Inspired by Italy, with special guest Andrew Jacobson, oboe

The orchestra, directed by Leslie Stewart, opens the concert with Antonio Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico in D minor, featuring the Zinnia Graduate String Quartet. Faculty soloist Andrew Jacobson joins the ensemble for Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto, and the orchestra portion concludes with Prelude and Fugue for Orchestra by Italian-American composer, Vittorio Giannini, whose students at the Manhattan School of Music included Herbie Hancock. The 100-member band, directed by Dr. Erik Johnson, performs music inspired by water in many forms, with works by contemporary composers including Johan de Meij and Eric Whitacre.