Joining forces with the Johns Creek Chorale, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will commemorate Symphony No. 9’s 200th anniversary with a record number of JCSO musicians.
Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will honor classical music legend Ludwig van Beethoven at this 200th anniversary concert of Symphony No.9, featuring soloists Anne Schantz, soprano; Maria McDaniel, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Yarrington, tenor; Jeffrey Snider, bass; and the Johns Creek Chorale. “Brilliant Beethoven” will be performed on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church, 11180 Medlock Bridge Road Johns Creek, GA 30097. The concert will be conducted by John Morrison and will be the single largest orchestra JCSO has ever amassed, with more than 65 musicians creating a “wall of sound.”
Tickets for the concert range from $20-$50 and are available for purchase online at johnscreeksymphony.org or via phone at 678.748.5802. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.
This bicentennial celebration of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 will pay tribute to the legacy of Beethoven and remind audiences of the significant influence he has had on classical music for centuries. Symphony No. 9 is regarded by many as the pinnacle of musical expression, with the “Ode to Joy” melody in the final movement being a popular melody hummed from generation to generation. The symphony was composed while Beethoven was completely deaf, but it is known as his most majestic work of all, appearing throughout generations of pop culture like in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film adaptation of “A Clockwork Orange.”
“It is an honor to perform Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 on its bicentennial anniversary, and we are excited to reflect with the audience on the impact Beethoven had on the musical arts,” said Linda Brill, Executive Director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra. “This concert was to have been Maestro Baughman’s ultimate performance, and it illustrates the realization of his dream of taking JCSO from a small chamber orchestra to an orchestra capable of such a monumental endeavor,” she added.
ARTIST BIOS
Anne Schantz
Anne Beloncik Schantz holds music degrees from Southern Nazarene University, University of Oklahoma, and University of North Texas. She taught at Ouachita Baptist University, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and South Dakota State University before joining the voice faculty at Reinhardt University. Ms. Schantz has sung as a member of Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Johns Creek Chorale, The Choral Pickup, Canterbury Choral Society, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and Coro Vocati, and has performed as a soloist with Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Georgia Wind Symphony, Cross Timbers Orchestra, and Fort Worth Symphony. She has performed such roles as Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Despina in Così fan tutte and Yum-Yum in The Mikado with Oklahoma Opera Theater, University of North Texas Opera, Cimarron Opera, and Capitol City Opera.
Maria McDaniel
Mezzo-soprano Maria McDaniel is consistently acclaimed for her vibrant personality, versatile repertoire, expressive passion, flexible virtuosity, and rich vocal presence on the concert, opera, and recital stages. She celebrates her 15th season of a varied vocal career as a soloist, teacher, and performance coach. As a house favorite principal and concert artist with Atlanta Opera, Ms. McDaniel’s principal role appearances include Jade Boucher in Dead Man Walking, Myrtis in Cold Sassy Tree, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Flora in La Traviata, Zulma in L’Italiana in Algeri, and Giovanna in Rigoletto. She was also a member of the renowned Atlanta Opera Chorus for four seasons while appearing regularly in private concerts and donor events. Ms. McDaniel was both Studio and Apprentice Artist during the summer seasons of the nationally recognized Chautauqua Opera in New York. Her vocal competition winnings include the Irene Dalis Voice Competition with Opera San Jose, Winner of Women’s Voice Young Artist Division National Federation of Music Clubs, Grand Prize Winner American Traditions Competition, and Southeastern Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Jonathan Yarrington
A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, tenor Jonathan Yarrington is Associate Professor of Voice and Director of Opera at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to joining the faculty at USM, Dr. Yarrington was a member of the Dallas Opera Studio from 2011-2014, singing nearly 100 performances in the title roles of their educational outreach productions of Doctor Miracle and Jack and the Beanstalk. In 2012, he made his mainstage debut with Dallas Opera as The Messenger in Aida. Dr. Yarrington has sung more than 15 leading roles, including Jeník (Zápisník zmizelého) Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Jeník (Prodana neveˇsta) Stage Manager (Our Town), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi). An active recitalist and concert performer, he has commissioned and performed new music for tenor and oboe, and he specializes in German and Czech art song. Dr. Yarrington holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from The University of North Texas, where he studied with Dr. Stephen F. Austin. He was a student of retired Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Ariel Bybee, and he won the Nebraska District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2005.
Jeffrey Snider
Jeffrey Snider – a native of Buffalo, New York – received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1996, and in 1998 he returned to UNT as an associate professor in the College of Music. Operatic roles include Lago in Verdi’s Otello and Ping in Puccini’s Turandot in concert performances at UNT, the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff with Diversità Opera in Dallas, Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca with the Utah Festival Opera, “Number 8” in Conrad Susa’s Transformations with Voices of Change, and the Count di Luna in Verdi’s Il trovatore in El Paso. Dr. Snider’s recent appearances include Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs with the Abilene Philharmonic, baritone solo in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, and the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah at UNT. He is the baritone soloist on the Klavier recording of Orff’s Carmina Burana with the UNT Wind Symphony and Grand Chorus under the direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon. Of this performance, J. F. Weber of Fanfare magazine wrote, “this is one of the finest…male soloists I have ever heard in this work.”
ABOUT THE JOHNS CREEK CHORALE
The Johns Creek Chorale has been guided by the vision of its creator, Dr. Nathan Frank, and performed its inaugural concert, November 8, 2015. A dream of many in the community of Johns Creek, Georgia, this ensemble satisfies the growing need for high level choral musicianship. The Chorale brings together approximately 80 men and women from diverse backgrounds and ages to experience the joy of singing and to continue a life-long love for choral music. The Chorale is one of the premier choral groups in the greater Atlanta area.
ABOUT JOHNS CREEK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, founded by Music Director J. Wayne Baughman, provides world class musical enrichment for the community of Johns Creek through concert series performances, as well as additional educational programs and special events each year. Now in its seventeenth season, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional symphonic orchestra composed of professional musicians from all over the greater metro Atlanta area. To learn more about Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, please visit https://johnscreeksymphony.org/
