Former Music Director James Sedares Returns to Conduct The Phoenix Symphony  

Concert Features Masterpieces from Dvořák and Tchaikovsky  

      PHOENIX – As part of the “Homecoming” celebrations throughout The Phoenix Symphony’s 2009/10 Season, former Music Director James Sedares returns to Phoenix to lead the orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

      Mr. Sedares served as Music Director from 1989 – 1995, and during his tenure, The Phoenix Symphony produced four CDs including 1994’s "The Magnificent Seven.” This blockbuster CD was listed on Billboard Magazine's classical crossover best seller chart, and it won the ECHO Award, the prestigious German Record Critics Prize, as well as an INDIE award as best CD in the film music category.

      The Phoenix Symphony and Mr. Sedares will perform Dvořák’s exuberant Carnival Overture, Hindemith’s brilliantly orchestrated Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber and Tchaikovsky’s masterful Symphony No. 5 at three venues throughout the Valley: Symphony Hall, Mesa Arts Center and the newly renovated Scottsdale Center for the Arts. The concerts located at Symphony Hall will take place October 15 at 7:30 p.m., October 17 at 8 p.m., sponsored by Gayle Dilatush, with a shortened Coffee Concert October 16 at 11 a.m., sponsored by Bob & Sharon McCord. This concert will be performed at Mesa Arts Center on October 18 at 2 p.m. as well as Scottsdale Center for the Arts on October 29 at 7:30 p.m.

      Tickets for “Tchaikovsky’s 5^th Symphony” range from $22 to $72 at Symphony Hall, $22 to $52 at Mesa Arts Center and $32 to $52 at Scottsdale Center for the Arts. All tickets can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602-495-1999 or by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org. Season tickets are still available with packages of Choose Your Own 4 concerts for as low as $80!     

      Other highlights of The Phoenix Symphony’s 2009/10 Classics Season, sponsored by US Airways, include “Nixon in China” (November 12-14), “Strauss: Waltzes and Polkas” (November 27-29) and “Basil Twist Master Peter’s Puppet Show” (January 14 – 16). 

      About The Phoenix Symphony: The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with almost 200 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond. 

      Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman C.A. Howlett.

      The Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 80,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.