Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra

This season is dedicated to Maestro George Monseur

Full of animation and passion, George Monseur has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra for the past 35 years! In the 1970's Mr. Monseur had been a guest conductor; his ofﬁcial tenure began in 1983. His background was impressive having attended Arizona State University, Boston Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory where he received a Master of Music degree. He received a full fellowship in Orchestral Conducting at the Tanglewood Music Festival and at Carnegie Hall he made his New York debut conducting "La Boheme." George is a Professor of Conducting Studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Taking the helm George faced the challenges of a nomadic orchestra during the 80's and 90's. The MVPO was performing in churches and schools located in the Merrimac Valley but with vision and perseverance, he brought the MVPO to a higher level of excellence. A memorable concert took place in 1983 when Leonard Bernstein, who was born in Lawrence, MA, visited the city for his 65th birthday. George conducted the MVPO with Bernstein selections while the Maestro sat in the front row at the outdoor concert. This was an especially significant event; "Lenny" was one of George's teachers!

For it's 25th Anniversary Season in 1985 George conducted Beethoven's 9th Symphony, ('Choral'); he also programmed a Gala Birthday Party with guest artists: Joan Kennedy, Ron Della Chiesa and Herb Pomeroy and his Orchestra. A year later at the Collins Center in Andover, MA George conducted the MVPO in three performances of "The Nutcracker" featuring the Pittsburg Ballet Theater. Another memorable concert was performing Saint-Saens "Organ Symphony" at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall. In 2000 Maestro Monseur and the MVPO finally settled into the Rogers Center at Merrimack College in N. Andover. For the next 15 years George was able to expand his repertoire and stretch the orchestra to greater heights. Under his direction outdoor summer concerts took place at Maudsley State Park in Newburyport. There were 4th of July concerts in Salem, NH as well as at Castle Hill in Ipswich, MA where the challenge for George was to time our Americana selections to the fireworks display!

The MVPO celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in 2010-2011. John Ferrillo from the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed the Mozart Oboe Concerto. Also, George was delighted to conduct Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" featuring piano, cello and violin. Soloists including young performers have always enjoyed working with him. In 2017 the Timberlane Performing Arts Center in Plaistow, NH became the new home for the MVPO and our conductor. Marking the end of 35 years as our Music Director, Mr. Monseur conducted a world premiere with duo pianists Marilyn Morales and Kirk Whipple of works which they composed. The MVPO will miss George on the podium with his animated face, expressive hands and zany sense of humor!

Thank you, George, for your 35 years of being our Music Director and Conductor of the MVPO!

MVPO Program 2021-2022

The November premiere

November 7, 2021 2:30 Virtual MVPO

An uplifting selection of crowd favorites from our string and brass ensembles,

featuring selections from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, Mendelssohn, Piazzolla, and more

December 19, 2021 Family Holiday Concert

Shostakovich Festive Overture

Chase, Bruce, arr. Around the World at Christmas Time

Oren, Or Miriam's Song, from The Debbie Friedman Suite

Vaughn-Williams, Ralph Fantasia on Greensleeves

Guaraldi and Mendelson, arr. Pugh Charlie Brown Christmas

Vibraphone piece, Nora Theberge, soloist

Intermission

Gabrieli Pian'e Forte

Holst Three Christmas Carols

Bernard, Felix, arr. Rosenhaus Winter Wonderland

Brubaker, Jerry, arr. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Silent Raffle winners announcement

Nutcracker Suite: March of the Toy Soldiers

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Trepak

Anderson Christmas Festival

February 27, 2022 March Madness Movie Themes

Lord of the Rings ( Howard Shore

Fellowship of the Rings symphonic Suite, arr. Whitney

Return of the King Suite, arr. Lopez

Music from Frozen Kristen Anderson-Lopez/arr. Bob Krogstadt

The Greatest Showman by Pasek/arr. Sean O'Loughlin

Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt/arr. Ted Ricketts

Intermission

Finlandia by Sibelius (Hunt for Red October)

Superman by John Williams, arr. Lopez

Chicago by John Kander/arr. Ted Ricketts

Mars from The Planets by Holst (Right Stuff)

Star Wars, Epic 2 (episodes 4,5,6) by John Williams/arr. Robert W. Smith

May 15, 2022 A Pastoral Palette

Khachaturian, Aram Masquerade Suite

Masquerade

Nocturne

Mazurka

Romance

Galop

Reinecke, Carl Flute Concerto in D Major, Opus 283 Eduardo Gomez, soloist

Allegro molto moderato;

Lento e mesto

Moderato-In tempo animato-Tempo 1-Pui mosso-Pui lento

Intermission

Beethoven Pastoral Symphony No. 6

Allegro ma non troppo

Andante molto moto

Allegro

Allegretto

This season is dedicated to Maestro George Monseur

Our 61st Season! All Concerts held at the Timberlane Performing Arts Center ( directions)