DeKalb Symphony: New Works, Sibelius, Gershwin, & Bartok

• Alexander Wasserman, piano

Jean Sibelius — Karelia Overture, Op. 10
Béla Bartók — Romanian Folk Dances for strings, Sz. 68, BB 76
Kareem Roustom — Aleppo Songs
George Gershwin — Rhapsody in Blue
Charlie Zhong — Selected works (new work TBA)

The DeKalb Symphony's concert in May features works from the early 20th century up through to contemporary pieces, including a World Premiere commission by Young Composers Competition winner, Charlie Zhong.

About DeKalb Symphony Orchestra

DeKalb Symphony Orchestra presents concerts of traditional and contemporary symphonic repertoire, seeking both the highest possible level of artistic quality and the advancement of musical awareness and participation among ourmusicians and diverse audiences.

Membership in DeKalb Symphony Orchestra is by audition. Of the more than 80 players in the full orchestra, only a handful are paid a small stipend to act as principal players. The others are volunteer players from the community. A recent study concluded that each player in DSO devotes approximately 200 hours per year to the Orchestra’s rehearsals and performances and that the average member serves for 10 years or more.

https://www.dekalbsymphony.org

About Alexander Wasserman, piano

As a concerto soloist, Dr. Alexander Wasserman has appeared with the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Thousand Oaks Philharmonic (CA), the New Valley Symphony (CA), the Suburban Symphony (OH), The Santa Barbara Choral Society and Orchestra (CA), The DeKalb Symphony (GA), The Rome Symphony (GA), The Reinhardt Symphony (GA), The Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, and the Parma Symphony (OH) in concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Grieg, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky.

As a chamber musician, he frequently collaborates with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as guest pianist with the Riverside Chamber Players, and the Atlanta Chamber Players. Recent chamber music highlights include performances on the Atlanta Symphony “Pre-Concert Chamber Music Series” at Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Equally dedicated to the education of emerging talent, Dr. Wasserman is Assistant Professor of Piano at Reinhardt University (GA). He also served as Professor of Piano at Youngstown State University (OH) shortly before moving to Atlanta. In addition, he serves as Founder and Artistic Director of the Reinhardt Piano Festival and Academy – an intensive one-week summer piano festival held at Reinhardt University. Dr. Wasserman also maintains a private piano studio; his students have been prize winners in the GMEA All-State Competition, GMTA Romantic and Impressionistic Competition, GMTA Piano Competition, MTNA Competition, Nashville International Piano Competition, Rising Stars Competition, Osaka International Competition, Emory Young Artists Competition, Kennesaw State University Young Artists Competition, Rome Symphony Concerto Competition, Atlanta Community Symphony Concerto Competition, and more.

Alexander Wasserman, a native of Los Angeles received degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music (BM), the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM), and the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (GPD). Most recently, he completed the Doctor of Musical Arts program in Piano Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

https://www.alexanderwasserman.com/