor
Brian Reagin, violin
June 10, 2016
PATRICK DOYLE and JOHN WILLIAMS: Suite from Harry Potter films
/arr. Victor Lopex & Jerry Brubaker:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I. Hagrid the Professor
II. Double Trouble
III. A Window to the Past
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
I. The Quidditch World Cup (The Irish)
II. Foreign Visitors Arrive
III. Potter Waltz
IV. Harry in Winter
V. Voldemort!
VI. Hogwarts’ Hymn
JOHN WILLIAMS: Suite from J.F.K.
CARLOS GARDEL / arr. JOHN WILLIAMS: Por Una Cabeza
JOHN WILLIAMS: The Patriot
JOHN WILLIAMS: March from Midway
JOHN WILLIAMS: “Flight to Neverland” from Hook
JOHN WILLIAMS: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Suite for Orchestra
Hedwig’s Theme
The Sorceror’s Stone
Nimbus 2000
Harry’s Wondrous World
Program Listing for Saturday, June 11:
North Carolina Symphony
John Williams Festival – Night 2
Alastair Willis, conductor
JOHN WILLIAMS: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Suite for Orchestra
JOHN WILLIAMS: Excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
JOHN WILLIAMS: “Adventures on Earth” from E.T.
JOHN WILLIAMS: March from Superman
JOHN WILLIAMS: Music from Lincoln
JOHN WILLIAMS: “Raider’s March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark
JOHN WILLIAMS: “Hymn to the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan
JOHN WILLIAMS: Star Wars Suite
