Claflin Hill present Quests & Legends

Claflin Hill Symphony Presents World Premiere Performance of New Work by CHSO Violinist

Purchase tickets online at www.claflinhill.org

Reserved: $39, Student/ senior: $25

Claflin Hill Symphony Presents World
Premiere Performance of  New Work by CHSO
Violinist

The Claflin Hill Symphony
Orchestra’s 2013-14 “Journey” Season continues on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at
7:30 PM in The Milford Town Hall Grand Ballroom with “Quests & Legends” –
featuring music of Edvard Grieg, Alexander Borodin and a new world premiere by
Julia Okrusko, CHSO Assistant Principal Violinist.

The CHSO will be joined by the New
World Chorale, under the direction of Holly MacEwen Krafka for this monumental
concert which includes Grieg’s “Music from Peer Gynt” and Borodin’s
“Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor.” 
Okrusko’s “Legends – Fantasy Violin” will complete the evening’s
program.

Okrusko, a native of Lithuania, came
to the United States in 2005 as a graduate student at Boston University, and
joined the Claflin Hill Symphony during the 2006-07 season.  She is presently the Assistant Principal
Second Violinist of the orchestra and is also the First Violinist of the New
England String Quartet, whose members are also all CHSO musicians.

“Legends – Fantasy Violin” is a 45
minute work in 11 movements for solo violin, with orchestra and chorus, and is
inspired by Celtic, New Age and “Tolkien” themes.  Okrusko wrote the work during the winter of
2013, and recorded it digitally in a recording studio.  During the last five months, she has been
completing the orchestra and choral scores for its first live performance with
Claflin Hill in March.  Her work has
already been nominated for Best Instrumental/Orchestral, Best New Age, and Best
Classical at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, whose previous winners include
such notable composers as Hans Zimmer (Gladiator).

“When Julia brought Legends to my
attention this past summer, we had already set our season programming for the
Journey season,” said Paul Surapine, Executive & Artisitic Director of
CHSO.  “But when she sent me the
digitally produced CD of the entire “Legends” piece, I was so amazed that I
immediately met with Holly Krafka, Director of New World Chorale to discuss
changing our March program and premiering Legends.  Holly was as taken with it as I, and we
immediately made plans for a new program with Legends as the centerpiece.  It is an absolutely amazing and inspiring
work of epic proportions, and Julia performance as solo violinist is beautiful,
haunting and heroic”

In a recent interview for Claflin
Hill’s Winter newsletter, Okrusko said that much of the inspiration for Legends
came out of her experience as a violinist with CHSO, which is the only
orchestra she performs with, and its unique formula of combining virtuosic
artistry with audience accessibility. 
“The CHSO is very different from other orchestras, and being a part of
the CHSO is a very unique experience. Over the years, the CHSO has become a
family to me - as it has for all of our members. There is a very special energy
and warmth in all our rehearsals and performances, and the level of
musicianship is incredibly stimulating and inspiring,” said Okrusko.  “I started playing in CHSO while I was still
a student at Boston University, and I couldn't imagine a better orchestra to
raise me as a performer and composer. It was also CHSO where I discovered the
unique connection with the audience, and to me this wonderful exchange of
inspiration is the very definition of performance.”   (The Complete interview with Okrusko is
attached)

Tickets for “Quests & Legends”
can be purchased online through the Claflin Hill website at
www.claflinhill.org.

The Milford Town Hall is handicapped
accessible and is located at 52 Main Street, Downtown Milford, 01757

Call Claflin Hill at 508-478-5924 or
visit the website with questions or for more information.

***

The Claflin Symphony Orchestra,
located in Milford, MA, is a powerful regional musical force. Through
passionate performances presented by masterful musicians, the CHSO plays a
leading role in the cultural enrichment and vitality of Central Massachusetts
and MetroWest communities. The CHSO sponsors a remarkable outreach program that
helps youth perfect their musical talents and build long-lasting appreciation
for music.