PSO Holiday Concert 12/6/2015
The Parma Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert on Sunday, December 6, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at Valley Forge High School Auditorium, located at 9999 Independence Boulevard in Parma Heights. Music Director Dr. Randolph P. Laycock will feature Andrew Sords, violin, and Sawyer Thomson, cello, performing: Brahms Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 and a selection of Holiday Favorites The orchestra, in its 47th season, consists of 75 members of all walks of life from all over the entire Greater Cleveland area. They meet weekly for rehearsals and present at least four concerts annually. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Family passes of $20 are available for families of up to 2 adults and their children. All tickets are available at the door beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The Parma Symphony Orchestra is a self-supporting community orchestra in cooperation with the Parma City Schools. For more information, find us on Facebook, go to our website www.parmasymphony.org, or call Business Manager Joe Germana at 440-882-2012.
American violinist Andrew Sords is recognized internationally for his performances combining visceral virtuosity and ravishing tone. Hailed in the press as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald), Sords has received numerous awards and distinctions reflecting his career trajectory, including the Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Career Grant and the NFMC Young Artist Award.
A man of diverse interests, Sords competed in the charity fundraiser “Pittsburgh’s Dancing With The Stars” as the first classical artist to do so. Sords has performed numerous times for GLBT outreach, including return appearances with the Minnesota Philharmonic, Atlanta Philharmonic, and on Sirius XM’s Derek and Romaine Show. Additionally, Sords performed the National Anthem for ESPN2’s WNBA Pride Game (2014).
American cellist Sawyer Thomson has garnered accolades as a performer equally at home in concerto appearances, chamber music, and the orchestral literature. From performances in the United States and Canada to honing his knowledge of fine instruments at J&A Beare Rare Violins (London), Mr. Thomson has established himself as a versatile artist.
A native of Dover, Ohio, Mr. Thomson began cello lessons with Keith Robinson, and recently earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) as a student of Sharon Robinson. While at CIM, Mr. Thomson regularly served as principal cellist for the orchestra and was selected to participate in the Advanced Piano Trio Program. Mr. Thomson made his concerto debut as a winner of the Akron Youth Symphony competition in a performance of the Elgar concerto. Upcoming appearances include the Brahms double concerto with the Parma Symphony (Ohio) and the Mendelssohn piano trios at respected Canadian venues in Toronto, Guelph, Durham, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Mr. Thomson performs on a rare Italian cello crafted by Giovanni Grancino in 1690, and makes his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joe Germana
Independent Insurance Agent and VP of Four Star Insurance Agency Inc. Parma Area Kiwanian, Parma Symphony Orchestra Business Manager and Oboist.