CHAMBER MUSICIANS TAKE CLASSICAL APPROACH

www2.ljworld.com/news/1997/dec/11/chamber_musicians_take_classical/
By Anne Tangeman Lawrence Journal-World
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A Lawrence ensemble offers an alternative to traditional holiday music fare.
The Lawrence Chamber Players, led by conductor Juan La Manna, will present its winter concert Sunday
afternoon.
The chamber orchestra, consisting of 35 to 40 musicians, will perform five musical selections, including
Haydn's "Symphony No. 14"; "Eight Classical Miniatures," by Stravinsky; and two selections by Vivaldi that
will feature violin solos by Chris Harnden and Nancy Luttrell.
Opting to forgo the obvious holiday themes, the group has chosen "accessible classical pieces," according
to Allison Lopez, Lawrence Chamber Players' general manager.
Although the names are not instantly recognizable, the music is likely to be familiar to almost anyone, she
said.
"Most people know a lot more about classical music than they give themselves credit for," Lopez said.
The orchestra has matured this season under the direction of La Manna, who is also on the faculty of the
State University of New York at Oswego. La Manna will continue to conduct the orchestra through its
season, which ends in April.
"The players love him," Lopez said. "He has a great standard and brings a great artistic sense. The
musicians really respond to him and he leads the orchestra in such a way that they perform beautifully.
"It's a small community orchestra, but the artistic quality is really outstanding."
In addition to traditional classical pieces, a more contemporary work, "Lament For Strings" by James
Grant, will also be featured at the concert. This will be the second time this season the orchestra has
performed one of the Rhode Island composer's pieces. Grant premiered a work with the Lawrence
Chamber Players during the September concert.
La Manna will wrap up his season conducting the orchestra during the two final performances in the
spring: Lawrence Youth Ballet and the Suzuki Strings on March 8, and the season finale on April 26.
-- The Mag's phone message number is 832-7146. Send e-mail to biles@ljworld.com.
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