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Imagination, inspiration and enthusiasm are on display as the finalists for the Signature Symphony at �鶹��Ƶ artistic director and conductor take the baton during the 2014 - 2015 season. Andrés Franco, Michael Rossi and Timothy Verville will showcase the creative talent they can bring to the professional orchestra as well as how they shape the sound by conducting one performance for the TTCU Pops series and one performance for the Williams Classics series during the season.

Meet the Maestros begins with two of the candidates in Tulsa in September and the third candidate in town in October. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. at the �鶹��Ƶ Southeast Campus VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education at 10300 East 81st Street.

Michael Rossi

• TTCU Pops series “George Gershwin’s Americana” Friday, Sept. 12 & Saturday, Sept 13. The performance features works from the American-born composer who created some of music history’s most cherished melodies in songs and orchestra arrangements such as “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “An American in Paris.”
• Williams Classics series “Verdi, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky” Jan. 24, 2015with Student Rehearsal Look-In on Thursday Jan. 22, 2015. The evening features Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino,” Dvorak’s “Opus 104 Cello Concerto in B Minor” and Tchaikovsky’s “5th Symphony.”

Timothy Verville

• Williams Classics series “Dvorak and Grieg” Saturday, Sept. 27 with Student Rehearsal Look-In on Thursday, Sept. 25. The evening features Dvorak’s “8th Symphony” and Grieg’s “Piano Concerto.”
• TTCU Pops series “Memorable Melodies and Memorable Moments”Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. The performance features musical stars of Broadway and Hollywood from Elmer Bernstein, Meredith Wilson, Nino Rota, Hans Zimmer to movies such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “The Godfather” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Andrés Franco

• Williams Classics series “Rodrigo and Tchaikovsky” Saturday, Oct. 25 with Student Rehearsal Look-In on Thursday, Oct. 23. The evening features “Concierto de Aranjuez” from composer Joaquín Rodrigo and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.”
• TCU Pops series “Music of John Williams” on Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. The performance showcases one of America’s brightest composers who is behind such works as “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” and has earned 41 Oscar nominations and 20-plus gold and platinum recordings.

The popular Student Rehearsal Look-Ins will feature each of the conductor candidates. The free and interactive event gives students of all ages and families an opportunity to experience a professional orchestra rehearsal and meet the candidates. The Look-Ins will be Thursday, Sept. 25 with Verville; Thursday, Oct. 23 with Franco; and Thursday Jan. 22, 2015 with Rossi.

This is an exciting opportunity as three outstanding conductor candidates bring to Tulsa their unique style and talents. The 2014 – 2015 season will be incorporated into the selection process and the performances will give additional insight to the selection committee before its decision in spring 2015. The three finalists for Artistic Director and Conductor of the Signature Symphony were chosen from a pool of more than 50 applicants during a nationwide search that began when Dr. Barry Epperley announced he would retire from the orchestra he founded.

Four guest conductors will complete the 2014 – 2015 season including “Christmas with Barry Epperley” as Epperley returns to the podium for the Tulsa tradition on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014. The sounds from the Big Band era and the Signature Big Band take the stage on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14, 2015. The Classics performance on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 features Maestro Rick Wagner and the music of love. “The Defiant Requiem” on Saturday, April 18, 2015 closes the Classics season with Murry Sidlin. Signature Symphony at �鶹��Ƶ’s annual 4th on the 3rd takes place on Friday, July 3, 2015.

The Signature Symphony at �鶹��Ƶ is made possible in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

You can reserve your 2014-2015 season tickets by calling the �鶹��Ƶ Southeast Campus VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education ticket office at (918) 595-7777.