May 2 Concert Features Young Newton Cellist Sebastian Bäverstam and Local Composer Gunther Schuller

The Newton Symphony Orchestra brings its 38th season to a close on Sunday evening, May 2 nd at 7:30pm, at the Rashi School Auditorium, Newton Corner. The program features Newton’s rising star, 15 year old Cellist Sebastian Bäverstam as guest soloist for Schumann’s Cello Concerto. NSO Music Director Jeffrey Rink’s program also includes local composer Gunther Schuller’s Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee and Beethoven’s rousing Symphony No. 5.

Mr. Bäverstam, a Newton resident, began his cello studies at the age of four and gave his first solo recital at Harvard University’s Dunster House at the age of six. Sebastian won first place in both the 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 New England Conservatory Preparatory Division Concerto Competitions and was a winner in the International Young Virtuosos Competition in 2001. In 2002 Sebastian won the Young Artists Competition for the Concord Symphony as well as the Brockton Symphony Concerto Competition. He has soloed with several orchestras around the country and has appeared on “From the Top” on National Public Radio. In addition to his accolades as a performer, Mr. Bäverstam won the 1998 NEPTA Original Composition Award for his works for cello and piano. An avid chamber musician, he plays in ensembles at the NEC, most recently in a cello quintet with his sister, Madeline, the NSO’s 2002 Henry and Gertrude Lasker Award winner. This quintet was selected to compete in the prestigious Fischoff national Chamber Music Competition in 2003. He has appeared at the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, the Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland and the ASCAP Awards at Lincoln Center. He studies with Andrew Pearce, Yeesun Kim, Nancy Hair and Ronald Feldman and is a member of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

The NSO raps up a yearlong celebration of Newton Composers with Gunther Schuller’s Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee. A Newton resident, Mr. Schuller has written more than 160 compositions in virtually every musical genre. Among the many awards he has received are the 1994 Pulitzer Prize in Music, a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in 1991 and more than 10 honorary degrees.

This concert is made possible through funding from Riemer & Braunstein, LLP.

NSO concerts are presented at the Rashi School Auditorium, 15 Walnut Park, Newton Corner. Tickets are $25 and $20, with a $5 discount for students and seniors over 65. Concerts start at 7:30pm; a pre-concert lecture will be given by Steven Ledbetter at 6:30pm. For tickets and further information, browse this web site or contact the NSO office at 617-965-2555, or by e-mail: [email protected]

Concert Schedule

Home | Concerts | Tickets | Support | Info