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RENO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA HOSTS PIANO PRODIGY 
FOR CELEBRATION OF GERSHWIN AND 35 YEARS IN RENO 


Reno, Nev.
(Oct. 10, 2003) -- Fifteen-year-old pianist and composer Sebastian Chang of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., will be the featured soloist for the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO) MasterClassics 3 concert on Sunday, Nov. 16 and Tuesday, Nov. 18. Chang will perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” as a tribute to the RPO’s 35th anniversary - its first performance on Aug. 3, 1969, was comprised entirely of Gershwin compositions.

In 2002, Chang was named a Davidson Fellow Laureate and received a $50,000 scholarship from the Davidson Institute for Talent Development - a national nonprofit foundation based in Reno whose mission is to support profoundly gifted young people. Chang has built an impressive list of musical accomplishments in his young career, including performances throughout North America and Asia and broadcasts on National Public Radio and national television in the United States and Japan. The Davidson Institute (www.DavidsonGifted.org) is underwriting Chang’s RPO performance. 

Also on the RPO’s program for Nov. 16 and 18 are Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No. 8 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. The Kidder family of Reno also has underwritten these concerts in memory of Jim and Carmen Kidder and their great love of music, especially that of George Gershwin.

All ticket holders are invited to join Music Director Barry Jekowsky for a free, pre-concert presentation - “A Preview from the Podium” - one half-hour prior to each performance to hear him speak about the composers and the works the orchestra will perform.

Tickets start at $23, and the RPO is advising interested parties to purchase tickets early, as this likely will be a sold-out show. Discounts are available to seniors, students and groups of 10 or more. Subscription packages are available for the five remaining RPO concerts by calling the Reno Philharmonic Association at (775) 323-6393. For single tickets, call Ticketmaster at (800) 787-TIXS. More information about the Reno Philharmonic is available at www.renophilharmonic.com.

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Summary of Calendar Information

MasterClassics 3 - Sunday, Nov. 16, 4 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno, Nev.
   Franz Schubert Symphony No. 8 in B minor “Unfinished”
   George Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue”
               Soloist: Sebastian Chang, Piano
   Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A

For more information or tickets log onto www.renophilharmonic.com. For tickets call Ticketmaster at (800) 787-TIXS or the Reno Philharmonic Association business office at (775) 323-6393.

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Davidson Institute for Talent Development
9665 Gateway Drive, Suite B
Reno, Nevada 89521
775-852-3483
Fax: 775-852-2184
www.DavidsonGifted.org