San Juan Symphony to Present “Back to the Future” Concert on February 17

Durango, CO – The San Juan Symphony will kick-off the second half of its Lollapalooza season with a concert at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College at 3 pm on Sunday, February 17. “Back to the Future” will feature a return visit by young prizewinning pianist Zhu Wang from Shanghai, guest conductor Ken Freed from Minnesota and Durango’s own Meredith Mapel as vocal soloist.

Selections on the program will include Bermel’s edgy and elegant Canzonas Americanas, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Haydn’s earthy Symphony No. 104.

Guest conductor Ken Freed will preview the concert on Wednesday, February 13 at 6 pm at the Durango Arts Center. The pre-concert talk is free and open to the public.

Ken Freed is in his sixth season as Music Director of Minnesota’s Mankato Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as an Assistant Conductor of The Minnesota Orchestra, where he led performances on its Family and Young People’s concert series.

We welcome back piano prodigy Zhu Wang from Shanghai. He is currently a student of the Middle School affiliated with Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studying with Professor Zhe Tang. He has been awarded many prizes including First Prize in the Hilton Head International Young Artist Piano Competition last year.

Meredith Mapel, General Manager of Durango/Farmington Coca-Cola, is honored to perform with the San Juan Symphony. Growing up in Durango, she performed The Messiah with the Choral Society at age 11 as well as several seasons at the Diamond Circle Theatre. She spent eight years in the Chicago area performing in musicals such as Into the Woods, Grand Hotel, Singing in the Rain, Zorba, Cinderella, Annie, Anything Goes, The Red Mill and several musical reviews.

For tickets or information, call the Community Concert Hall ticket office in Durango at 970.247.7657.
For more information, please call the SJS office at 970-382-9753, or visit online at www.sanjuansymphony.org.