Meira Warshauer Concerto for Shofar/Trombone and Orchestra Performed on January 10 and 12 by Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in Dayton, Ohio

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeffrey James Arts Consulting
516-586-3433 or jamesarts@att.net

Composer Meira Warshauer’s Tekeeyah (a call) - Concerto for Shofar/Trombone and Orchestra, will be performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Neal Gittleman, Music Director, as part of its The Awakening concerts on Thursday, January 10 and Saturday, January 12, 8 PM each evening at the Mead Theatre of the Schuster Center, 1 West 2nd St. in Dayton, Ohio.

Soloist will be shofar/trombone virtuoso Haim Avitsur. These concerts will also feature von Weber's Oberon Overture and Copland's Symphony No. 3.

The composer, who began work on Tekeeyah (a call) during a residency at the MacDowell Colony in Spring of 2008, has written this about the piece, “I believe this is a time which calls for awakening to our true essence as human beings. Our planet needs us, and we need each other, to care for and heal our suffering world. The shofar (ram’s horn), with its natural power and centuries of service in calling Jews to awaken, can be an important instrument in this collective renewal of purpose…” Read Ms. Warshauer’s complete program notes and other articles about the piece at http://meirawarshauer.com/NEW/pages/compositions.html. Excerpts can be heard online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMpafcGqufg.

Tekeeyah (a call) is the first concerto ever written for shofar/trombone soloist and orchestra and was commissioned by a consortium of orchestras that includes the Dayton Philharmonic, along with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Philharmonic, University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra and Western Piedmont Symphony (Hickory, NC), and with support from Lilly Stern and Bruce Filler, and Linda and Bill Stern in loving memory of their parents, Jadzia and Ben Stern.

Tickets range from $16 to $63, and can be ordered by calling 937-228-3630 or by visiting http://daytonperformingarts.org/philharmonic.

Israeli trombonist Haim Avitsur has premiered over 60 new pieces encompassing a broad range of styles from solo trombone to chamber music and orchestra. Mr. Avitsur is Trombone Professor at West Chester University School of Music (PA) and at the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, NY. He was the only trombonist named a 2005 and 2007 Emerging Artist by Symphony Magazine. Mr. Avitsur is a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Company. Much more about him at http://www.haimavitsur.com/.

Meira Warshauer has devoted much of her creative output to Jewish themes and their universal message and her work also reflects a love and concern for the earth. The Navona label has released a CD (NV5842) featuring her Symphony No.1: Living Breathing Earth and Tekeeyah (a call), concerto for shofar, trombone and orchestra with soloist Haim Avitsur. More about the CD at http://www.meirawarshauer.com/NEW/pages/breathing_earth.html. Albany Records had previously released her acclaimed Streams in the Desert disk of Torah-based choral/orchestral works. Warshauer's music is published by Hildegard, Lauren Keiser Music, World Music Press and Kol Meira Publications. Her website is at http://www.meirawarshauer.com.

Press inquiries about Meira Warshauer and her music can be directed to Jeffrey James Arts Consulting at 516-586-3433 or jamesarts@att.net.

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