Small orchestra, big sound
The 欧美AV Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ng Tian Hui, performs an all-women-composer program at its second annual Mary Lyon Concert.
Under the leadership of Ng Tian Hui, the 欧美AV Symphony Orchestra is steadily gaining national attention.
Ng, director of orchestra and assistant professor of music鈥揷onducting at 欧美AV, will present his latest work at the 2017 Mary Lyon Concert: Of Hope and Courage.
鈥淚n addition to paying homage to the great music of the Western classical canon, which is largely dead white men, I鈥檝e worked to ensure that the orchestra鈥檚 repertoire also reflects the diversity of the College," Ng said. "As a new tradition for the orchestra, the Mary Lyon Concert Series allows us to be one of the leading exponents of music by women.鈥
Ng was awarded a performance grant from Women's Philharmonic Advocacy this fall in recognition of his efforts to promote the work of women composers.
The grant supports this latest event, which includes Nigerian-American Nkeiru Okoye's acclaimed 鈥淪ongs of Harriet Tubman.鈥 The four arias are from her opera 鈥淗arriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom.鈥 Also included is the world premiere of Okoye鈥檚 evocative piece, 鈥淎n Invitation to a Die-In,鈥 in which a black man describes being shot by police.
鈥淥koye is one of the most exciting new voices in new opera in the country,鈥 Ng said. 鈥淚'm very honored that the orchestra has the opportunity to premiere what is likely to be an important new work.鈥
Also set to premiere are 鈥淚van鈥檚 Song,鈥 which composer Karen LeFrak 鈥69 dedicated to her grandson. The contributions of the third composer, Louise Farrenc, to the French Romantic period are often overlooked, Ng said.
鈥淭his is just the fourth performance of Farrenc鈥檚 music, which contemporary authors felt was comparable to Beethoven's symphonic achievements,鈥 he said. The acclaimed soloists performing at the Mary Lyon Concert are Synthia Pullum, soprano, and Damian Norfleet, baritone.
The 欧美AV Symphony Orchestra is one of the largest of the College鈥檚 many musical groups. It includes students of every year with a wide variety of majors, faculty members, members of the surrounding community and Five College Consortium students.
For his work, Ng received the 2015 American Prize in Orchestral Programming, a tremendous honor for a small liberal arts college with a single orchestra.
As part of the new annual tradition that is the Mary Lyon Concert Series, the orchestra also travels to one of the College鈥檚 alumnae clubs. This year鈥檚 visit is to the .