Concert to Celebrate the Birthday of Noted American Composer John Williams

The Summer Rhapsody Music Festival kicks off has been postponed till TODAY Saturday, June 17, 2012 at 7 pm. A series of 10 concerts will take place throughout the summer, with the inaugural performance featuring the works of John Williams, a composer noted for his popular film scores. The concert will honor the composer's 80th birthday, along with several other cities throughout the world.

The musical line up includes pieces from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Superman, Jaws, and more. The 60-piece orchestra will rehearse for two nights prior to the event

General admission is free, but VIP tickets can be purchased, which include 1 hour early entry at 5 pm, VIP seating and a VIP gift! To purchase the VIP tickets at $25 per person, $45 per couple, click here.

Learn more about some of the performers in this year's orchestra!

Artistic Director: Miguel E. Rosario-Vega
Currently teaching music in the Valparaiso Community Schools system and volunteering as the director of adult choir at Valparaiso First United Methodist Chuch, Miguel brings years of experience to the Summer Rhapsody Orchestra. Having been involved with music since a young age, Miguel studied with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra before continuing his work, completing his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has conducted at the International Academy of Advanced Conducting, the Conductors Institute of the University of South Carolina, and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Miguel has also played wtih the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra, the Puerto Rico Symphony Casals Festival Orchestra, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, the Whiting Festival Orchestra, and teh Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. He has also been a guest lecturer for a pre-concert lecture of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has received numerous artistic and academic awards throughout his career.

Concertmaster: Tim Kopf
Tim has been the Orchestra Director at Valparaiso High School since 1995. During his tenure, the VHS orchestra has made regular appearances at the IN Music Organization Contests and finished in every place from 1st to 8th at the state finals. As a professional violinist, he has been involved with many community orchestras throughout Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and has been in performances at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

Principal Cellist: Pat White
Cellist Patricia White is a graduate of the Juilliard School and a member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony. An active performer in the Chicagoland area, Patricia made her debut as soloist with the Chicago Symphony when she was 16, after having won the Illinois Young Performer's Competition. Focusing primarily on teaching, she has a commitment to passing on the art of playing the cello to the next generation. Patricia can be heard with violinist Tamara Ringas on a cd recording of hymns and classical favorites entitled "Be Still My Soul", available on iTunes.

Principal Bass: Phillip Serna
Phillip W. Serna is an active and enthusiastic performer of early music, as well as the contemporary, solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoires. On double bass, he has performed with other orchestras including the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonic Orchestra, Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, the Northshore Camerata, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and many others. In his role as an Early Music specialist, Phillip regularly performs on violas da gamba, period double bass/ violone and vielle with modern orchestras such as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, as well as with period instrument ensembles such as Ars Antigua, the Bach Collegium of Fort Wayne, the Callipygian Players, the Chicago Early Music Consort, Duo fantaisie en Echo, the Madison Bach Musicians, the Newberry Consort, the Oriana Singers, the Second City Musick, the Secret of the Muses, the Spirit of Gambo - a Chicago Consort of Viols, the Third Coast Viols and many others. In performance, he has appeared on Chicago’s 98.7FM WFMT, Wisconsin Public Radio and Milwaukee Public Radio. For his work through ‘Viols in Our Schools’, Phillip received the 2010 Early Music America Outreach Award, which honors ensembles or individual artists for excellence in early music outreach and/or educational projects for children or adults. In addition to teaching privately around the Chicago area, Phillip is instructor of double bass and viola da gamba at Valparaiso University, and is on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Early Music Department. Phillip holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Masters and Doctorate degrees from Northwestern University School of Music where he studied double bass with Michael Hovnanian and DaXun Zhang as well as viola da gamba with Newberry Consort founder Mary Springfels.

Principal Oboe: Larry Allen
Larry Allen, principal oboe, graduated from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music with a B.M.E. Degree, completing his Masters of Music Degree at the Hartt School, where he studied with Robert Bloom and Bert Lucarelli. He has performed for over 20 years in New England with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Bridgeport, CT. Symphony, The New Britain, CT Symphony Orchestra, and the Worcester, Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra. Serving as Assistant Professor of Music at Valparaiso University, he has also performed with the Valparaiso University Community Orchestra and the LaPorte SYmphony Orchestra. Larry has taught at his oboe/English horn studio for 22 years in Valparaiso and balances his musical life as a public school principal, serving the communities of Boone Grove, West Lafayette, East Chicago, and Hammond, where he is presently principal of Irving Elementary School.

Bass Clarinet: Alexsandr Karjaka
Chicagoland native, Aleksandr Karjaka is a performing artist of movement, in every sense of the word. Mr. Karjaka, an avid solo, chamber and orchestral musician, seeks to break the boundaries between fourth wall and “concert etiquette,” from classical to contemporary music. While bass clarinet is his specialty, he delights in playing all the clarinets from contra to e-flat. A devoted educator, Mr. Karjaka graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor in Music Education in 2008. In 2010, he completed a Masters degree in Clarinet Performance from Bowling Green State University. While at BGSU, Mr. Karjaka worked for the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music (MACCM) as an assistant to the Director and Coordinator of Operations. Mr. Karjaka appeared with the Eon Contemporary Ensemble, Music From China Ensemble, Emperor X, and is a former member of the Tactus Ensemble, Bowling Green New Music Ensemble and Perrysburg Symphony. He recently has recorded music videos with Mason Jar Music and CollegeHumor.com. At present, he is studying under the guidance of world-renowned bass clarinetist Michael Lowenstern. Mr. Karjaka’s teachers have included Caroline Hartig, Ted Oien, and Kevin Schempf. www.aleksandrkarjaka.com

Principal Flute: Elaine Hornyak
Elaine Hornyak is a cum laude graduate of Indiana University. She also studied at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory, University of Michigan and Western Michigan University. She was principal flutist in the Grand Rapids (MI) Symphony and flute instructor for Grand Valley State College. She has been an elementary classroom teacher and served on the staff of the Indiana University Summer Music Clinics. Elaine is an area soloist and clinician and teaches privately in LaPorte and Michigan City. She presently performs with the South Shore, LaPorte County, Elkhart and Summer Rhapsody symphony orchestras and Michigan City and LaPorte Municipal Bands, Windiana and the Duneland Flute Quartet.

Piccalo: Taylor Brychell
On piccolo, Taylor Brychell is a recent graduate of Valparaiso High School and a member of the Valparaiso A Band. She has achieved many honors, including playing with the All State Honor Band and the Butler All Stars Band, and serving as Point Guard for A Band. She also received the Glen Ellis Outstanding Band Member award. Taylor as also achieved many scholastic honors, including serving in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club, and CASS. She and a friend run their own hand-painted furniture business, called Pieces by Amanda Taylor. In the future, Taylor plans to attend pharmacy school.

Principal Trumpet: William Camp
Principal trumpet William Camp currently resides in Chicago, originally from Niles, Michigan. Camp earned his music degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The University of Michigan. His Principal instructors include Gene Young, Louis Davidson, Armando Ghitalla, Arnold Jacobs, Richard Heemer and Thomas Crown. Camp has appeared with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Chicago Pops Orchestra, Lake Forest Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, American Ballet Theater Orchestra, and the Westwind Brass. His recording with the Dallas Winds and Chicago Chamber Brass, called “The Brass and the Band,” has received national acclaim. Currently he performs with the St. Joseph summer band, the Northwest Indiana Symphony, Chicago Classic Brass and various other organizations in and around Chicago.

Principal Trombone: Thomas Stark
Thomas Stark is originally from the Chicago area, and received the Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. Mr. Stark is trombonist with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Trombonist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. He is a founding member of the Chicago Trombone consort, The Chicago Trombone Quartet, and the Lincoln Park Brass. As a prominent freelancer in the Midwest, he is a frequent guest with orchestras such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, and the symphonies of Lake Forest, Elgin, Madison, Rockford, and Peoria. Mr. Stark has toured as bass trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and can be heard on recordings with the Chicago Trombone Consort, The Chicago Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, The John Burnett Swing Orchestra, and The Bill O’Connell Skyliners Big Band. Mr. Stark has also performed with artists such as Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, country music singer Vince Gill, Marie Osmond, Quincy Jones, Tito Puente, “Blue” Lou Marini, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Chris Brubeck, Joe Williams, Jack Jones, Marilyn McCoo, MattCatingub, Diane Shuur, Diane Reeves, Maureen McGovernm and many more.

Harpist: Jamie Haney
Raised in Greendale, Wisconsin, harpist Jamie Haney began her classical music training at the age of 3. Growing up, she performed with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Wisconsin State High School Honors Orchestra and began playing weddings, quickly establishing a solid clientele for weddings, banquets, receptions and other special occasions. While attending Albion College, she received a music scholarship to play harp and piano in the Albion College Symphony Orchestra and was one of three featured concerto contest winners with the Symphony, performing the Rondeau from Francois-Adrien Boieldieu’s Concerto for Harp. Relocating to Valparaiso for graduate school, she continued to perform for special events, including the Valparaiso University's Retirement Reception for President Alan Harre and Inaugural Reception for President Mark Heckler, the 2009 Hoosier Star Competition with the LaPorte Symphony Orchestra, and the 2010 Hartsfield Village Christmas Party. She continues to perform for a variety of occasions, while working part time at Purdue University- North Central and being with her family.

For more information on the Summer Rhapsody concerts, click here!