Southeast Symphony hosts trumpet virtuoso

World-renowned trumpet player Allen Vizzutti will join the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra for Tuesday night's Trumpet Spectacular.

Vizzutti has performed in more than 40 countries with famous artists and ensembles such as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione and the NBC Tonight Show Band. His work can be heard in more than 100 motion picture soundtracks, including "Back to the Future" and "Star Trek."

In fall 2010, Vizzutti was a featured artist with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and taught a master class with students at Southeast Missouri State University. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist, a professional distinction which embraces the encouragement and education of music students.

Sara Edgerton, professor of cello and string bass at Southeast and conductor of the Spectacular, said she wanted to invite Vizzutti back to the university to provide another opportunity to learn from him. Vizzutti will hold a workshop again this year as well as two nights of rehearsal before Tuesday's event.

"The students have been working really hard and are excited about having Allen here," Edgerton said.

The Southeast Missouri Symphony is primarily comprised of students, with some community members and professional players, depending on the instruments required by each performance.

The first piece in Tuesday's program, Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 94, nicknamed the "Surprise Symphony," accents all the instruments in the orchestra, Edgerton said. It will be followed by Aram Khatchaturian's Gayaneh Suite, in which the brass section becomes prominent during the rhythmic "Sabre Dance" movement.

Vizzutti will join the concert's second half, as the program brings the focal point to the trumpet, beginning with Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Major and culminating in Delaware "Del" Staigers' arrangement of the 1800s folk tune "Carnival of Venice."

Vizzutti suggests listening to the solo trumpet "as if it were a human voice."

"Notice how versatile, subtle, soft and sensitive it can sound as well as bright and bravura. It is one of the most versatile instruments there is," Vizzutti said by email Friday.

Edgerton said the evening will be a "good introduction to all the instruments of the orchestra."

"Bring the family along," Edgerton said, "Even children will really enjoy this."

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Bedell Performance Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. The program is about 90 minutes long and includes a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are $16 and $19 and can be purchased online at www.rivercampusevents.com or by calling the box office at 651-2265.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3648

Pertinent address:

518 South Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, MO