Clockwise from top left: Mark Jackobs, Sonja Braaten, Alan Harrell, Scott Dixon, Martha Baldwin, Alicia Koelz, Brian Thornton, Joanna Patterson, Emma Shook, Lynne Ramsey. (Photo by Micah Leibowitz)
On a perfect August evening, 10 Cleveland Orchestra string players banded together to perform J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concert #3 for a variety of purposes. The event took place Friday, August 6th, at the Solon Arts Center under the stars (well, under a tent under the stars) and featured a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner as a fundraiser for the Solon Philharmonic. As well as wanting to support another musical arts organization in the Cleveland area, TCO musicians felt compelled to donate their services in honor of their former colleague, violinist Leon Lazarev, who passed away earlier this spring and whose name will be forever attached to the Solon Philharmonic’s concertmaster chair. And yet one more reason for TCO musicians’ involvement in the evening was the exciting announcement of Brian Thornton, cellist with The Cleveland Orchestra, who performed with the group, as the Solon Philharmonic’s Associate Conductor.
Sonja, Alicia, Brian, Martha and Lynne. (Photo by Micah Leibowitz)
The concert began with the first and third movements of Schubert’s Cello Quintet performed by Sonja Braaten and Alicia Koelz, violins, Lynne Ramsey, viola, and Brian Thornton and Martha Baldwin, cello. They were later joined by Emma Shook, violin, Mark Jackobs and Joanna Patterson, viola, David Alan Harrell, cello, and Scott Dixon, bass for the Brandenburg. Lydia Lazarev, Leon’s widow, was in attendance and was very touched by the musicians’ performance, saying, “Leon is smiling.”
Alfresco Friday was generously sponsored by Friends of Solon Center for the Arts as well as Solon Wine and Liquor. Local personality, John Rinaldi, served as emcee and the young cast from “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” (SCA Summer Stock Theater) performed selections from the musical. Members of the Solon City Council present included Vice Mayor Lon Stolarsky, Bill Tusso, Bill Mooney, and Rick Bell.
On a personal note, I would like to thank my colleagues for donating their time, energy, and talent for this event. At one point in the Brandenburg, I looked around and thought to myself, (not for the first time in my tenure in this Orchestra!) how incredibly lucky I am to work and play music with such a wildly talented group of people.
–Sonja Braaten, violin
(Photo by Micah Leibowitz)