The program includes selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma, E.T., Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and Rossini’s Barber of Seville, among others. Paul Shewan conducts the joint orchestra, trumpet soloist Herb Smith on “I Can’t Get Started,” a jazz standard by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin. Smith and Shewan will also be featured together on Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets.
Paul Shewan is Professor of Conducting and Trumpet at Roberts Wesleyan College, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and the Orchestra, and teaches trumpet, brass ensembles, and instrumental conducting. He earned a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance and a Doctorate in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, and has returned to Eastman as a visiting professor of conducting. He is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra trumpet section and a frequent RPO guest conductor and also has performed as soloist and conductor on the Live from Hochstein concert series.
Herb Smith is third trumpet with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and began playing in the orchestra after graduation. He also plays with his own jazz quartet and as a substitute player for the Chautauqua Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Portland Symphony (Maine). He has played with many notable artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Doc Severinsen, and The O’Jays. He also teaches trumpet at Eastman and SUNY Geneseo, writes musical arrangements for local bands, and composed a full-length ballet for Garth Fagan Dance.
About HYSO: The HYSO is an advanced youth orchestra comprised of approximately 80 students in grades 7-12 from throughout the Rochester region. The primary goal of HYSO is to create a community of talented young musicians through the rigorous study of classical symphony orchestra literature. Each season the orchestra presents three full programs in the historic Hochstein Performance Hall. The HYSO has performed at Carnegie Hall and has toured and performed in Austria, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain.
About RPYO: The Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra comprised of about 100 of the most accomplished middle- and high-school musicians from more than 30 schools from 5 different counties around the greater Rochester area. A component of the Education Department of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the RPYO was founded in 1970 to provide highly enriching musical ensemble experiences to very accomplished young musicians from varied backgrounds. Each year the RPYO presents three full programs of major symphonic works, as well as special outreach concerts. RPYO has toured and performed in Italy, France, Eastern Europe, England, Germany, New York City, and Canada. In 2017, the RPYO performed in Carnegie Hall. For more information, visit www.rpyo.org.