Symphony to create magic

TSC hosts ‘Harry Potter’-themed concert

Valley Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Maestro Peter Dabrowski directs the performance of the orchestra during one of its concerts. PHOTO COURTESY ABEL RIOJAS

As part of its 72nd season, the Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform a series of selections from the Harry Potter franchise’s movie “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” along with other compositions, at venues in McAllen and Brownsville.

The “Potter and Piano” concert will also feature George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F” with special guest soloist, pianist Tanya Gabrielian, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Sydney Opera House.

The suite for orchestra composed by John Williams will be featured in the concert, including the selections “Hedwig’s Theme,” “The Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Nimbus 2000” and “Harry’s Wondrous World.”

Featured wind, string and percussion instruments such as piccolo, bass clarinet, English horn, piano, harp and cymbals make for a colorful program, said Maestro Peter Dabrowski, Valley Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor.

Dabrowski said featuring two composers from opposite ends of the 20th century creates a sophisticated and joyful environment. George Gershwin has influences of jazz in his music and John Williams represents “the very best of orchestral [scores] for very famous cinematic productions,” Dabrowski said.

He said the symphony’s mission is connecting with people and sharing the gift of music.

“We are here to unite people, to offer the very highest level of artistic performance and [by] playing this music we are absolutely fulfilling our mission to bring different generations of audiences,” Dabrowski said.

Valley Symphony Orchestra Principal Jennifer Miller plays the viola during a concert. PHOTO COURTESY ABEL RIOJAS

The symphony’s assistant principal cellist, Catherine Norquest, who has been playing for the company for 32 years, became a fan of Harry Potter because of her children and having seen the movies when they were first released in theaters.

Norquest said she hopes the audience can appreciate hearing a different style of music than they do every day.

She said the symphony’s audience has become more diverse over the years. Norquest wants to see the joy on children’s faces once they recognize the music and experience something that they haven’t experienced before.

“The joy that we get from performing here, we want to share that,” she said. “It’s the Valley Symphony, so we want to bring it across the [Rio Grande] Valley and share it.

David Lobel, the orchestra’s executive director, said he wants to hear people talk about the movie and score and how it reminds them of specific scenes in order to have a deeper understanding of how music affects the mood of the film.

Lobel said the special effects of a symphony are simply the people on stage performing all at once.

“Good music is good music no matter where it comes from, and to see the power of a full symphony of 60 or 80 musicians playing on stage all in sync, all in tune and in harmony; it’s just an incredible thing,” he said.

The concert takes place at 8 p.m. Friday in the McAllen Performing Arts Center, located at 801 Convention Center Boulevard and at the same time Saturday in the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Tickets start at $25 in McAllen and at $22 in Brownsville. To purchase tickets, visit the orchestra’s website. 

Valley Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Maestro Peter Dabrowski raises the baton to ready the orchestra during one of its concerts. PHOTO COURTESY ABEL RIOJAS