Syracuse Symphony Orchestra

SYRACUSE, NY – The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) displays its expressiveness in the romantic programming of The Post-Standard Classics Series concert, Romeo and Juliet. The concert is on Friday and Saturday, February 12-13 at 8:00 p.m. in the Mulroy Civic Center at Oncenter. Conductor Emeritus Kazuyoshi Akiyama returns to the podium joined by internationally recognized pianist Cecile Licad.

Licad will perform Chopin’s Concerto No. 2 in F minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 21. The orchestra will also perform the fiery Valentino Dances by Dominick Argento and excerpts from the famous Prokofiev ballet, Romeo and Juliet.

Friday’s sponsor is Key Private Bank. Saturday’s sponsor is The Wellington House. The entire Post-Standard Classics Series is sponsored by the Post-Standard. The entire season is generously sponsored by RBC Wealth Management and our media partner is WCNY.

Tickets start at just $15. To order, please call (315) 424-8200 or (800) 724-3810, or visit SyracuseSymphony.org. Student rush tickets ($5) are available the day of the performance with valid student ID.

Interviews and photographs of Cecile Licad and Kazuyoshi Akiyama are available upon request.

Cecile Licad
One of the youngest musicians to ever receive the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal, Cecile Licad has become an international tour de force.

She has performed under the baton of and collaborated with conductors including Claudio Abbado, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, David Zinman and many others. Her recent U.S. appearances include Seattle Symphony, Virginia Symphony and the La Jolla Chamber Music and Eastern Music festivals.

Licad is also a prominent chamber musician performing regularly with the New York Chamber Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Guarneri Quartet, Takacs Quartet, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Music from Marlboro.

Licad’s recordings have also won her the Grand Prix du Disque Frederic Chopin award for her release of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with Andre Previn conducting the London Philharmonic.

Kazuyoshi Akiyama
Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Conductor Emeritus of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, served as the SSO’s Music Director from 1985-1992. He is currently the Principal Conductor of the Hiroshima Symphony and the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra and is recognized as a leading conductor in Japan and the United States.

Maestro Akiyama is the recipient of numerous citations, including the Suntory Music Award, the Kyoto Music Award, the Mainichi Arts Award, and the Arts Encouragement Prize of the Minister of Education. In 2001, he was awarded the Emperor’s Purple Ribbon Medal from the Japanese Government for his outstanding contribution to the country’s musical culture.

About the SSO

During its 39-week season, the 80-member Syracuse Symphony Orchestra performs for more than 237,000 audience members through 213 full-orchestra and ensemble concerts in 17 counties throughout New York State. Founded in 1961, the Syracuse Symphony, led by a conducting staff of international caliber, has performed five concerts at Carnegie Hall, most recently on April 5, 2003, and was presented with the NYS Governor's Arts Award in 1999. For more information, visit us at www.syracusesymphony.org.