SEASON. GLOBAL Inspiration, CLASSICAL Innovation. Indigenous Origins

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1 SEASON GLOBAL Inspiration, CLASSICAL Innovation Indigenous Origins Apollo s playing is magnificent and their ideas in programming are fascinating. -- Audiophile Audition

2 In the beginning there was music. And it was good. Music has been with humanity since the start, expressing emotions and telling stories in primal, visceral ways. Spanning many millennia, it evolved in concert with a people s geography, social and political pathways, successes and failures. This is our journey of discovery through Indigenous Origins. Through a diverse mix of programs featuring traditional, contemporary, and newly commissioned music, our 2016/17 season explores the indigenous folk traditions of the Persian, Australian, Andean, and Far Western European regions. We cross the half-way point of 20x2020, with premieres of newly commissioned works at each season concert. Pre-concert talks and Q&A sessions with 20x2020 composers provide an added cultural dimension to each program, along with partnerships with local schools, universities, and refugee service organizations. We are pleased to help enhance the local creative economy by collaborating with members of Cantare Houston, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Grand Opera Studio, and renowned faculty artists from the Moores School of Music and the Shepherd School of Music. Of note, Apollo returns to Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) in February 2017 for a concert with acclaimed Syrian composer-pianist Malek Jandali, spotlighting 20x2020 No. 8. Finally, we continue to expand our educational offerings in the greater Houston area through programs sponsored by Young Audiences of Houston and granting from Texas Commission on the Arts, and we look forward to our second full season at the cuttingedge Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH). Thank you for your continued patronage and support of Apollo Chamber Players; kindly consider a tax-deductible donation gift along with your subscription package. We hope you will join Apollo on this innovative aboriginal adventure. Warm Regards, Matthew J. Detrick, Artistic Director

3 Indigenous Origins SEASON CONCERTS CONCERT I OF PEACE AND PROTEST Saturday, October 15, 2016 MATCH in Midtown Dissent comes in many forms, but none so beautifully affecting and powerfully potent than expressed through music. This program pays tribute to the displaced and to those seeking refuge from the clutches of totalitarianism. Syrian composer-pianist Malek Jandali joins Apollo for the world premiere of a newly commissioned piano quintet inspired by Syrian and Middle Eastern musical traditions. And a folk song set by celebrated Iranian-born composer Reza Vali, professor at Carnegie Mellon University, offers an enchanting glimpse into the beautiful music of Persia. A portion of concert proceeds will be donated to Houston-based Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR). PROGRAM Malek Jandali: Piano Quintet 20x2020 No. 8 WORLD PREMIERE Reza Vali: Folk Song set #11b Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8 Malek Jandali..moving and thought provoking. -- NPR Vali s trademark mix of Persian and Western music makes for an unusual and evocative texture that is enormously appealing. Reza Vali -- Boston Herald

4 Indigenous Origins CONCERT II EX NIHILO: OUT OF NOTHING Saturday, January 7, 2017 MATCH in Midtown Creation myths connect all cultures of the world, representing our shared humanity and creative inquisitiveness about the genesis of life. Music and art tell this uniquely human story more compellingly than any other medium. Join Apollo for a concert exploring the Judeo-Christian, African, and Australian perspectives on this universal question. Program features a newly commissioned work based on Australian aboriginal Dreamtime poetry by Christopher Walczak, Professor of Composition at Southern Illinois University, and a premiere arrangement of Haydn s Creation for chamber ensemble. Guest artists include members of Cantare Houston, Houston Chamber Choir, and Rice University faculty and alumni. PROGRAM Christopher Walczak: String Quartet 20x2020 No. 9 WORLD PREMIERE Peter Sculthorpe: Island Dreaming Milhaud: la Creation du monde, for double string quartet, Arr. Daniel Seidenberg *Grammy-winning arrangement Haydn: The Creation (Part I), Arr. Lorento Golofeev Guest Artists: Lynelle Rowley, soprano Michael Vaughn, bass Adam Lamotte, violin, Portland Baroque Orchestra Sonja Harasim, violin, Assistant Professor at Concordia College (Fargo, ND) James Dunham, viola, Professor at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University ---20x2020 No. 9 generously underwritten by Dr. Adam Chandler--- Michael Vaughn Lynelle Rowley James Dunham Christopher Walczak Winner of CHASM New Music Festival Competition, Florida State University (2008) Academy of Arts and Letters Charles Ives Award Nominee Sonja Harasim Adam Lamotte

5 CONCERT III ANDEAN WALKABOUT Friday, March 31, 2017 MATCH in Midtown While the tango reigns as one of the most popular Latin American dances, the folk rhythms of the Andes express a unique story of the region s indigenous heritage - of love, strife, and celebration. Award-winning Chilean composer-guitarist Javier Farias joins as guest artist and composes for Apollo the 10th commission of 20x2020, a work for string quartet and guitar inspired by Chilean, Peruvian, Bolivian, and Argentinean folk rhythms. Program also features a celebrated contemporary work by Houston Symphony s composer-in-residence Gabriela Lena Frank. University of Houston professor Dr. Howard Pollack presents a pre-concert lecture. PROGRAM Javier Farias: Quintet for String Quartet and Guitar 20x2020 No. 10 WORLD PREMIERE Gabriela Lena Frank: Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout (2001) Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1 Piazzolla: Tango Ballet Gabriela Lena Frank 2009 Latin Grammy Winner Javier Farias 2014 Fromm Music Foundation (Harvard University) Winner crafted with unselfconscious mastery --Washington Post

6 CONCERT IV: AN IRISH ODYSSEY Friday, May 5, 2017 MATCH in Midtown Apollo s season finale is a multi-genre exploration of the storied music of Ireland. The ensemble premieres its first co-commissioned work, a string quartet fusing classical and electroacoustic with the distinct soundscapes of the national bagpipe of Ireland, the Uilleann Pipes. Arrangements of folksong from the Petrie Collection of Ancient Irish Music, and music spotlighting the plight of the Irish Palatine community bring this Irish journey full circle. Sláinte! Acclaimed University of Houston professors Timothy Hester (piano) and Timothy Jones (baritone), and Houston Grand Opera Studio Artist (2016 Met Opera Grand Finalist Winner) Yelena Dyachek join Apollo as guest artists for Beethoven s exquisite take on Irish folksong. PROGRAM: Christopher Theofanidis/Mark Wingate: Electro-Acoustic string quartet 20x2020 No. 11 WORLD PREMIERE Beethoven: Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Songs for Voice and Piano Trio Guest Artists: Timothy Hester, piano Yelena Dyachek, soprano Timothy Jones, baritone Howard Ferguson: Five Irish Folk Tunes Irish Palatine folk songs, Arr. Apollo Christopher Theofanidis 2007 Grammy Nomination What impresses me about Theofanidis is his ability to blend several musical languages once thought to be mutually exclusive...the results are enormously attractive. --The Washington Post 20x2020 No. 11 generously underwritten by Rhonda and Donald Sweeney Mark Wingate Timothy Jones Yelena Dyachek Jones voice -- flowing, flexible, but always with a gorgeous timbre -- sought for and found the nuances of this fascinating work. -- Pittsburgh Post Gazette Timothy Hester

7 Apollo s fabulous - inspiring and full of the future in their playing. -- Libby Larsen 20 new folk music-inspired works by Since the launch of 20x2020 in 2014, the project s commissions have been featured on radio and internet stations across the country, from Houston Public Media to American Public Media s nationallysyndicated radio program, Performance Today. They have reached a total audience of over 5 million, through radio/television broadcasts and live performances in schools, colleges and hospitals in the Houston region and beyond. We are grateful for the support and enthusiasm this project has received and the many it has touched positively thus far. The 2016/17 season promises to continue the resounding success of 20x2020. By the close of the year, we will have passed the project s half-way point with 11 total works. The season s roster of composers is bold and eclectic: Syrian composer-pianist Malek Jandali (20x2020 No. 8) has garnered praise for his unique musical voice and passionate commitment to helping Syrian refugee families and children; Christopher Walczak (20x2020 No. 9), Assistant Professor of Composition at Southern Illinois University, believes that new music must articulate the thoughts, values, and pulse of the current social atmosphere in which the audience lives ; Chilean composerguitarist Javier Farias (20x2020 No. 10), a recent recipient of Harvard University s Fromm Music Foundation award, represents a compelling contemporary voice of the music of his native Chile and South America; finally, composers Christopher Theofanidis and Mark Wingate (20x2020 No. 11) embody the very best of what new music can and should strive for in the 21st century. The new works of art created by these composers promise to engage, challenge, and delight. Through thoughtful thematic programing, it is also our aim that they will illuminate our individual and shared cultural heritage in meaningful ways. Kindly consider a tax-deductible gift to 20x2020. Your generous contributions enrich the lives of many! Please contact Director Matthew Detrick at for 20x2020 gift planning; contribution levels/benefits at apollochamberplayers.org 20x2020 Goals To create new music and to continue the tradition of expanding the classical music canon. To engage the diverse community of Houston (and the U.S.) with music inspired by specific ethnic/cultural/indigenous traditions. To utilize commissions in curating educational programs that will touch thousands of students and children of all ages. To provide commissions to well-known composers and up-and-coming artists, gifted students.

8 Educational Outreach Working with students at KIPP Sharpstown; workshop underwritten by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts APOLLO CHAMBER PLAYERS is devoted to the educational aspect of its mission which holds at its core a commitment to engage the global community of Houston and beyond. Recent engagements include outreach programs for Baltimore Symphony s OrchKids and Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. Apollo s distinctive programming and 20x2020 commissions are incorporated into thematic workshops that can be geared toward any grade level or community group. Programs range from multimedia explorations of the concept of identity, as told through the music and life stories of African American composers Florence Beatrice Price and Henry Thacker Burleigh, to programs illuminating cultural music from around the world. Apollo is proud to be an Associate member of Houston Arts Partners, a coalition of nonprofit arts organizations and 53 Houston-area school districts working together to ensure that all students have access to a complete arts education. To learn more about available workshops and their curricular connections, please visit apollochamberplayers.org or Albums, Touring and Regional Concerts European Folkscapes, released January 2014 by Navona Records (Parma Recordings) Zesty collection of folk arrangements for string quartet. -- WQXR-NYC Album of the Week (April 2014) Blurred Boundaries, released April 2016 by Navona Records (Parma Recordings) This is truly lovely music played exceptionally well by the adventurous and gifted young ensemble. Highly recommended! -- Daniel Coombs, AUDIOPHILE AUDITION The results are impressive, due in no small measure to the idiomatic, honest, bold and straightforward playing of the members of Apollo Chamber Players. -- RAFAELMUSICNOTES.COM Available on Amazon, itunes, and Naxos of America. Visit apollochamberplayers.org for more information. Touring and Regional Concerts 2016/17 SEASON Harmony in the Air, sponsored by the Houston Airport System and the City of Houston: Performances every Monday in Hobby Airport s Main Terminal Texas Children s Hospital, Houston TX (Visit ACP website for specific dates/times) St. James Episcopal Evening Concerts 9/25/16 Conroe, TX Temple Emmanuel High Holy Services 10/7 & 10/12/16 Beaumont, TX Fredericksburg Music Club 10/16/16 Fredericksburg, TX Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) 2/4/17 New York, New York Shepherd School of Music Faculty Concert, Webster Duo + Apollo 2/20/17 Houston, TX Calder Baptist Chamber Music Series 2/25/17 Beaumont, TX

9 Anabel Ramirez, Matthew J. Detrick, Matthew Dudzik and Whitney Bullock Houston (TX) based Apollo Chamber Players has found fruitful territory (Houston Chronicle) through its mission to explore the cultural and folkloric influences in classical music, and the ensemble s performances have rhythmic flair and doses of virtuosity (The Strad). As a string quartet, Apollo presents thematically-programmed concerts both regionally and nationally including two recent tours of the East Coast, with a Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 and concerts in Hartford, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and at Symphony Space (NYC) in Additional touring engagements include concerts for Chamber Music Society of Little Rock, Seattle University, Grand Junction Symphony, and Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. The ensemble is featured frequently on American Public Media s nationally syndicated program, Performance Today. Apollo s 20x2020 commissioned works have reached a listening audience of over 8 million since the project s launch in 2014, and the ensemble s albums have received international critical acclaim and airplay. Winner of HoustonPress 2014 MasterMinds award, Apollo was one of three organizations in Houston to be recognized for positively impacting the local arts community. In recent seasons Apollo has collaborated with Houston Ballet, Houston METdance, and Catholic Charities of Houston, and concertized with acclaimed artists James Dunham, Ivo-Jan van der Werff, Timothy Pitts, Ismail Lumanovski, and Robin Kesselman. Visit apollochamberplayers.org for complete ensemble and artist bios. Patron & Donor Spotlight Apollo Chamber Players are so enthusiastic about folkloric-inspired classical music that it s infectious! We are thrilled with the idea of Irish folk music inspiring a new classical composition, especially with The Refuge composer and Moores School graduate Christopher Theofanidis at the helm! -- Rhonda and Donald Sweeney Apollo s programs open our ears and eyes to wonderful music and composers we had not known before. -- Polly Johnson and Shelby Allen I love the passion and enjoyment Apollo reflects in the music and the variety of the programs which reaches so many people and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. -- Katherine Preuger The Croatian Connections concert inspired by Croatian folklore was amazing and touched many hearts in the Croatian community. -- Sanela Vukovic-Minica, Director of the Croatian School of Houston Apollo brings a fresh and diverse perspective to music; their collective skill and passion draws me to a deeper appreciation of music. -- Patricia Ahmad Support Apollo Chamber Players by volunteering, joining the board of directors or an advisory committee, or by making a philanthropic contribution. Please contact us at or info@apollochamberplayers.org for more information.

10 Season Subscriber Benefits SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW BY JUNE 30 FOR: 30% SAVINGS ON INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Free ticket for a friend (one per subscription) EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS FOR ALL SEASON SUBSCRIBERS: Reserved seating for you and your guests Complimentary ticket exchanges; option to donate ticket(s) to students, low-income patrons Exclusive invitation to post-concert receptions (select concerts) Mix and mingle with guest artists and 20X2020 composers 15% discount on all Apollo merchandise (including CD s) INCLUDE A DONATION WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION FOR ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Contribution Levels INDIVIDUAL Kindly consider a gift at one of the membership tiers below. FANDANGO membership is the most prestigious level of donor involvement with Apollo Chamber Players. Members make significant gifts at the Mazurka ($1,000 or more) and Csárdás ($500 or more) levels to ensure that Houston s most creative and dynamic chamber music organization continues to thrive. (All benefits cumulative.) Fandango ($2,500+) A private, collaboratively curated concert by ACP at your home or business Named recognition as an underwriter for one concert Invitations to rehearsals Mazurka ($1,000-$2,499) Exclusive invitations to post-concert receptions; mix and mingle with guest artists and 20X2020 composers One complimentary season ticket Csárdás ($500-$999) 2 albums, autographed by ACP artists and composers 20% discount on all ACP merchandise Danzón ($100-$499) 1 album of your choice Complimentary pair of single concert tickets Polka ($50-$99) Name acknowlement in concert programs for one year Support and Major Funding Provided by: Additional support provided by the C. Howard Pieper Foundation 20x2020 No. 9 generously underwritten by Adam Chandler 20x2020 No. 11 generously underwritten by Rhonda and Donald Sweeney Apollo Chamber Players is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. apollochamberplayers.org info@apollochamberplayers.org Photography by Ben Doyle, Runaway Productions Graphics/Teresa Southwell/tbsgraphics.com

11 SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM To subscribe now: Call Order online at apollochamberplayers.org Fill out the subscription form below and mail it to: Apollo Chamber Players 3205 Milburn St. Houston, TX Name Address City/State/Zip (order confirmation will sent by ) Phone Indigenous Origins Subscription Packages ALL CONCERTS AT THE MATCH 4- Concert Subscription Concert 1 (Of Peace and Protest): October 15 Concert 2 (Ex Nihilo: Out of Nothing): January 7 Concert 3 (Andean Walkabout): March 31 Concert 4 (An Irish Odyssey): May 5 General Senior Donation Amount Total Admission (65+) (tax-deductible) $100 $90 $ $ 3-Concert Subscription Select your choice of three concerts Concert 1 (Of Peace and Protest): October 15 Concert 2 (Ex Nihilo: Out of Nothing): January 7 Concert 3 (Andean Walkabout): March 31 Concert 4 (An Irish Odyssey): May 5 General Senior Donation Amount Total Admission (65+) (tax-deductible) $80 $70 $ $ Renew my seats Contact me for seat selection PAYMENT: Check (preferred) Visa Mastercard Amex Card # Exp. Date Signature CW # Please make checks payable to: Apollo Chamber Players

12 3205 Milburn St. Houston, Texas performances have rhythmic flair and doses of virtuosity. -- THE STRAD