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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Symphony To Offer Violin Concerto

Travis Rivers Correspondent

The Spokane Symphony Orchestra will play its second Classic Series program tonight at the Opera House with violin soloist Anne Akiko Meyers playing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Guest conductor Patricia Handy will lead performances of Wagner’s Overture to “The Flying Dutchman” and Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 (“Spring”).

Meyers, who grew up in California and received her training under Dorothy Delay and Maseo Kawakasi at the Juilliard School, has already developed a career that includes performances with the world’s major orchestras and conductors, numerous recital and television appearances and a recording contract with RCA. Her recording of the two Prokofiev violin concertos with the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra is scheduled for release next fall.

Handy, who conducted the Spokane Symphony at The Met in 1994, has been invited to return as guest conductor with the orchestra in four performances this season. Handy, like Meyers, is a Juilliard graduate. Her teachers include Leon Barzin, Sixten Ehrling and Gunther Schuller.

Handy currently serves as artistic director of the Goliard Chorale and Chamber Orchestra and is associate conductor of the Greenwich (Conn.) Symphony. She has appeared as guest conductor with the Utah Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Chamber Orchestra and the Kiel Philharmonic in Germany.

Handy will give a preconcert talk on the evening’s music in the Opera House auditorium beginning at 7 p.m.

xxxx The Spokane Symphony, conducted by Patricia Handy with guest violinist Anne Akiko Meyers Location and time: Opera House, tonight, 8 p.m. Tickets: $12-$27, available at the symphony box office, 624-1200, and G&B outlets