EVANSTON, IL - 3/3/18 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

The New North Shore Chamber Orchestra is proud to announce a new upcoming program titled, "Wagnerian Effects" with heavy influences on the lush romantic music of Richard Wagner who greatly influenced the development of classical music through his complex textures, rich harmonies and orchestration. North Shore Orchestra invites the community of all ages, whose eyes and ears are ready for an exhilarating and impassioned orchestral experience, come attend on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3:30 PM at the Unitarian Church of Evanston at 1330 Ridge Avenue. The orchestra is comprised of community-based volunteers, semi-professional, and professional players to provide a balanced mixture of talented young people and disciplined professionals under the direction of Russian-trained conductor Anatol Lysenka. During the upcoming program, "Wagnerian Effects," two soloists will be performing; Steinway Artist, Susan Merdinger and Harpist, Krista Hagglund. The piece being showcased by Merdinger is the infrequently performed, but glorious work for Piano and Orchestra - César Franck's Symphonic Variations. This beautiful composition displays characteristics of Scriabin, Granados, Chopin and is heavily influenced upon French-school Impressionism and German Romanticism and Chromaticism. Krista Hagglund, a local young harpist, will perform Debussy's Sacred and Profane Dances for Solo Harp and Orchestra.

Maestro Lysenka has been widely recognized for his orchestral arrangements and achievements in interpreting and performing complex musical arrangements by great 20th century composers, such as Richard Wagner. Since coming to the U.S. in 2000, Mr. Lysenka has conducted multiple symphony orchestras in Illinois and has founded the Tutti Chamber Orchestra in 2005, which is also located in Chicago. Anatol Lysenka was appointed Principal Conductor by the Board of the North Shore Chamber Orchestra in 2010. Born in Belarus, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, he earned his first Master's Degree in conducting at the Belarusian Conservatory of Music. In 1985 he received his second Master's Degree in Opera-Symphony conducting at the Moscow State Conservatory. Mr. Lysenka was awarded first prize for Symphony Orchestra Conducting in the Belarus Republic Contest in 1987. Susan Merdinger, a Prize Winning American Pianist and Steinway Artist, has appeared as a soloist in major concert halls throughout the world, and has soloed with many distinguished conductors and internationally acclaimed orchestras. Ms. Merdinger has studied with some of the world's leading expert pianists, performed dozens of breath-taking performance in sold-out venues, and has won multiple gold medals in many of the most noted piano competitions around the world. Merdinger enjoys an active schedule performing as a concerto soloist, recitalist, duo pianist, and as a chamber musician, performing as a Visiting Artist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Guest Artist on WFMT, Chicago's Classical Radio Station.

Harp Soloist, Krista Hagglund, is the Principal Harpist of the Midwest Young Artist Conservatory. Over the last two years, Krista has performed solos in masterclasses for renowned harpists such as Kathleen Bride, Judy Loman, Naoko Yoshino, and Yolanda Kondanssis. Krista was chosen to perform at the Lyon & Healy Harp Day sponsored by the Greater Chicago Chapter of the American Harp Society, Inc. The remaining parts of the program will feature Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia," and "Valse Triste,"Gustav Mahler's "Adagietto from Symphony #5," and ending with Richard Wagner's exhilarating "Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin." Admission is $15.00, youth 18 years and younger are admitted free. For more information, please contact: northshorechamberorchestra@gmail.com