KIDS CONCERT TO FEATURE
CHILDREN'S CLASSIC, "PETER AND THE WOLF"
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Portland, Ore. … The Magic Circle Mime Company's popular combination of visual theatrics and symphonic music will bring Prokofiev's classic tale of "Peter and the Wolf" to life in an Oregon Symphony Kids Concert Sunday, Feb. 10, at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Media support is provided by Portland Parent and OPB.
Seattle Symphony Assistant Conductor Alastair Willis will conduct the concert, which will begin with Suppe's Overture to "The Light Cavalry." The engaging tale of Peter, the Bird, the Cat, the Duck, the Grandfather, the Hunters and the Wolf will then become an exciting theatrical experience as Peter tries to capture a wolf that threatens orchestra and audience members alike. Maggie Petersen will mime the role of Peter, and Douglas MacIntyre will mime the role of the Wolf. Praised for their imaginative, captivating, educational, and innovative performances, Peterson and MacIntyre have been presenting "theatrical works for orchestra" for more than 20 years as the Magic Circle Mime Company.
Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" was most recently performed by the Oregon Symphony during a Kids concert in January, 1999.
"Peter and the Wolf" is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 10, at 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets range in price from $5 to $29 for adults and $5 to $22 for children 12 and younger and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Magic Circle Mime Company
Magic Circle Mime Co. is regarded as one of today's premier family attractions. Their highly acclaimed performances, which unite the concert orchestra with visual theater, are consistently praised.
Magic Circle Mime Co. performs with virtually every major orchestra in North America and orchestras around the globe. They regularly appear with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, and Montreal
Symphony, among many others. During the 2001-2002 season, MCMCo. make their Boston Symphony debut and return to the Chicago Symphony for the 15th consecutive season.
Over the past 10 years, Magic Circle Mime Co. has developed a presence in the Far East, performing with the major orchestras in Japan, China and Taiwan. During the 2001-2002 season, they return to Asia to perform with the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Beijing Music Festival, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic (for the 5th time).
Magic Circle Mime Co is the creative partnership of Maggie Petersen and Douglas MacIntyre. Both artists have backgrounds in theatre and instrumental music, and have utilized that training to create their highly engaging programs. From their West Coast homes Ms. Petersen and Mr. MacIntyre continue to create new programs for music ensembles of all sizes.
Alastair Willis
Alastair Willis was appointed as Seattle Symphony Assistant Conductor in September, 2000. He previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. In 1999, Mr. Willis was honored as one of six up-and-coming conductors chosen to participate in the American Symphony Orchestra League's National Conductor Preview in Salt Lake City. He was awarded a conducting fellowship to attend the Tanglewood Music Festival, where he studied and collaborated with Seiji Ozawa, Robert Spano, and Sir André Previn, among others. Mr. Willis also has studied with David Zinman, David Robertson, Murry Sidlin and Ivan Fischer and has collaborated with other eminent conductors including Michael Tilson Thomas, James Conlon and Jorma Panula.
During the 1999-2000 season, he made his guest-conducting debut with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In the 2000-2001 season, Mr. Willis guest-conducted the Chicago Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, the Seattle Chamber Players, and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra's Opening Gala Weekend. Future engagements include appearances with the Chicago and San Antonio symphonies.
Mr. Willis made his guest-conducting debut with the Seattle Symphony in January, 2000. His responsibilities as Assistant Conductor for the Orchestra include conducting neighborhood, family and education concerts; conducting select Seattle Pops concerts; editing tapes for radio broadcast; and working with artistic and development staff to create tape excerpts that support grants.
Born in Acton, Massachusetts, Mr. Willis lived with his family in Moscow for five years before settling in Surrey, England. He received his bachelor's degree with honors from England's Bristol University and continued his studies at Kingston University, where he earned a post-graduate Certificate of Education degree, teaching classroom music from grade-school to high-school levels. In 1994, he was awarded the Salveston Baton Prize for his work with several youth orchestras in and around London. He won a scholarship in 1996 to study with Maestro Larry Rachleff at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, graduating with a Master of Music degree in 1999. In addition to assisting Maestro Rachleff, he spent three years as Principal Conductor of the Campanile Orchestra, one of Houston's finest community orchestras.
Mr. Willis currently resides in Seattle.
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