Fall Concert Series - November 12 & 13, 2011

Allison Dresser

Saturday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.
Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater Medford

Sunday, November 13, 3:00 p.m.
SOU Music Recital Hall Ashland

Ticket Information

Program

Youth Symphony

Richard Strauss, Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major
Alison Dresser, horn
Edvard Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Gioachino Rossini, La Gazza Ladra Overture

Youth Orchestra

Niccolo Piccinni, Overture to Didon
Bedrich Smetana, The Moldau
M. L. Daniels, Festique

Youth Strings

Carl Maria von Weber, Hunters Chorus (from der Freischutz)
Samuel A. Ward, America the Beautiful
Jacques Offenbach, Can-Can

Alison Dresser
2011 Concerto Competition Winner

Alison Dresser, horn soloist, is a junior at Ashland High School (AHS) and principal horn of the Youth Symphony. Alison also plays cello in the Youth Orchestra, where she leads the section as well. She has participated in the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon organization since 2003. Alison studies horn privately with Cynthia Hutton and both piano and cello with Lisa Truelove. In addition to her involvement in the YSSO, she is a member of the AHS Symphonic Band and Chamber Orchestra. She has been a soloist with the Ashland City Band and was selected to participate in the Northwest Horn Symposium, All-State Orchestra, Western International Band Clinic and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s (OSF) orchestra for the OSF production of The Pirates of Penzance. Her school music teachers have included Gerry Paré, Jenifer Carstensen, Dwayne Johnson, Louie Leger and Jon Soderberg-Chase, her current teacher at AHS. Alison’s parents are Marcia Pinneau and Bruce Dresser.

Alison will play the Horn Concerto No 1 in E-flat Major by Richard Strauss with the Youth Symphony on November 12 & 13, 2011. Recently Alison observed, “I enjoy the contrast between the lyrical melodies and the technical passages. [The] composition is beautiful because all sections of the orchestra have interesting and difficult lines to play, not just the soloist.”

When asked who provides her with inspiration, Alison cited Jenifer Carstensen and Yo Yo Ma. She went on to say, “Yo Yo Ma inspires me because of his amazing stage presence [and] his phenomenal playing. Jenifer Carstensen inspires me because of her consistently positive attitude as a music teacher and her wonderful horn playing. Lisa Truelove and Cindy Hutton are Alison’s mentors. “Lisa Truelove has helped to make me a well-rounded musician and Cindy Hutton has taught me everything from technical basics to musicality and phrasing.”

Following high school graduation next year, Alison plans to continue her exploration of music and hopes to pursue a career as a professional musician.

Photograph: Bryon DeVore Photography