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October 2, 2018

Zest of Czech: RPO Features Lars Kirvan (RWC Professor of Cello)

Upon Conductor Ward Stare's request, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will be featuring Lars Kirvan, RWC Professor of Cello, in their "Zest of Czech" matinee this Sunday, October 7th at 2:00 p.m. in Hochstein's performance hall. Conducted by Stare, the colorful program includes Smetana's Bartered Bride Overture, Dvorak's Silent Woods, Janacek's Lachian Dances: 3. Blacksmith's Dance, 5. Country Bumpkin Dance (Celadensky), and Dvorak's Symphony No. 7 in D Minor. Lars writes of his upcoming performance: "Silent Woods is a beautiful character piece written in 1883, originally for 4 hands on the piano. It was so popular that it was arranged for cello and piano/orchestra in 1893. It is written in D flat Major as book ends to a slightly faster middle section (Intermezzo) in C sharp minor.  It is an honor to be asked again to solo with the RPO."  

Lars grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, where he began his cello studies with Loran Stephenson of the National Symphony Orchestra. He later earned his bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of the Cleveland Orchestra’s renowned principal cellist, Stephen Geber.

Lars was principal cellist of the Verbier Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland, as well as the New World Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has traveled all over the world performing in its most prestigious concert halls and has been fortunate to collaborate in chamber music performances with artists such as Maxim Vengerov, James Buswell, Leonidas Kavakos, Dimitry Sitkovesky, Heinrich Schiff, Laurence Lesser, Jon Kimura Parker, and many more. He was recently invited to join the World Orchestra for Peace, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Most recently, Lars became the assistant principal cellist of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.  He has been a concerto soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Genessee Symphony Orchestra.  He joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008 and was appointed its third chair cello. In the 2014-15 season, he served as principal cellist of the RPO.  He maintains a private teaching studio, serves as the cello mentor for the Rochester Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and teaches Applied Cello at Roberts Wesleyan College.

Event link: http://rpo.org/event/zest-of-czech/

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