Candlewood Symphony Orchestra

To Debut With ‘The Joy Of Mozart’

DANBURY — Until recently every city in Connecticut that is Danbury’s size or larger could boast its own resident professional orchestra. That is about to change.

Candlewood Symphony Orchestra will debuting with a performance called “The Joy of Mozart” on October 22 and 23 at St James Church, 25 West Street. Performances will be at 7:30 pm on Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday.

Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door.

Under the baton of founder and artistic director David Katz, this new orchestra features professional musicians from Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera, Tanglewood, Caramoor and Juilliard, with many of the members living locally. CSO reside in Danbury, Brookfield, Redding, Wilton, Carmel, Sandy Hook and Ridgefield.

“Audiences in New York hear these fabulous musicians all the time,” said Mr Katz. “It is wonderful to be able to finally feature them right here at home, performing for our community some of the most beautiful music ever written.”

The program for “The Joy of Mozart” includes favorite overtures, “with tunes you’ll know,” says Mr Katz, including the delightful Flute & Harp Concerto, which will feature flutist Maryly Culpepper and harpist Wendy Lucas as soloists, and the exquisite vocal solo, “Exsultate Jubilate,” with soprano Margaret Astrup of the Western Connecticut State University faculty.

It took 25 for Candlewood Symphony to be founded. When Mr Katz returned to his home town of Danbury after nearly two decades working in the Midwest as an orchestra and opera conductor, he was surprised Danbury did not yet have a professional orchestra of its own.

“The city has grown so much since I was a boy. The audience for the arts and classical music has only grown deeper, so I wondered why there were still no resident professional arts organizations in town at all,” he said. “Practically every city our size has them. They form the backbone of a city’s cultural life. Finally, I stopped wondering and founded first Hat City Music Theater and now the Candlewood Symphony.”

The sister ensembles, both non-profits, are Danbury’s first resident professional performing arts groups.

“I think Danbury deserves the exceptional quality professional musicians are trained to offer. Citizens of our community who enjoy great music played with brilliance and wonderful energy will love the Candlewood Symphony,” Mr Katz concluded.

Following “The Joy of Mozart,” CSO will next be heard in Hat City Music’s “Hat City Holiday Pops” on December 3 and 4, also at St James Church.

Advance ticket purchases can be done online at www.BrownPaperTickets.com or over the phone at 746-2694.