Redlands Symphony Kicked Off their 65th Year

On Oct. 25, Saturday night, the Redlands Symphony kicked off their 65th year with Maestro Jon Robertson leading the orchestra at the Memorial Chapel at University of Redlands. The symphony performed Richard Strauss’s “Don Juan” and the “Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music” from Die Walkure. Special guest violinist Marina Lenau also joined the orchestra as they performed Tchaikovsky’s popular violin concerto. “We thank all the support you give us throughout the year... the fact that you believe in us, the fact that music is such an important part of artistic and cultural value within this community and because of you all, here we are 65 years later,” president and CEO of Redlands Symphony Paul Ideker said before turning everyone’s attention over to Conductor Robertson. Music director and conductor Jon Robertson has been in his position at the Redlands Symphony since fall of 1982, and plans to retire in 2017. “Thank you for being here with me and allowing me to share an evening of magnificent music with you,” he stated. Lenau is a Ukranian American violinist who has a lot of experience performing from different places all around the world. Not only has she performed in the United States but also in Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. Lenau is still working on getting her Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree from the USC’s Thornton School of Music. While doing so, she is studying with the famous violinist Glenn Dicterow. The Redlands Orchestra consists of the music director and conductor Jon Robertson including musicians playing the violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, and the harp. Stage manager Michelle Chavez, librarian Kathryn Nevin and personnel Manager David Scott also joined the stage with the orchestra. To end the night, Lenau joined the orchestra on stage and performed the violin concerto by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky starting off with “Allegro Moderato,” and then “Canzonetta: Andante.” For the finale performance they performed “Allegro Vivacissimo.”