One of nation’s premier regional orchestras to play Arrowhead Park, Friday, July 27
Symphony concertgoers will experience a level of performance this year, beyond anything they’ve ever enjoyed locally, and certainly beyond anything the Fulton Chain of Lakes Performing Arts Council (FCLPAC) ever envisioned when they first thought to bring major orchestra talent to Central Adirondack audiences, said Jerry Dupuis, president of FCLPAC.
“This concert, our 14th annual, will be monumental. Any audience member who has enjoyed past performances won’t want to miss it. Those who have never attended, yet are curious—this is their year to reward themselves with a wonderful experience. There is no doubt this year’s concert will rank among the best ever locally,” he said.
The reason is the addition of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), which is scheduled to make its inaugural appearance.
The event will be held at Inlet’s Arrowhead Park on Friday, July 27, rain or shine, under an enormous tent covering.
“The RPO is one of the most renowned regional orchestras in the country, and their participation has made for a major concert event,” Dupuis said.
And a confluence of circumstances were required to make it happen, he said.
Logistically and cost-wise it appeared to be impractical, according to Dupuis.
But RPO’s artistic director, Richard Decker—who Dupuis knew from Decker’s days at the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra— pushed for a workable plan.
He was always impressed with the event and pitched it to RPO, urging its participation.
“We have consistently improved this event year by year,”
Dupuis said. “We have shown ourselves to have great community support and enthusiastic audiences.
We have proven to those in the industry that ours is a quality event. We have made Inlet a place where major orchestras want to visit and perform. And ultimately our community and our audiences are the beneficiaries.
We have been able to enjoy the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in the past and now the remarkable Rochester Philharmonic right here in Arrowhead Park.”
Dupuis said that after all these years, he appreciates that the public does not take the event for granted.
It’s a high-wire act of fundraising and logistics that we’re fortunate to pull off, he said.
“This event belongs to the community and each person who marks their calendar, drives to Inlet and joins the audience makes it a success and allows it to continue and not go away,” he said.
“It’s their event—that’s how many in the community see it, and it’s absolutely true. Our hope is that those who don’t yet realize it will recognize that it’s their event too,” Dupuis said.
And though risk is attached to a project this big, the reward is much greater, according to Dupuis.
“It’s a great presentation that we offer the listening audience. People don’t get to hear great live orchestras often, so when they do they are blown away. It’s stirring and it’s unique. It’s not radio, that’s for sure.” And you don’t need to be a classical music expert to enjoy it, Dupuis said.
“The music meets you where you are. It has a way of finding you and working its magic.”
“People in the past have told me they had hesitated to take part. ‘We don’t understand that music,’ they said. Now they say, ‘We love it and can’t wait till next year,’” he said.
They also love Maestro Grant Cooper, who will be returning as conductor.
Cooper has accompanied the Arrowhead concerts since the early days usually as conductor but, when not participating, always in spirit.
“He has a special place in local hearts. He’s a great person, a great conductor and he has been a wonderful friend to our community and to this event,” Dupuis said.
Grant Cooper, originally of New Zealand, is Artistic Director and Conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
From 1997 to 2007, he served as Resident Conductor of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, where he gave almost 600 performances with the orchestra, appearing to critical acclaim on all the major series.
He is also Artistic Director of a summer festival, the Bach and Beyond Festival in Fredonia, New York.
Mr. Cooper resides in Charleston with his wife Margie and daughters Jessica and Rachel.
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1922 by George Eastman.
RPO has a long history of enriching and inspiring the musical community and is renowned worldwide for its artistic excellence.
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This marks the 14th year that the Fulton Chain of Lakes Performing Arts Council will be presenting a symphony performance at Inlet’s Arrowhead Park.
The event is held rain or shine under a tent covering with the performance starting at 7:30 p.m.
General admission tickets are available for $30 each at the Old Forge or Inlet Information Offices.
The Friday concert of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is part of an entire weekend of Arrowhead Park performances.
Prior to the event will be a cocktail party fundraiser hosted by The Woods Inn from 4 to 7 p.m.
Earlier in the afternoon, members of the RPO will offer a free Children’s Concert to be held at 3 p.m.
This event will feature two quartets from the RPO, and is geared for children ages 12 and under, who are asked to be accompanied by an adult.
Then on Sunday, July 29 the United States Army’s 10th Mountain Division Band will perform at 2 p.m. This is concert is free also. Army officials ask that no backpacks be brought to the event and that no seats be held for audience members yet to arrive.
All performances will be under the tent.
