Summary
The Dallas Chamber Symphony (DCS) is a professional, American chamber orchestra that performs in the Moody Performance Hall in the Arts District, Dallas. Founded in 2011, and led by artistic director, Richard McKay; the DCS presented its first season in 2012, and performs most of its concerts in the Moody Performance Hall.[1]
| Dallas Chamber Symphony | |
|---|---|
| Short name | DCS |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Location | Dallas, Texas |
| Concert hall | Moody Performance Hall |
| Principal conductor | Richard McKay |
| Website | dcsymphony |
Critics have described the DCS as “extremely adroit”, “fresh” and “innovative.”[2] The orchestra has been lauded for its film series, which pairs classic silent films with newly commissioned scores.
Japanese violinist Kazuhiro Takagi is the concertmaster.
Artistic director and conductor edit
Richard McKay, the DCS’s artistic director and conductor, earned his doctorate in orchestral conducting with Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar at the Peabody Conservatory. While there, he was assistant conductor of the Peabody Conservatory orchestras and operas.[3]
McKay earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Gerhardt Zimmermann and David Neely.
He has worked as music director of the University of Texas University Orchestra and has also worked with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Originally trained as a pianist, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance.
Performance venues edit
The DCS performs its main concert series in Dallas City Performance Hall, which opened in 2012. Designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP, with Dallas architecture firm Corgan serving as the architect of record, the center is in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.[4][5]
The piano competition is held primarily at Southern Methodist University’s Owen Arts Center.[6]
Dallas International Piano Competition edit
The DCS International Piano Competition took place for the first time in Dallas, Texas, from March 14–16, 2013. The symphony partners with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts and offers its participants master classes, performance opportunities, private lessons and the chance to play with the symphony itself in the spring of 2013.[7]
World premieres edit
In November, 2012, the DCS premiered a new film score to the silent-film comedy A Sailor-Made Man, starring Harold Lloyd. The score was commissioned specifically by the symphony as part of their film series and was composed by Brian Satterwhite.[8]
On February 26, 2013, as part of its film series, the DCS Premiered a new all-strings film score to the silent-film horror classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, starring Conrad Veidt. As with A Sailor-Made Man, the score was commissioned by the symphony and was composed by Brian Satterwhite.[9][10]
Educational partners edit
The DCS partners closely with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts for its International Piano Competition.
In 2014, the Dallas Chamber Symphony partnered with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) for an educational concert performed at City Performance Hall in conjunction with the release of their iPad music curriculum,[11] "The Sights and Sounds of the Symphony", by Barbara Vance and Richard McKay.[12]
References edit
- ^ "Dallas Chamber Symphony Website".
- ^ "The Dallas Chember Symphony". Dallas Observer. November 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "William Richard McKay Website".
- ^ "Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill LLP". Archived from the original on January 26, 2013.
- ^ "DallasCulture.org". Archived from the original on October 28, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "DCS International Piano Competition Venues List".
- ^ "DCS International Piano Competition". Archived from the original on January 9, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "Dallas Chamber Symphony Sailor Made Man Event Page". Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
- ^ "Review of Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ "DCS Summary of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Program".
- ^ Frosini, Teresa. "DISD Students Attend Dallas Chamber Symphony". CBS Local News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ Zeeble, Bill. "Mesquite School and Dallas Chamber Symphony Pair up for a Unique Classroom Experience". KERA local Dallas. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
External links edit
- Official website
- Dallas Chamber Symphony International Piano Competition
- Sight of Sound Film Competition
- Richard McKay Website
- Southern Methodist University's Meadows Music Program
- Dallas City Performance Hall
- Brian Satterwhite Blog Archived November 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- Theatre Jones Performance Review-A Sailor-Made Man
- D Magazine Performance Review_A Sailor-Made Man
- Review Archived November 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Dallas Observer
- KERA's "Art & Seek" Behind the Music of the DCS
- KERA's "Art & Seek" Silent Films and Symphonies
- Review – Allesio Bax by Scott Cantrell, The Dallas Morning News [dead link]
