43
YOUNGSTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Classical musicians go country in concert
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
A symphony orchestra playing country music?
It could only be one of Randall Craig Fleischer’s projects.
Fleischer, the music director and conductor of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, is known for his creative pieces that merge modern genres with classical arrangement and instrumentation.
His latest is “Country Legends,” which the YSO will perform at its pops concert Saturday at Powers Auditorium.
With a country band and singers as accompanists, the orchestra will play a cross-section of country music hits in this unique concert. Patrons are invited to wear country or Western apparel.
In a recent interview, Fleischer discussed his motivation for creating the show.
“I love the musical legacy of our country,” he said. “I love jazz and rock, and I’m becoming a country music fan. ... You will hear everything from Hank Williams to Carrie Underwood, and Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks.”
Fleischer hopes to attract some country music fans to the concert and wants them to feel at home. Toward that end, he will eschew a tuxedo and dress in more appropriate clothing.
“I will be wearing country boots and jeans,” he said. “I hope the audience does, too.”
The goal is to make a symphony orchestra concert more comfortable and familiar. The usual rules are going out the window. “The audience won’t need to know when to applaud,” said Fleischer, who has already performed the show in Anchorage, Alaska; Phoenix, Tucson, Ariz.; Salt Lake City, Utah, and other cities.
Fleischer created the show from scratch, selecting the songs, arranging the music and putting together all of the musical pieces. That meant a trip to Nashville to secure singers Rachel Potter and Patrick Thomas.
Potter was a top-12 finalist on “The X Factor.” In addition to her country music credits, she has appeared on Broadway in “The Addams Family” and the recent revival of “Evita,” and starred as Glinda in the national tour of “Wicked.”
Thomas was a finalist on season 1 of “The Voice.” On Broadway, he performed in “Anything Goes” as Billy Crocker. He writes music, tours as a band leader for a number of recording artists, and performs multiple times a week in Nashville.
Local vocalists James McClellan, Janeen Williams and Cassandra Rondinella and a country band will join the guest soloists and the full symphony orchestra.
The country band will consist of some members of the YSO, plus a steel guitarist. Joseph Krumholz, who is a music professor at Youngstown State University, will play the bluegrass fiddle.
“Country Legends” pays tribute to the greatest names in country music. It includes 20 songs by Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, John Denver, Billy Ray Cyrus and others.
Those who attend Saturday’s concert at Powers Auditorium are invited to an after-hours performance with the Jeff Bremer Group in the adjacent Overture Restaurant at the DeYor center.