Pianist/conductor Pratt to appear with Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra

Published 11:22 am Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Pianist/conductor Awadagin Pratt will appear with the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra in the Little Night Music Series on April 17, 2009.

Pratt, whose most recent Northwest appearance was with the Seattle Symphony last season, began his career at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. There he became the first student in the school’s history to receive diplomas in three performance areas: piano, violin and conducting.

Pratt’s performances will be part of a new shift for the Bellevue Philharmonic. Beginning in January, 2009, the orchestra will change its format to a classical-sized core orchestra of 40-50 musicians, adding more players as needed for the performance of larger-scale works.

“We want to introduce different programming that is more suited to the community and to the venues we have, as well as the budget,” said Bellevue Philharmonic CEO Jennifer McCausland, “while continuing to raise our standard of musical excellence. Among our new offerings will be more family-oriented concerts. In addition to our highly successful Little Maestros programs for young children, we are bringing in the award-winning Classical Kids to performing 2009.”

Also on the family-friendly side: a Family Holiday Concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in Bellevue’s First Presbyterian Church, with the well-known Northwest conductor Adam Stern on the podium. Stern has invited teen violin prodigy Marié Rossano to perform “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” and he will conduct such favorites as Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”.

Details and ticket information/purchase, are available at the website, www.bellevuephil.org, or by phone at 425-455-4171.