Symphony Notes

October-November 2021
Fun Facts About Our Symphony Family

Jonathan Yates has been our Music Director since 2011, attended the famous Lab School on the South Side of Chicago and then went on to Harvard, where he conducted the Bach Society Orchestra.

Libby Mucci, our Board Secretary, is an accomplished pianist. She made her first public appearance with Beethoven’s Für Elise at age seven. While a student at the Boston University School of Music, she performed Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy with the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler.

Russ Cooper, the Symphony's Principal Timpanist since 1981, describes his instrument as “the fists of the orchestra.” Russ is also president and lead designer at Jaffe Holden in South Norwalk, one of the leaders in the field of concert hall acoustics.

Krzysztof Kuznik, our Concertmaster since 2019, often subs with the New York Philharmonic and is a fixture at their summer program in Vail. He is also in the pit at major Broadway shows (e.g., Aladdin, Hello Dolly and Les Misérables).

Wendy Kerner, Principal Harpist, finds her instrument much in demand for all kinds of music and occasions. Her most memorable gig: a biker wedding in Seymour, Connecticut. She performed Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters and other popular numbers.

Mary Petro Noonan heads our Volunteers Committee. She is a regular with the Metropolitan Opera's Extra Chorus, and has sung major roles on major stages (Mimi in La bohème and Pamina in The Magic Flute). On December 5th, she will be The Mother in our production of Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Charlie Johnson, our Principal Trumpet, is also a Board Vice President. A full music scholarship brought him from Alabama to Cincinnati, where he became a regular with that city's Symphony. These days Charlie lives in Rowayton. His "day job" is Athletic Director at The Yale Club of New York City.

Suzanne Corey-Sahlin & Gunnar Sahlin, a harmonious husband and wife team, occupy the Symphony’s principal viola and cello chairs. Together, they form “Duetto Viello,” which through research, transcription, commission, and performance have greatly expanded the repertoire for the viola/cello combo.

Matt Russo D.M.A., our Principal Trombone, teaches at UConn, Wesleyan and at the Hartt School. He also does full seasons at the Goodspeed Opera House. He has a passion for interesting and engaging concerts. Shown here, he is performing all five parts of a trombone quintet by contemporary composer, Lauren Bernofsky.

Emanouil Manolov D.M.A, is our Assistant Concertmaster. He met his then future bride, Megumi, when both were extras in the taping of Amazon Prime series Mozart in the Jungle. As a young child, Emanouil was featured on Bulgarian National TV, playing a gavotte by Jean Philippe Rameau.


Our December 5th Concert



Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors was written for television. It premiered live on December 24th, 1951, on the same stage that now hosts Saturday Night Live. This chamber opera has been a holiday favorite ever since. The cast for our performance includes local talent for the leads: boy soprano Henry Brauweiler and soprano Mary Petro Noonan. This will also be the first time our new Norwalk Symphony Chorus members join us on stage. The evening concludes with our traditional caroling and holiday orchestral favorites...and perhaps a visitor from the North Pole!
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