Symphony, local photographers celebrate Rockford

From press release

Music Director Steven Larsen and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) present a concert titled “Pictures at an Exhibition” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 24, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Composer Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is the centerpiece of the concert, featuring works of professional photographers from the region through a series of images of Rockford projected above the orchestra. The performance is the final concert of the 2009/10 ComEd Classics Series.

Featured photographers include Nels Akerlund, Jeffrey Anderson, Pablo Korona, Bradley Nordlof, Valerie Olafson, Steve Pitkin, Sherry Pritz and Hans Rupert.

Curt Johnsen, Rockford Park District Multimedia/Events production specialist and RSO production manager, has choreographed the photos to the music.

Selected works by featured photographers will also be on view in an exhibit at Rockford Art Museum.

Julie Schaper, executive director of the RSO, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Rockford Art Museum, the Rockford Park District, and these talented photographers for this exciting celebration of Rockford and its artists, both musical and visual.”

Tickets for this concert are available at www.rockfordsymphony.com, by calling (815) 965-0049, or visiting the Coronado Performing Arts Center Box Office at 314 N. Main St. Ticket prices range from $18 to $54. Student tickets are $6.

Youth concerts

Two RSO Youth Concert performances featuring the piece Pictures at an Exhibition will be presented at the Coronado Theater Friday, April 23. More than 2,500 school children from a seven-county area will attend. Selected works of Rockford-inspired art created by students will be incorporated into these performances.

Photography exhibit at Rockford Art Museum

To complement this celebration of the arts in Rockford, the RSO partnered with Rockford Art Museum (RAM) to develop an 11-week exhibit of work by photographers featured in the April 24 concert. Curated by RAM Curator Patty Rhea and titled for the concert that inspired it, Pictures at an Exhibition is on view April 9-June 27 in the museum’s Anderson Gallery. This collaborative exhibit is included with regular admission to RAM. Learn more at www.rockfordartmuseum.org.

SoundBites gallery walk

As a prelude to the Saturday concert and the exhibit, RSO and RAM will host a Gallery Walk and SoundBites Discussion Friday, April 23, in the Rockford Art Museum. The April 23 SoundBites will consist of a noon-12:30 p.m. Gallery Walk with Sherry Pritz to view the photography exhibit, followed by the lunchtime talk from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the RAM Art Annex with RSO Music Director Steven Larsen and several of the featured photographers.

For more about the SoundBites event, contact Lorie Langan at (815) 972-2939.