RCO Podcasts

Enjoy our program notes for Gershwin: All That Jazz. Written and read by Chris Morrison. 

Alternately named 'Give it a Kuo". Join Catherine Beeson and Kelly Kuo as they dive deeper into what you can expect during Gershwin: All that Jazz. Taking place May 2 & 3 at Nightingale Concert Hall at the University of Nevada, Reno. Get your tickets at renochamberorchestra.org/tickets 

Our audio version of our program notes for Barber: American Voices with the Reno Chamber Orchestra. 

Join Music Director Kelly Kuo and Colorado Symphony's Assistant Principal Viola Catherine Beeson as they discuss Barber: American Voices. Taking place February 28 & March 1 at the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Our audio version of our program notes for Americans & The Baroque with the Reno Chamber Orchestra. 

Alternatively named : "Go for Baroque with these Relatable Quotes" Catherine Beeson and Kelly Kuo discuss the pieces to be performed during Americans & The Baroque January 31 and February 1.  

In the second episode of Concert Chats, Catherine and Kelly discus the history of the pieces selected for the concert. They also dive deeper into the lives of the composers. 

Join Catherine Beeson and Kelly Kuo as they dive deeper into the programing for our Season Premiere. 

Finishing off our 22nd Nevada Chamber Music Festival, featuring Galaxy Su. 

An NCMF tradition. This year's performance features Ray Ushikubo 

Songs of the British Isles. Featuring Chicago Fire's Hanako Greensmith. 

Cello Under the Northern Lights featuring Clive Greensmith and James Baik 

Folk Trios Featuring Ravel 

Opening night of the 22nd Nevada Chamber Music Festival. Featuring Trio Azura the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Colburn School and Molly Carr. 

The RCO's second concert of the 25/26 Season features works by composers who immigrated to America. Including Igor Stravinsky's Concerto in E flat Dumbarton Oaks. The piece was written at what Stravinsky refers to as the most difficult time in his life.

Program notes by Chris Morrison 

Talented Nevada youth perform side-by-side with RCO in Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings before the winners of our concerto competition take the stage as soloists. RCO’s Sound Investment commissioning program makes its debut with a new work before the season concludes with a symphony chosen by you, our audience and supporters.One Performance Only​Tickets to Salute to Youth must be purchased individually and may be added to your season subscription purchase.Kelly Kuo, conductorThe Gilbert & Elizabeth Lenz PodiumNika Kalanaki, ViolinClaire Lin, PianoSAMUEL BARBER     Adagio for StringsFELIX MENDELSSOHN     Violin Concerto in D Minor, 1st & 2nd mvtNika Kalanaki, Concerto Competition Winner, Junior DivisionFRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN     Piano Concerto in E Minor, Op. 11, 1st mvtClaire Lin, Concerto Competition Winner, Senior DivisionTANNER PORTER     Sage-Grouse2025 Reno Chamber Orchestra Sound Investment CommissionLOUISE FARRENC    Symphony No. 2 in D Major op. 35

Handel’s Messiah returns to the RCO after over two decades in a Spanish translation as we highlight Easter selections from El Mesías: Messiah for a New World. A chamber orchestration of Gershwin’s infectious Havana-inspired Cuban Overture and Piazzolla’s fresh tango-jazz-classical Sinfonietta fill out this program influenced by Latin connections.​Kelly Kuo, conductorGerardo de la Torre, baritoneZulimar López-Hernández,  sopranoGenaro Mendez, tenor GEORGE GERSHWIN (arr. Diaz)    Cuban OvertureASTOR PIAZZOLLA    Sinfonietta    GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL     excerpts from The Messiah (en Español)

Get ready to jam as the infectious rhythms and tunes of American greats like Ellington, Joplin, and Gershwin will have you dancing in your seats. One of the concert's works get a Reno-themed multi-media treatment by Eve Allen Garza and RCO’s principal strings are featured as soloists in Delights and Dances, a work by Pulitzer-prize winner Michael Abels, known widely for his score to the film Nope.Kelly Kuo, conductorThe Gilbert & Elizabeth Lenz PodiumEve Allen Garza, ChoreographerJames Winn, PianoSCOTT JOPLIN     Overture to TreemonishaLEONARD BERNSTEIN (arr. Garth Sunderland)     Fancy FreeMICHAEL ABELS     Delights and DancesDUKE ELLINGTON (arr. Prustman)     Three Songs of Duke Ellingtonfor Chamber OrchestraGEORGE GERSHWIN (arr. Farrington)     I Got Rhythm Variations

Guest conductor Luke Poeppel leads a program in Hall Recital Hall juxtaposing arrangements of popular music by the Beatles with beloved works from the Baroque canon of Western classical music by Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. Mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala and RCO’s own principal bassoon, Dylan Neff, are the featured soloists.Luke Poeppel, Guest conductorThe Gilbert & Elizabeth Lenz PodiumDylan Neff, BassoonAdriana Zabala, Mezzo-sopranoAaron Hill, OboeANTONIO VIVALDI    Bassoon Concerto in A Minor, RV 499JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH    Cantata No. 82, "Ich habe genug"JOHN LENNON/PAUL MCCARTNEY (arr. Berio)     Beatles Songs GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL     Water Music Suite No. 1

December 31 @ 2:00pmString in the New YearA finale to remember with your favorite NCMF artists including Renoite Molly Carr. Ring in the new year with string quartets and quintets by Dvorak and Puccini,  plus Rebecca Clarke's Morpheus, a dreamy delight for viola and piano.​​REPERTOIRE*GIACOMO PUCCINI   Crisantemi, SC 65​​CARL MARIA VON WEBER   Clarinet Quintet, Op. 34REBECCA CLARKE   MorpheusANTONIN DVORAK   String Quintet No. 3, Op. 97​​ARTISTS*Dmitri Atapine, James Baik, Dustin Budish, Molly Carr, Alena Hove, Ruth Lenz, Yuhsin Galaxy Su, Itsuki Yamamoto​​*all ncmf repertoire and artists are subject to change

December 30 @ 7:30pmBrahms & BeyondFeaturing principal second clarinet of the San Francisco Symphony, Yuhsin Galaxy Su. Enjoy this Brahm-wich of a concert that opens and closes with Joannes Brahms, and a meaty center of Haydn's String Quartet in B minor, and Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie for clarinet and piano.​​​​REPERTOIRE*JOHANNES BRAHMS   Clarinet Sonata No. 2, Op. 120​​FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN   String Quartet in B minor, Op. 33 No. 1CLAUDE DEBUSSY   Première rhapsodieJOHANNES BRAHMS   Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8​ARTISTS*Clive Greensmith, Alena Hove, Quartet Integra, Yuhsin Galaxy Su, ​Steven Vanhauwaert, James Winn ​*all ncmf repertoire and artists are subject to change

December 30 @ 2:00pmCello CelebrationA Cello-bration, if you will! Celebrate the brilliance of the cello with works by Faure, Britten, Puccini and a grand cello ensemble finale!​​REPERTOIRE*GYÖRGY LIGETI   Sonate for Solo Cello​​GABRIEL FAURÉ   Miniatures for Cello and Piano; Romance, Op. 69; Sicillienne, Op. 78; Papillon, Op. 77ENRIQUE GRANADOS   Intermezzo from GoyescasBENJAMIN BRITTEN   Cello Sonata, Op. 65LUIGI BOCCHERINI   Cello Sonata in G MajorGABRIEL FAURÉ   Pavane, Op. 50GIACOMO PUCCINI   "O mio babbino caro" from Gianni SchicchiDOMENICO DRAGONETTI     Duet for Cello and ContrabassJOHANN STRAUSS    Jellacic-Marsch, Op. 244JOHN PHILIP SOUSA    Liberty Bell​​​ARTISTS*Dmitri Atapine, James Baik, Clive Greensmith, John Lenz, Peter Lenz, Hyeyeon Park, Ye Un Emily Park, Steven Vanhauwaert, James Winn​​*all ncmf repertoire and artists are subject to change

December 29 @ 7:30pm1920's SongbookHear Gershwin, Porter and more! Featuring vocalist Chicago Fire's Hanako Greensmith with pianist Steven Vanhauwaert. Enjoy songs of the 1920's paired with Ravel's Violin Sonata No. 2 performed by Ruth Lenz and James Winn, as well as Hindemith's Viola Sonata No. 4, and Gershwin's Three Preludes for clarinet and piano.​​REPERTOIRE*​GEORGE GERSHWIN/IRA GERSHWIN    Fascinating RhythmGEORGE GERSHWIN/IRA GERSHWIN    How Long Has This Been Going OnRAY HENDERSON    The Birth of the BluesKURT WEILL/BERTOLT BRECHT     Surabaya JohnnyCOLE PORTER    Night and DayERWIN SCHULHOFF     5 Grotesken, Op.21 No. 1–3MAURICE RAVEL    Violin Sonata No. 2GEORGE GERSHWIN    Three PreludesPAUL HINDEMITH    Viola Sonata, Op. 11 No. 4ERWIN SCHULHOFF     Five Pieces for String Quartet ​ARTISTS*Molly Carr, Scott Faulkner, Hanako Greensmith, Ruth Lenz, Hyeyeon Park, Quartet Integra, Yuhsin Galaxy Su, Steven Vanhauwaert, James Winn, ​*all ncmf repertoire and artists are subject to change

December 29 @ 2:00pmPiano SalonNCMF's Piano Showcase​ with works by Saint-Saëns, Chopin and more.The 2024 festival piano lineup features Steven Vanhauwaert, Hyeyeon Park and James Winn. ​​REPERTOIRE*REYNALDO HAHN   Variations chantantes sur un air ancien​​FRANCOIS COUPERIN   Le Barricades MystérieusesEMMANUEL CHABRIER   Dix pièces pittoresques, No 6: IdylleFRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN   Prélude, Op. 28 No. 3 in G MajorCAMILLE SAINT-SAENS   Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 75GABRIEL FAURÉ   Piano Quartet No. 1, Op. 15​ARTISTS*Dmitiri Atapine, James Baik, Dustin Budish, Alena Hove, Ruth Lenz, Hyeyeon Park, Steven Vanhauwaert, James Winn​*all ncmf repertoire and artists are subject to change

December 28 @ 7:30pmOpening Night with Clive GreensmithCelebrate the opening of the 21st Nevada Chamber Music Festival with Clive Greensmith and Quartet Integra.​Featuring Beethoven, Schubert, and Reno composer Monica Houghton.​​​​REPERTOIRE*LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN   String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135​​MONICA HOUGHTON   EpigramFRANZ SCHUBERT String Quintet, D. 956​ARTISTS*Clive Greensmith, Quartet Integra

An intriguing combination of works written by well-known composers when they were in their twenties begins with a Debussy suite which includes Clair de lune, one of the most famous musical pieces of all time, followed by NCMF Artistic DirectorClive Greensmith performing Dobrinka Tabakova’s charming arrangement of Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata. Shostakovich’s acerbic wit and seriousness are then on full display in incidental music he wrote for “the most scandalous production (of Hamlet) in the history of Shakespeare,” presented here as a theatrical collaboration with local actors.Kelly Kuo, conductorClive Greensmith, celloTruckee Meadows Community College Visual & Performing Arts DepartmentShea King, Instructor, Performing ArtsAlwin Pizana, HamletGabrielle Rodda, Ophelia/QueenIsaias Torres/HoratioCody Prewett, Ghost/Laertes/Fortinbras CLAUDE DEBUSSY (orch. Mouton)     Suite BergamasqueFRANZ SCHUBERT/TABAKOVA     Arpeggione SonataDMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH     Hamlet, Suite from the Theatre Music, op, 32a

The Reno Chamber Orchestra presentsA PLACE FOR USCelebrating its 50th season, RCO makes a case for a chamber orchestra of the 21st century with fresh pieces by Carlos Simon, Malcolm Arnold, and renowned film score composer Danny Elfman alongside a strings feature by Bartok from RCO’s first season, and a showcase for winds by Strauss foreshadowing his great operas.Kelly Kuo, conductorMALCOLM ARNOLD  Serenade for Small OrchestraBÉLA BARTÓK            Divertimento for StringsRICHARD STRAUSS    Serenade in E-Flat Major, Op. 7CARLOS SIMON         BreatheDANNY ELFMAN        Suite for Chamber Orchestra

Join the Reno Chamber Orchestra for our third annual free community concert at the Feed the Camel food truck festival!New for 2024 we will present this concert with our full orchestra! Bring the family and enjoy the idyllic summer shade, and fantastic music!August 28, 20245:00pm​In the park atMcKinley Arts & Culture Center925 Riverside DriveReno, NVRepertoireWOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART      Marriage of Figaro OvertureJUAN CHRISÓSTOMO ARRIAGA      Symphony, 4th movementVICTOR HERBERT      SerenadeNIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV      Flight of the BumblebeeFELIX MENDELSSOHN       Hebrides OvertureWOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART       Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, 1st movementANTONIO VIVALDI      Summer - 3rd movementGIOACHINO ROSSINI       La Cenerentola overtureThis event is made possible by a special grant from The City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission​

DREAMING BIGFor one performance only, this concert will feature winners of RCO’s reimagined concerto competition which cultivates talent of Nevada youth and highlights the work of Nevada teachers.  String students of RCO’s own musicians also perform side-by-side with their mentors in Victor Herbert’s charming Serenade and Saint-Saëns’ youthful Symphony No. 2 closes the season with a flourish. Priced separately from our season subscriptions, with the first chance to buy tickets given to our season subscribers. Kelly Kuo, conductorConcerto competition winnersJuliette Leong, ViolinAdele Balcarek, Violin​HERBERT   SerenadeSAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 2 in A Minor, op. 55MOZART   Violin Concerto No. 3 in G MajorBRUCH    Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor

INSIDE-OUT​Violinist Rachell Ellen Wong, winner of the 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant, leads this program of baroque works that speaks to the human condition, evoking the feelings of hope, loss, exuberance, anger and joy. A. SCARLATTI   Concerto Grosso No. 3 in F MajorPURCELL   Selections from Music for the TheatreTELEMANN   Sonata à 4 in A MinorGETER   Buh-rokeHANDEL   Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6, No. 1DURANTE   Concerto No. 8 in A Major, "La pazzia"VIVALDI   Concerto for Violin in G Major, RV 307

Principal musicians of RCO shine in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with sunny and transparent qualities that lend itself to a fanciful chamber orchestration.  Superstar double-threat Chelsea Guo sings the poetic finale AND takes the keys in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12, one of just three that the composer allowed to be performed with an intimate number of string players.​Kelly Kuo, conductorChelsea Guo, Piano & SopranoMOZART   Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major, K. 414MAHLER (arr. Simon)   Symphony No. 4 in G Major

Respighi’s imaginative orchestrations of lute music and Bloch’s challenge to his skeptical students bookend a program of works inspired by early music. Jennifer Corning Lucio, Fort Worth Symphony’s principal oboe, performs Vaughan Williams’ pastoral oboe concerto and the baroque concerto grosso form gets a jazz-inflected rethinking by Errolyn Wallen, “the renaissance woman of contemporary British music.”​Kelly Kuo, conductorJennifer Corning Lucio, Oboe​RESPIGHI  Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 3VAUGHAN WILLIAMS  Oboe ConcertoWALLEN  Concerto GrossoBLOCH  Concerto Grosso No. 1

December 31st at 2:00pmBeyond TomorrowHarlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital HallMONICA HOUGHTON   String Quartet No. 3ARENSKY    Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32DVOŘÁK    String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 77The final concert opens with a string quartet by Reno composer Monica Houghton, and ends with the Dvorak string quintet, a beloved piece from the  first festival.​Dmitri Atapine, Angela Bae, James Baik, Dustin Budish, Justin DeFilippis, Scott Faulkner, Gallia Kastner, Peter Lenz, Ruth Lenz, Steven Vanhauwaert & Benjamin Zannoni​www.renochamberorchestra.org/tickets

20th Festival CelebrationHarlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital HallRAVEL   Tzigane for violin and pianoMENDELSSOHN   String Quintet No 2 in B-flat major, Op. 87SCHUBERT    Piano Trio in B-flat major, D. 898 A celebration of the 20th Nevada Chamber Music Festival. The Mendelssohn and Schubert pieces were performed at the very first NCMF. Ruth Lenz will perform the exciting Tzigane by Ravel, her performance will be in honor of the late violinist James Buswell who passed away in 2021. "Jamie" was a musical titan of the early days of the Nevada Chamber Music Festival.Dmitri Atapine, Angela Bae, Justin DeFilippis, Russell Houston, Gallia Kastner, Ruth Lenz, Dr. James Winn & Benjamin Zannoniwww.renochamberorchestra.org/tickets

December 30th at 2:00pmL'Après-Midi Avec DebussyHarlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital HallDEBUSSY    Violin Sonata in G minorLISZT    Transcendental Etude No. 11 in D-flat major “Harmonies du Soir”DEBUSSY    selection of piano piecesMESSIAEN  Ile de Feu for solo pianoDELIUS   Romance for Cello and PianoTAKEMITSU    A Bird Came Down the Walk for Viola and PianoDEBUSSY   String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10A concert centered on the music of Debussy, anchored by the Debussy Violin Sonata and String Quartet, which have never before been performed at our festival. Also featuring composers that influenced Debussy or were influenced by his work including Liszt, Delius, Messiaen, and Takemitsu. ​Angela Bae, James Baik, Dustin Budish, Russell Houston, Gallia Kastner, Ruth Lenz, Hyeyeon Park, Steven Vanhauwaert, Dr. James Winn & Benjamin Zannoniwww.renochamberorchestra.org/tickets

December 29th at 7:30pmCello MavericksHarlan O. and Barbara R. Hall Recital HallBEETHOVEN   Cello Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 5, No. 1BERIO   Sequenza IV for celloHOLST   Invocation for Cello and PianoDOHÀNYI   Serenade in C major for string trio, Op. 10FREDDIE MERCURY  Bohemian Rhapsody arranged for Cello QuartetA cello showcase to remember! Featuring Clive Greensmith in a performance of the Berio Cello Sequenza. Peter Lenz and James Winn will perform the Holst Invocation, programmed for the 2022 festival, this piece unfortunately was not performed due to inclement weather.Many will be pleased to have an opportunity to hear it in 2023. The concert closes with a cello quartet arrangement of the Queen mega-hit "Bohemian Rhapsody." Dmitri Atapine, James Baik, Dustin Budish, Clive Greensmith, Russell Houston, Gallia Kastner, John Lenz, Peter Lenz, Hyeyeon Park & Dr. James Winnwww.renochamberorchestra.org/tickets

MOZART   Sonata in D major for 2 pianos, K. 448JANACEK   In the MistsSCRIABIN   Piano Sonata No. 4CLARA SCHUMANN  Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumannin F-sharp minor, Op. 20JAMES WINN   Three Pieces after William Butler YeatsDVORAK     Selections from Slavonic Dances for four handsThe classic NCMF format of the piano showcase returns. All three of the festival pianists, Hyeyeon Park, Steven Vanhauwaert, and Dr. James Winn perform solo. The program includes original compositions by Dr. Winn, and dynamic piano duos opening and closing the concert. Hyeyeon Park, Steven Vanhauwaert & Dr. James WinnTickets are available at www.renochamberorchestra.org/tickets

KARIM AL-ZAND   String Quartet No. 4 "Strange Machines"(Chamber Music America Commission 2022)MOZART     String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421 DVOŘÁK    Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, Op. 81, B. 155NCMF celebrates the return of rising chamber music stars, the Balourdet Quartet. This concert opens with an exciting new piece commissioned by Chamber Music America in 2022 from composer Karim Al-Zand. The Balourdet Quartet will be joined by festival favorite Steven Vanhauwaert for the Dvořák Piano Quintet which was featured in the very first Nevada Chamber Music Festival. Balourdet Quartet & Steven Vanhauwaert

The program notes podcast for the Reno Chamber Orchestra's second concert of the 23/24 season. Please join us at Nightingale Concert Hall on November 18 & 19, 2023, to experience this storytelling concert for yourself. It will be an event to remember.THE STORIES WE TELLThis multifaceted program features opera, narration, and visual art. First, Kevin Lau's fiery portrait of the Greek Goddess, Artemis demands attention. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw’s musical telling of a beloved children’s book, features narration, original animations from local students, and the conducting debut of the RCO's assistant conductor, Sara Aldana. The program closes with Rossini’s signature wit and sparkle on full display, in his take on the Cinderella fairy tale. Kelly Kuo, conductorThe Gilbert & Elizabeth Lenz PodiumMegan Moore, Mezzo-soprano*David Portillo, Tenor​LAU   ArtemisSHAW  The Mountain that loved a Bird ROSSINI  Excerpts from La cenerentola​

RCO joyfully celebrates Hispanic Heritage month with music by celebrated Venezuelan pianist, Teresa Carreño, Spanish Basque composer Juan Crisótomo Arriaga who tragically died at the age of 20, and a concerto by the founding father of 20th century Mexican music, Manuel Poncé, featuring Grammy-nominated guitarist, Mak Grgić.Attend our performances at Nightingale Concert Hall on October 7, 2023 at 7:30pm and October 8, 2023 at 2:00pm.Tickets available now!And don't forget to check out the rest of our season, too!