National Philharmonic: Women Pioneers Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore

The Honorable Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, hosts this evening dedicated to women in music and the law. All concert proceeds will go toward the Maryland WBA Foundation Inc.'s scholarships and the Finding Justice Project, which documents the history of women lawyers in Maryland. The concert begins with Aaron Copland's noble Fanfare for the Common Man, a piece commissioned during World War II to honor soldiers fighting in the ranks, as well as those working on the home front. Joan Tower composed her Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman in 1986 "to honor women who are adventurous and who take risks," using Copland's Fanfare as her musical model.

Violinist Chee-Yun, whose tone is like "butter, smooth, rich and flawless" (Strings Magazine), joins the Philharmonic for the dazzling Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns, one of the greatest child prodigies in the history of music.

Amy Beach, the first American woman composer of large-scale works, wrote the heartfelt and uplifting Grand Mass while she was still a teenager. The National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale present the rarely performed Grand Mass, which reflects the late Romantic period in its long melodies and breadth of conception.

ALL Kids, ALL Free, ALL the Time
Young people age 7-17 attend all National Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore free of charge, making it easy for families to go to concerts together and for young adults to attend a live classical music performance with friends. KIDS FREE tickets may be obtained IN PERSON at the Strathmore Ticket Office or BY PHONE at (301) 581-5100.

PLEASE NOTE: KIDS FREE tickets cannot be ordered online. Refunds will not be issued for tickets purchased online for children ages 7-17.