Classical Music Composer Sharon Ruchman's Music Performed by Waterbury Symphony Orchestra

March 3, 2011 - PRLog -- On February 25  and 26, the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s 20-piece string orchestra (WSO) (www.waterburysymphony.org) performed for the first time on any stage, Washington, Connecticut pianist/composer Sharon Ruchman’s “String Quartet in F# Minor” from her newest CD, “Arrival of Spring”. The contemporary classical chamber music composition was performed as part of the WSO’s “Side by Side” Education Concert Series in conjunction with the ASAP Strings Project. Performed at the Shepaug Valley Middle School Auditorium in Washington, Connecticut, the program welcomed students from the Regions 12 and 14 school districts in Washington on February 25, and the general public on February 26.

During the performances held exclusively for students on Friday, and the general audience performance on Saturday, the WSO string orchestra played along side students from the ASAP Strings Project, a workshop taught by WSO musicians (www.asap.org). The 20 piece string orchestra performed an expanded version of Sharon Ruchman’s original composition that she wrote for a string quartet. Steve Collins, executive director of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, commented, “Her music was very well received by both audiences. The orchestra sounded wonderful and many people commented on how beautiful Sharon’s music was.”

WSO Executive Director Steve Collins added, “Sharon’s work was a natural for the WSO to perform. Aside from being a long time Washington resident, Sharon’s involvement in the community is exemplary and her work is very engaging.” WSO Music Director, Leif Bjaland, remarked, “Ms. Ruchman’s music transferred well for our string orchestra (al la Barber Adagio) and I loved the close musical connection it afforded the WSO to the Washington community. It also offered a great opportunity to demonstrate to the students in the ASAP program that music is not only a great legacy of Mozart, Grieg and Britten, but also a living, breathing expression of the here and now with the music of a current composer, Sharon Ruchman, right in their own community.”

Ruchman describes the original compositions on her “Arrival of Spring” CD as, “A mix of different ensembles. One is a string quartet, another is a trio, and there are duets for violin and piano and cello and piano.” Sharon Ruchman (www.sharonruchman.com) released “Arrival of Spring” in October 2010, and her first CD, “Sharon Ruchman Chamber Music” featuring “Sea Glass” in October of 2009.

Several of Sharon Ruchman’s original compositions from her two CDs have been aired on Connecticut’s two popular classical music radio stations, WSHU and WMNR during 2009 and 2010. In 2009, one of her compositions was also selected by the National Composers Association to be performed in Portola, California as part of the “Music Under the Redwoods” concert, and two pieces were selected to be performed during the 10th Annual Hartford Women Composers Festival in Hartford, CT.

Ms. Ruchman described her original piece, ‘String Quartet in F Sharp Minor’, as a ‘very strong piece”. “My CD begins and ends with very strong pieces. It starts with this piece and ends with ‘Exultation, a very powerful piece that I believe is a perfect ending to the entire CD.”  

“Arrival of Spring” was written, produced and released one year after Sharon Ruchman released her first CD because, “I was inspired and the ideas kept flowing. Throughout 2010 I felt so full of music. I wanted to continue composing so I could share my music with the public locally, across the United States and internationally. My newest CD evokes the imagery of spring.”

Ruchman earned her Master of Music (MM) degree from the Yale School of Music, and her Bachelor of Music (BM) degree at the New England Conservatory of Music. She was an accompanist with the New England Conservatory chorus, and upon graduation she returned to Yale School of Music to study composition with Yale graduate, teacher and accomplished composer, Orianna Webb. From there, she went on to teach music in the West Haven, Connecticut elementary school while she pursued her singing career and performed throughout Connecticut. During 2007 and 2008, she wrote several compositions and began working with several northwestern Connecticut area musicians. Ruchman’s love of composition has led her to become a member of several professional composers associations including the American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, and IAWN, International Alliance for Women in Music.

Brief intervals for each of the 7 compositions on 16 tracks on “Arrival of Spring” can be heard on Sharon Ruchman’s website, www.sharonruchman.com. Orders for the CD can also be placed on the site.

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Classical music composer Sharon Ruchman of Washington, CT, has written, produced and released two CDs in two years, "Sharon Ruchman Chamber Music" and "Arrival of Spring". She performed across Connecticut, and frequently shares duet performances with cellist, Mary Costanza, also of Washington, CT.

Ruchman is scheduled to perform at the Westport Library in Westport, CT on Sunday, March 20th at 2:00 PM. On March 26, she wil performan with Mary Costanza at the First Congregational Church in Washington, CT, at 4:00 PM. They will perform Ruchman's piano and cello duet, "Solemnity" from her newest CD, "Arrival of Spring".

On April 9, Ruchman and Costanza will perform at the famed Silo at Hunt Hill Farm at the Henderson Cultural Center in New Milford, Connecticut, founded by the famous and late musical composer and performer, Skitch Henderson.