Members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offer free concert for the community, Equal Play: Celebrating Women Composers, Friday, March 1 at 7:00pm at Powell Hall

SLSO musicians welcome soprano Christine Brewer and pianists Peter Henderson and Alla Voskoboynikova performing chamber works by Rebecca Clarke, Jennifer Higdon, and the world premiere of Stephanie Berg's Three Prayers

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(February 14, 2019, St. Louis, MO) – Members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra team up with renowned soprano Christine Brewer and pianists Peter Henderson and Alla Voskoboynikova in a concert celebrating the achievements of female composers. The free community concert, Equal Play: Celebrating Women Composers, will take place at 7:00pm, Friday, March 1, at Powell Hall.

The chamber concert includes pieces by Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon, English composer Rebecca Clarke, and Missouri native Stephanie Berg. Berg's piece, Three Prayers, was commissioned by SLSO Associate Principal Clarinet Diana Haskell and will receive its world premiere during the concert. Berg will introduce the piece. Along with Haskell, SLSO Associate Principal Second Violin Kristin Ahlstrom and SLSO Cello Anne Fagerburg perform on the program.

The brainchild of Anne Fagerburg, the first Equal Play: Celebrating Women Composers concert was held in early 2017 on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. The inaugural concert drew a standing-room-only crowd and moved to Powell Hall in 2018. Each year, members of the SLSO perform in more than 80 free community events throughout the St. Louis region, including the free On Stage at Powell series.

Equal Play: Celebrating Women Composers
Friday, March 1, 2019, 7:00pm
Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO

Kristin Ahlstrom, violin
Christine Brewer, soprano
Anne Fagerburg, cello
Diana Haskell, clarinet
Peter Henderson, piano
Alla Voskoboynikova, piano

CLARKE Trio for violin, cello, and piano
Jennifer HIGDON Pale Yellow
Jennifer HIGDON Fiery Red
Stephanie BERG Three Prayers

Sponsored by Commerce Bank

This concert is free, but RSVPs are requested by visiting www.slso.org.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Celebrated as one of today's most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 139th year with the 2018/2019 season and Music Director Designate Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the world's finest, the SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community connections – all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music.

In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Hall, which has been the permanent home of the SLSO for 50 years, the orchestra is an integral part of the diverse and vibrant St. Louis community, presenting free education programs and performances throughout the region each year. It presents St. Louis Symphony Live at the Pulitzer, a four-program series at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre Saint Louis, with this season marking the 42nd year of their partnership.

The Grammy Award–winning SLSO's impact beyond the St. Louis region is realized through weekly Saturday night concert broadcasts on St. Louis Public Radio, acclaimed recordings, and regular touring activity. A sought-after artistic partner by preeminent musicians and composers from across the globe, as well as by local and national organizations, the SLSO enjoys a long history of robust and enduring artistic collaborations that have developed and deepened over the years.

Today, the SLSO builds on the institution's current momentum on all fronts, including artistic, financial, audience growth, and community impact, and looks toward the future with Stéphane Denève. Denève, who has been a frequent guest conductor with the orchestra since 2003, begins his tenure as Music Director with the 19/20 season, following this season as Music Director Designate. For more information, visit slso.org.

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