Mission Viejo, California-The Department of Music at Saddleback College is pleased to present two dynamic concerts under the baton of Maestro Yorgos Kouritas.
On Friday, October 10th at 7:30 p.m., the Saddleback College Wind Ensemble opens its fall semester with an evening performance featuring works by Sparke, Meij, Leemans, Roost, Whitacre, and a Big Band Bash.
On Saturday, October 11th at 7:30 p.m., the Saddleback College Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to present Schubert’s Symphony #8, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, and Stamitz’s Viola Concerto.
Both concerts take place in the beautiful McKinney Theatre. Tickets are $10 general; $7 students/seniors. Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656, Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4:00 p.m. or order tickets online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.
Yorgos Kouritas was a prize winner for the prestigious American Prize in Conducting in 2012. In December 2012, Dr. Kouritas was a participant in the Virginia Symphony Conducting Workshop and was awarded the Outstanding Participant prize by the internationally known conductors JoAnn Falletta and Jorge Mester.
His extensive background in conducting includes being the Assistant Conductor of the Boise Philharmonic and Director of the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in addition to working with Cincinnati Symphony (and its Youth Orchestra), and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
He has conducted the Boise Philharmonic in Idaho several times. Highlights of his career include being selected by Lorin Maazel as Conducting Fellow and receiving great reviews by the Washington Post and Washington Times.
He has also been chosen to study twice with the famous German conductor Kurt Masur.
Orchestras he has worked with include Baltimore Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Castleton Festival Orchestra, Lucca Festival Orchestra, Ithaca College Symphony, Fingerlakes Symphony, Ossia Ensemble, Rochester Composer’s Sinfonietta, Pleven, Plovdiv and Bacau Philharmonics.
Saddleback’s Instrumental Studies Department is privileged to have some of the finest musicians of the Pacific Symphony as its instructors.
This semester the department will be hosting master classes by distinguished violinists such as Haroutune Bedelian and Guillaume Sutre. Previously, master classes have been taught by Martin Chalifour and William Fitzpatrick.
The Symphony Orchestra and the Wind Ensemble tackle some of the most difficult pieces such as Verdi’s and Brahms’ Requiems. Dr. Kouritas is also teaching violin, viola, and chamber music and has performed recently several violin recitals.
Last April, he was honored to work with Carl St. Clair in the Ithaca Conducting Master class. In June, he was selected by the Baltimore Symphony to work in a master class with Gerard Schwarz (former Seattle Symphony’s Music Director).
Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Parking is available in Lot 12. Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.
Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.
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Nina Welch
Fine Arts Public Information Officer
Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
