Welcome to the Cobb Symphony Orchestra (CSO)

The Force of Destiny!
Season Opening for the Cobb Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

Michael Alexander, Music Director
John Concklin, Associate Conductor
Adam Kirkpatrick, tenor

September 12, 2009 | 8 PM
September 13, 2009 | 3 PM

Murray Arts Center
Mount Paran Christian School
2250 Stilesboro Road NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152

COBB COUNTY, GA - The Cobb Symphony Orchestra, under the direction Music Director Michael Alexander, invites you to come and join the CSO as they prepare to kick off the 2009-2010 season! Experience the exhilarating and awe-inspiring thrill of live music that will explore and illuminate the human experience on Saturday, September 12 at 8 pm and Sunday, September 13 at 3 pm at the Murray Arts Center of Mount Paran Christian School. Both concerts feature Verdi's triumphant Overture to the Force of Destiny and Amy Beach's Symphony No. 2 "Gaelic". Additionally, Music Director Michael Alexander joins world-renowned tenor Adam Kirkpatrick to present John Adams' moving tribute to fallen war heroes Wound Dresser. Opening night celebrations include post-concert receptions at the hosted by The Friends of The CSO. For more information and tickets, call the Cobb Symphony box office at (770) 429-7016, or visit www.CobbSymphony.org.

"I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season and all the new and exciting things we have in store. The 09-10 season continues to expand and heighten our everyone's CSO experience," notes Music Director Michael Alexander.

Symphony Executive Director Brian Hermanson adds, "This season not only captures the tenacity of the American spirit with much-loved music, it is sure to capture your imagination and quench your thirst for dynamic and charismatic performances."

Guests may further explore their CSO experience throughout the year by using any number of initiatives in place by the Cobb Symphony including:

Ask Mike! - a way to ask CSO Music Director Michael Alexander any question you may have about an activity of the Cobb Symphony
Explore the On-line Conservatory - Meet our Music Director Mike Alexander and get a unique view of the most highly anticipated concerts this season. The CSO's innovative, new exclusive interview series with Michael Alexander is your guide to what's playing on and beyond the stage.
Chat! - Tech savvy and don't fell like picking up the phone or typing an e-mail, chat with someone from the CSO directly from the website.
Casual Friday's - an opportunity to talk with Associate Conductor John Concklin and that concert's guest before rehearsal and then get a behind-the-scenes look at an actual rehearsal
Explore Your CSO Experience Podcasts - This series is dedicated to erasing classical music's elitist stigma and attracting a new generation of fans. Throughout the episodes, you will explore the great masterworks, community projects, interesting conversations with people in the community locally and nationally, in addition to a host of other interesting and exciting things.

Guest Artists

Dr. Adam Kirkpatrick, lyric tenor, joined the faculty at the Kennesaw State University School of Music in 2008. He previously taught at Georgia State University. Dr. Kirkpatrick received his BM and MM in voice performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and earned his DM in voice performance from Florida State University. Dr. Kirkpatrick has sung operatic roles and concerts professionally in many theaters throughout the United States, singing with the Cincinnati Opera, Atlanta Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Tri-Cities Opera (NY), Dayton Opera, Florida State Opera, Knoxville Symphony, Newton Symphony (MA), Tallahassee Symphony (FL), McDonough Symphony (GA) and more.

Dr. Kirkpatrick was recently seen as: Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro and Prince Ramiro in La Cenerentola with the Atlanta Opera; Tonio in La fille du régiment and Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore with Tri-Cities Opera; Conte Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Newton Symphony and Tri-Cities Opera; and the Tenor Soloist in Carmina Burana with the Knoxville Symphony, Messiah with the Lake Charles Symphony, and The Creation with the Northwest Florida Symphony. For a detailed listing of roles and solos he has performed, or to view videos and listen to recordings, please visit www.adamkirkpatrick.com.

Dr. Kirkpatrick represented the USA in the Seoul International Voice Competition (South Korea, 2007). He also competed and won prizes in the Opera Birmingham Voice Competition (2007 and 2008) and the South-East and Mid-South regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2006 and 2007). Dr. Kirkpatrick was also honored as a recipient of the NATS Young Leaders Award in 2006.

In addition to teaching voice and performing regularly, Dr. Kirkpatrick has written several articles related to vocal pedagogy: "How to Sing Coloratura," Journal of Singing (Jan/Feb 2008); "Correcting Problematic Vibratos: Using Sustained Dynamic Exercises to Discover and Foster Healthy Vibrato," Journal of Singing (May/June 2008); and "Chiaroscuro and The Quest for Optimal Resonance," Journal of Singing (print date TBD).

The Cobb Symphony Orchestra strives to ensure artistic excellence in a diverse community that takes pride in the Orchestra's artistic success and feels a sense of ownership for the Orchestra. The Cobb Symphony is further dedicated to becoming a catalyst for community collaborations and for lifelong learning, using technology and other means to broaden the musical experience of current and future audiences. For more information, visit www.CobbSymphony.org or call (770) 429 - 7016.

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