By Robert Weiler
The Utah Valley Symphony will push the envelope and look to new audiences for the upcoming 2003-2004 season.
The symphony season will kick off on Oct. 8 and 9 at the Provo Tabernacle, performing pieces from Mozart and Beethoven. The symphony will begin at 7:30 p.m.
'Beethoven has the most beautiful, powerful music,' said Beverly Dunford, a violinist who has been with the choir for 46 years.
Bryce Rytting, the symphony''s conductor, said the choir began a cycle of Beethoven arrangements three years ago, starting with the first and second symphonies and moving to the seventh symphony last year.
'I was a little bit scared to do the third,' Rytting said. 'It''s a hard, difficult piece.'
But the symphony is taking the challenge this year, combining it with Mozart''s Overture to Beatrice and Bastienne, an arrangement that has the same theme as Beethoven''s third symphony.
Written in 1803, Beethoven''s 'Eroica' Symphony No. 3 is the first masterpiece of romantic music, Rytting said.
'In most people''s opinion, it is his best piece,' Dunford said.
Former UVS conductor Dr. Glenn Williams will also be honored at the symphony this week. Williams, a former BYU professor who died in 2002, led the symphony for 11 years. His wife, Barbara, will speak in memory of him.
Later in the year, the annual UVS Christmas Concert will have a new sound, performing more secular pieces for people of all ages, Rytting said.
'Traditionally we do something more spiritual,' Rytting said. 'We wanted to do a more entertaining concert with stuff that people already know.'
The first performance for UVS in 2004 will feature local pianist Dustin Gledhill, a student of Irene Peery-Fox from the BYU School of Music.
Gledhill will play classical concerto''s, which he plans to use in a 2004 competition in Japan, Rytting said.
In March, young artists from Utah Valley will be featured in the symphony''s concert. Over 60 children auditioned in September to participate in the annual event.
The season ending performance will combine the UVS with the Wasatch Chorale to perform the Verdi Requiem.
'I don''t think this piece has been performed in the valley for 15 years,' Rytting said.
He said he enjoys making music that can lift both the musicians and the audience.
'It''s like a Super Bowl,' Rytting said. 'You can put a whole group of people together and thrill them all at once.'
The Utah Valley Symphony has been performing since 1959. The orchestra uses 75-80 musicians for each concert. It is a non-profit organization.
'The orchestra helps me keep my tops up,' said LaReita Berky, president of the symphony. 'It gives me a place to perform and raise a family at the same time.