Violinist Rachel Lee Priday will join the Fredonia College Symphony Orchestra for what is being called the orchestral event of the season on Saturday, March 7 at 8 p.m. in King Concert Hall.
Together, under the direction of Dr. David Rudge, the orchestra and Ms. Priday, along with Alejandro (her violin), will perform one of the most beloved and demanding concertos in the violin repertoire, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major. The evening will open with Glinka's famous, toe-tapping “Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila,” and will close with Sibelius' Symphony No. 1 in E minor, op. 39, combining rich influences of Tchaikovsky with clear individualistic musical ideas.
A native of Chicago, Priday began her violin studies at the age of 4, and in 1996 moved to New York City to study at the Pre-College Division of The Juilliard School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard University and in May 2011 received a master’s degree, studying with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory.
Her wide-ranging repertoire and eclectic programming reflect a deep fascination with literary and cultural narratives, as an artist who seeks contemporary resonances with the masterworks of the past. Priday’s multidisciplinary approach to music often lends itself to collaborative projects that innovatively mix poetry, drama, visuals, and music.
Acclaimed for her beauty of tone, riveting stage presence, and “irresistible panache” (Chicago Tribune), Priday has appeared as soloist with major international orchestras, including the Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, and Seattle Symphony orchestras, the Boston Pops and the Berlin Staatskapelle. She has also been profiled in the The New Yorker, The Los Angeles Times, Family Circle Magazine, and The Strad Magazine. Her television credits include appearances on the Disney Channel, “Fiddling for the Future,” and “American Masters” on PBS, and the 2000 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. In addition, her performances have been broadcast on major media outlets in the US, Germany, Korea, and Brazil.
Tickets are $15 general public/$8 students with ID. For more information about tickets, call 716-673-3501; go online at www.fredonia.edu/tickets or in person at the Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center. Advance purchase tickets are recommended.
