Homestead High School Orchestra Presents The Romantic Violin 27th Annual Orchestra Benefit Concert

The Homestead High School Orchestra journeys in time to the era of the “Romantic Violin” on Saturday evening, March 12, at 7:00 PM, with a piece considered a “pillar of the era” – Concerto No. 1 in G minor, by German composer Max Bruch. Japanese-born violinist Yuri Segaw will be the guest artist. A native of Osaka, Ms. Segawa studied at Kobe Yamate Music School and Osaka College of Music. She received BM in Violin Performance from Rowan University in New Jersey, and continued her education at the City University of New York at Queens College. Ms. Segawa has appeared in the United States, Canada, and Japan, as both a recitalist and concerto soloist. As a member of the North Shore String Quartet, quartet in residence of the Green Bay Symphony, Ms. Segawa regularly performs throughout the Midwest. Yuri is a member of the Green Bay Symphony, second principle violinist in the Water City Chamber Orchestra, and also regularly performs with the Madison Symphony. Ms. Segawa is currently a member of the violin faculty at the Wausau Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin.

The orchestra will also perform Wagner Prelude to Meistersinger, Bartok Rumanian Folk Dances, Rutter Suite for String Orchestra, and Point Lookout, a fantasy of Civil War songs by Brian Balmages, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

In preparation for this annual concert, the Homestead Orchestra toured to Appleton, WI, to work with the conductor of the Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra, Dr. David Becker, as well as other members of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music faculty. The students spent the day immersed in inspiring and productive workshops under the leadership of one of the most renowned music educators in the country. David E. Becker was appointed director of orchestral studies at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music (WI) beginning September 2005. He was director of orchestras and professor of the Graduate Orchestral Conducting Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1984-2005. He was the associate conductor of the Madison Symphony (1985-1992) and music director/conductor of the Racine Symphony (WI) (1989-1993). In addition to his active conducting and performing schedule, Becker is widely recognized for his dedication to teaching young musicians which has resulted in guest conducting, orchestral clinics and All-State Honor Orchestras in 36 states.

Tickets for the concert may be purchased at the door for $10.00 each the night of the concert, by calling 262/238-5672, or through the orchestra website below. Proceeds raised from ticket sales provide enrichment opportunities and support for orchestra students in grades four through twelve, and will help to maintain one of the state’s finest orchestra programs. The evening promises to be a memorable one, providing world-class music in the James Barr Auditorium of Homestead High School, 5000 W. Mequon Road, Mequon. For more information about the concert and the orchestra, please visit the orchestra website at www.homesteadorchestra.com.