Summon the Heroes
Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Director, Development & Marketing, Arts Mid-Hudson
Playing make believe when I was younger, I would sometimes pretend to be a teacher or a veterinarian, and periodically it was fun to be a superhero. (I was fond of the Pink Power Ranger.) Funny enough, these were all people I looked up to equally. The past few years, our idea of superheroes has changed within our community. It isn’t necessarily the person with a cape flying through the air. The people in our neighborhood, making our community a better place to live are superheroes too. They are the everyday heroes. Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra will present a hero-themed program, Summon the Heroes, collaborating with local nonprofit organizations World of Tomorrow and Hudson Valley Comic Con, to honor our everyday heroes on Saturday, February 11 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marriott Pavilion at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.
The concept for this concert could not be better. Think about if you were watching your favorite action-packed movie on mute. All of the incredible suspense music, building up to the climax where the hero saves the day would be lost. This program is bringing a live professional orchestra performance and making it accessible to the community in a new way. The audience will be able to sit back and enjoy the music from their favorite movies and comic book legends.
Starting in the lobby, families can enjoy life-sized superhero cutouts perfect for selfie opportunities for adults and children alike. This part of the experience is provided by World of Tomorrow, a local nonprofit organization whose focus is science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STEAM).
The openi ng piece, Summon the Heroes by John Williams was written for the hundredth anniversary of the Olympic Games and premiered at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta. “As you might expect, the piece has fanfares and exciting moments from our brass section,” states music director Kathleen Beckmann. Beckmann, who has been with the orchestra since its inception in 2006, has also been the conductor for the Delaware Valley Opera Company, the assistant conductor for the Broward Symphony Orchestra, and she has had international conducting opportunities in Romania, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
Music from films like Howl’s Moving Castle, a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film, The Sea Hawk (1940), 007 (1964, 1973, 1977) and Apollo 13 (1995) will also move the audience as they are brought through the many empowering worlds of fantasy and reality.
The program, which will last approximately 2 hours, will also include a video tribute to our local heroes. This tribute will honor individuals like New York State Trooper Francis Rush, who saved the life of a man who drove his car into a pond in 2022.
Whether you are a fan or Spiderman, Superman or the everyday human, there is something for everyone at this concert. It will be an inspiring evening of familiar film music as well as honoring our local heroes. What a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early by celebrating your hero.
If you go:
Summon the Heroes
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.
Snow date is Sunday, February 12, 2023, at 3:00 p.m
Marriott Pavilion at the Culinary Institute of America,1946 Campus Dr, Hyde Park, NY 12538
Tickets: $38 per person, with discounts for seniors and students. $20 tickets available for everyday heroes
www.ndsorchestra.org
845-635-0877
