So often, the role of conductor is used in analogies to convey the importance of having someone weave together disparate parts into a more pleasing whole. But have you ever wondered what a conductor really does?
Part coach, part time-keeper, part interpreter, part front-man, a conductor plays many roles in relationship to the musicians on stage and the sounds they bring forth. Even the term 'Maestro' has multiple connotations, including distinguished figure and teacher.
As in any endeavor, symphonic music requires a leader who can set out a vision, encourage and bring out the talents of those around them, listen intently, and then ultimately blend everyone's contributions together to achieve the desired outcome.
There are as many styles of conducting as there are conductors. Every facial expression, twitch of our baton, or wave of the arm conveys the interpretation of the music we wish the orchestra to elicit. And we serve as a visual bridge between what the audience hears and what they are looking at on stage.
For the past ten years, I've had the pleasure of conducting the talented Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra. As we head into our new season, I'm looking forward to again bringing symphonic music to life for a live audience.
I do hope you'll join us,
John Page
PSO Music Director
Meet Your Orchestra
Sarah Krebs, Oboe
Years playing with the PSO: 12 years and counting Age started playing oboe: 15 Lives in: Dover, NH
Did you learn another instrument before you started playing the oboe?
I took violin lessons as a small child and played flute/piccolo from 4th grade through 12th grade. During high school I picked up the oboe.
Did you study music after high school?
Yes, I graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1992.
Why did you choose your current instrument?
The Air Force woodwind quintet came to my high school to perform and I fell in love with the sound of the oboe.
What do you like about playing with a symphony orchestra?
I love sitting right in the center of the orchestra and hearing all of the instruments around me creating music. My favorite piece to play on the oboe is Beethoven 6.
How do you spend your time outside of the PSO?
I am the Director of Exceptional Services at Pembroke Academy. I love to hang with my kitties and garden.
Stringendo, the PSO's tuition free youth music program, will be in-person this fall, starting September 13th on Mondays from 4:00-6:00pm.
We are currently accepting all levels of violin, viola, intermediate cello, bass, flute, oboe and keyboard without audition.
Participation in this program is FREE with a commitment of daily practice and regular attendance.
Learn more on the PSO website or email Aubrie.dionne@portsmouthsymphony.org to register today!
Performances Not to Be Missed
Single Tickets Now on Sale For 2021-2022 Season
First up...
PSO Fall Concert &
Season Opening Celebration The Music Hall, Portsmouth
Sunday, October 24, 3pm
The full Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra returns to The Music Hall stage with a live, in-person audience for the 2021-2022 Season Opening Celebration featuring Tchaikovsky’s magnificent Tempest, Julius Eastman’s powerful Gay Guerilla, and Beethoven’s glorious 5th Symphony.
The PSO will take listeners on a musical and emotional journey that includes a complex musical metaphor of weathering and coming out of a storm; a daring musical offering that challenges the listener while offering a powerful message of the invincible human spirit; and a moving transition from darkness to light.
All concerts are preceded at 1:45 pm by Inside the Music, a free pre-concert discussion that provides entertaining insight into the afternoon’s program. BUY TICKETS.
Of Note
Tanglewood Music Center 75 Archival Recording Project
Even if you have never had the opportunity to visit in person, summer in New England for music lovers is synonymous with Tanglewood Music Center (TMC), the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO).
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Tanglewood Music Center released free downloads and streams of recordings drawn from the wealth of material housed in the BSO audio archives, including some recordings from as early as 1940.
Recordings are published in the form of a "virtual concert" comprised of several performances from throughout the TMC's history, surveying both vintage and modern eras, symphonic and operatic genres, music for smaller ensembles, and the contemporary music that has been central to the TMC's mission for 75 years.
You can learn more about the Tanglewood Music Center 75 Archival Recording Project and listen to their selections here.
Investing in Music
Corporate Sponsorships Now Available for the 2021-2022 Season
Each year, corporate partners and businesses from the Greater Seacoast area invest in our community by sponsoring the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s artistic and educational activities. The PSO is proud to be one of the most beloved artistic institutions in the region, reaching more than 8,000 community members each year.
Now, more than ever, our community needs the support of businesses who understand that the arts are a critical component to the economic vitality and unique personality of the Seacoast.
If your business would like to learn more about how to invest in the PSO, please download our sponsorship brochure or contact us for more information.
