Schumann’s Third Symphony is filled with his joyful appreciation of the Rhine River and the inspiring cathedral on its banks in Cologne, Germany. A Sphinx Virtuosi commission, Delights and Dances by Michael Abels is an infectious and witty blend of jazz and blues. The world premiere of a BPO-commissioned Oboe Concerto by Randall Svane rounds out the program.

This performance is sponsored by the Constance Shepard Walsh Memorial Endowment Fund.

Program

JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Henry Ward, oboe

MICHAEL ABELS  Delights and Dances
RANDALL SVANE  Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra (World Premiere)
I. Flowing
II. Very slow
III. Quick and light

–INTERMISSION–

SCHUMANN  Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97, “Rhenish”
I. Lebhaft
II. Scherzo: Sehr mäβig
III. Nicht schnell
IV. Feierlich
V. Lebhaft

About Henry Ward

A native of the Philadelphia area, oboist Henry Ward joined the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Oboe in 2016, having previously served as acting Associate Principal Oboe of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Philadelphia and Minnesota orchestras, the Boston Pops, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (New Zealand), and was a fellow with the New World Symphony. As a chamber musician, he has performed with the Marlboro Music Festival, Friends of Vienna, Buffalo Chamber Players, and toured with The Knights and Zéphyros Winds. He has performed as a soloist in orchestras around the United States and has been featured with the BPO on several occasions, most recently in Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major in 2021.

Henry has participated in the Lakes Area Music Festival and Oregon Bach Festival as Principal Oboe since 2016. He also received fellowships to the Music Academy of the West and Tanglewood Music Center, where he received the Mickey L. Hooten Memorial Award. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with Boston Symphony oboists Mark McEwen and John Ferrillo, followed by a master’s degree, studying with Eugene Izotov and Scott Hostetler at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University.

Henry also teaches privately, and has given masterclasses around western New York, the U.S., and internationally.