Savannah Philharmonic is proud to announce its second season of the Larsen Musician Spotlight Series, set to launch on Sunday, Sept. 15. The popular series of six Sunday afternoon concerts scheduled throughout the 2019-20 season can be purchased exclusively, or as part of the Philharmonic Experience subscription package. The series features collaborative initiatives between Philharmonic musicians and premier institutions and artists from Savannah and beyond.

The Larsen Musician Spotlight series is curated by Savannah Philharmonic Concertmaster Dr. Sinisa Ciric, who has performed in Carnegie Hall and was a featured soloist on ARCO’s most recent recording of Vivaldi’s concertos for two, three and four violins. Ciric has also served as director of Savannah Classical Academy’s Strings Conservatory Program since January 2016 and was named Artistic Director for the Musician Spotlight Series in early July 2019.

Each concert in the series presents a different perspective of the Savannah Philharmonic’s involvement in the community and its mission to provide residents, as well as visitors, with the opportunity to attend chamber concerts of the highest artistic order.

The first concert, “Le Resistance,” is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. Pianist and soprano Laura Ball joins musicians of the Savannah Philharmonic for an elegant concert of newly commissioned works of James Naigus and Karen Walwyn, Spanish songs of Manuel de Falla, and Ernő Dohnányi’s dynamic Sextet in C major.

At 5 p.m. October 13, “From UGA with Love” will be presented at the Yamacraw Performing Arts Center, featuring a debut performance by the ARCO Chamber Orchestra and distinguished soloist and UGA violin professor Levon Ambartsumia. Presenting pieces by Tchaikovsky and Podgaits, Ciric will join his mentor in the Concerto for 2 violins in D minor by J.S. Bach.

Featuring the sensational voice of mezzo-soprano Mikki Sodergren, Gold Medalist and Artistic Director of the American Traditions Vocal Competition Mikki Sodergren, “The Death of Romance” will be performed at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3, at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. Alongside musicians from the Savannah Philharmonic, Sodergren will weave stories into melody through chamber works and art songs rarely heard in masterpieces such as Ottorino Respighi’s Il Tramonto and Ernest Chausson’s Chanson Perpetuelle.

At 5 p.m. Jan. 26, talented students from the Savannah Arts Academy will share the stage with members of the Savannah Philharmonic in a collaborative chamber music project, “Strings United,” at First Presbyterian Church. Repertoire will include string quartets by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and more. In this unique concert, professional musicians and student musicians will be in quartets together.

Featuring chamber works by film composers, “Cinephile du Joure” will be performed by The Blue Heron Chamber Ensemble at 5 p.m. Feb. 23, at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension. Flutist Jeana Melilli, pianist Ben Warsaw and friends will perform Copland’s Duo for Flute and Piano (featuring music from “The Heiress”), as well as works of Miklos Rozsa, Nino Rota, Ennio Morricone and others, with songs from your favorite movies like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Moon River” and more.

The Larsen Musician Spotlight Series will present its final performance at 5 p.m. March 8 when members of the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus join together for “Sympátheia,” a new work by Argentinian composer Martin Gendelman. In this piece, Gendelman creates an immersive experience for the audience by surrounding listeners with multiple small ensembles of mixed voices and instruments to explore the concept of sympathetic resonance and how it relates to the modern “echo chamber” of online social discourse. The location for this concert will be announced at a later date.

All six Larsen Musician Spotlight Series concerts can be purchased at a 20% discount – that is all six concerts for $125. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 912-232-6002, visit savannahphilharmonic.org or email [email protected].