Luke Frazier conducts Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and 100 member chorus in A Civil War Portrait Saturday April 11

Conductor Luke Frazier directs the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and more than 100 singers from across the region in an original pops concert entitled A Civil War Portrait on Saturday, April 11 at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. Created to coincide with the sesquicentennial anniversary of General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865, A Civil War Portrait guides the audience through the major campaigns of the Civil War through music, narration, and carefully-curated photographs and features music of the era. The program includes works by Stephen Foster, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, as well as popular Civil War era folksongs like Danny Boy and Annie Laurie and Shenandoah performed by the FSO and more than 100 singers from around the DC Metropolitan area including members of the National Broadway Chorus, the Reston Chorale, the Loudoun Chorale, the Vienna Choral Society, the World Bank Chorus, and the Arlington Children’s Chorus. Fox 5 Morning News Anchor Allison Seymour will narrate the concert. Prior to the performance Frazier will host a pre-concert discussion at 7 pm open to all ticket holders.

Praised by critics and music industry leaders alike as “A wonderful combination of technical excellence, passion and commitment,” and “crackling with electricity and almost physical power” the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is recognized as one of the leading orchestras in the Washington area. Founded in 1957 and led since 2009 by the dynamic conductor Christopher Zimmerman, the orchestra continues in its mission to explore and present the symphonic repertoire, both traditional and modern, for the diverse audiences of the Northern Virginia region while building musicians and audiences of the future through their education and outreach programs. In 2014, Luke Frazier was named Principal Pops Conductor of the Fairfax Symphony and is committed to re-envisioning pops programming that has quickly established him as a dynamic force across the music community. As the Principal Pops Conductor of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, he has conducted several programs of his own creation. Held at George Mason University, the Angelika Film Center, Fairfax County Government Center, and the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, these innovative programs have garnered praise as well as listeners at the highest attended programs of the FSO season.

In addition to his relationship with the FSO, Mr. Frazier is also the music director of the National Broadway Chorus of Washington. DC, who will join the FSO in A Civil War Portrait. He is the artist in residence with the DC Youth Orchestra and the Manhattan Girls Chorus who joined forces for the first time this winter performing Forever Free, another original program developed by Frazier as a tribute to US Civil Rights leaders performed in Washington and New York. He is the Music Director for the Dallas AT&T Center for the Performing Arts and ASCAP Masters of Music Awards Gala this June. September marks the third consecutive year he will join forces with Michael Feinstein on the American Songbook Hall of Fame Gala. Last fall he returned to his home state to lead the West Virginia Symphony in one of his own programs, Paul Bunyan and Pals, as part of their Family Discovery Series at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. For the third year, Frazier directed the Beacon Prize award performance at the Human Rights First Summit. He also led two holiday programs this December, The Family Holiday Letter a hilarious ensemble piece and his popular Christmas in Black and White, a family friendly program set to classic black and white films. For further information visit lukefraziermusic.com

A Civil War Portrait
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Center for the Arts
George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
Pre-concert Lecture 7 pm; Performance 8 pm
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Chorus of Over 100 Singers
Luke Frazier, conductor
Tickets $27, $45, $55. Students ages 6-25: free
To purchase tickets on-line visit fairfaxsymphony.org or tickets.com or by phone call 888-945-2468. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Center for the Arts box office, Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm.