Opening Night:
Shoot for the Stars
October 7, 2023
Vance Brand Civic Auditorium
Begins at 7:00pm
“Shoot for the Stars” Opening Night features “The Planets” by Gustav Holst, a seven-movement orchestral suite. Each movement is named after a planet with its own unique astrological character. The night begins with John Adams’ “Short Ride in a Fast Machine”, catching your attention with his unique use of minimalist tonal language and rhythmic dissonance, followed by Michael Daugherty’s new Harp Concerto, “Harp of Ages” which shows us the diversity of one of the oldest instruments while bringing in elements of 20th century pop culture—the blues and Irish rhythmic excitement.
JOHN ADAMS
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY
Harp of Ages
I. Sappho Leaps
II. Sister Juana’s Hymn
III. Uhura’s Song
IV. David’s Prayer
V. Harpo Speaks
VI. Detroit Blue
VII. Irish Wedding
Intermission
GUSTAV HOLST
The Planets
I. Mars, The Bringer of War–Allegro
II. Venus, The Bringer of Peace–Adagio
III. Mercury, The Winged Messenger–Vivace
IV. Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity–A. giocoso
V. Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age–Adagio
VI. Uranus, The Magician–Vivace
VII. Neptune, The Mystic–Andante
All Female Choir 1:
Kailyn Martino, Soprano
Sabina Balsamo, Soprano
Emily Anderson, Alto
All Female Choir 2:
Alice Del Simone, Soprano
Natalie Simpson, Soprano
Jenna Clark, Alto
Featured Guest Soloist
Rachel Starr Ellins, Harp
Rachel Starr Ellins has been the principal harpist of the Longmont Symphony since 1996. She is also the first call substitute/second harpist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Rachel was the instructor of harp at Colorado State University from 1996 until 2016 and continues to teach privately at her home studio.
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Ms. Ellins received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado where she studied with Kathy Bundock Moore and her masters degree from the University of North Texas where she studied with Ellen Ritcher. Rachel also studied for two summers at the Tanglewood Music Festival with esteemed harpist Lucile Lawrence. She has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Timberline Symphony, Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, and the Longmont Symphony. She has been a guest artist with the Front Range Chamber Players, Ivy Street Ensembles and the Loveland Friends of Chamber Music. She has given numerous solo and chamber music recitals throughout Northern Colorado. Rachel has published several harp ensemble arrangements and loves to conduct harp ensemble. In 2018 she was invited to the American Harp Society National Conference to conduct one of her harp ensemble arrangements with the conference harp ensemble. Ms. Ellins resides in Longmont with her husband Joe and daughter Amanda.
