Barton College / WIlson Symphony Orchestra Archives

Musicians Christopher Ellis and Dexter Ruffin

Barton College / Wilson Symphony to Present a Live Stream Concert on November 22

Posted November 2, 2020 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — November 2, 2020 — The Barton College / Wilson Symphony is pleased to present its 2020 Fall Concert on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre. This year’s concert will feature two concertos by Mozart: “Violin Concerto No. 4,” performed by the Barton College / Wilson Symphony concert master Christopher Ellis; and “Piano Concerto No. 20,” performed by celebrated pianist Dexter Ruffin. “We are embarking on a great adventure,” shared conductor Mark N. Peterson. “Not only are we preparing great music with two wonderful soloists, but this performance will be our first attempt at performing not only before a live audience, but also […]

“Love The Symphony” on February 14 to Feature a Salute to Sports

Posted February 3, 2020 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — February 7, 2020 — Celebrate Valentine’s Day in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Feb. 14, at the twenty-ninth annual “Love the Symphony.” This year’s concert, under the direction of symphony director Mark Peterson, will be “A Symphonic Sports Spectacular,” a salute to the panoply of sports offered at Barton College. “From a casual conversation, this idea began to be developed in response to the transformation our college has experienced in recent years,” said Peterson. “When I began to flesh out the program, I was overwhelmed by all of the extremely exciting possibilities this concert could offer. Starting with everyone’s favorite football bumper music from television to […]

Barton College / Wilson Symphony’s Fall Concert to Feature Classic Mozart Favorites on November 24

Posted October 30, 2019 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. —October 30, 2019 — Acclaimed French horn soloist Grace Salyards will return to Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra for its annual Fall Concert on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre on campus. The orchestra, conducted by music director Mark N. Peterson, will feature Salyards performing Mozart’s humorously brilliant Horn Concerto No. 3. “For two years, Grace served as an extraordinary principal horn player for the Barton College/Wilson Symphony, but, sadly, she has relocated to Pennsylvania,” shared Peterson. “We are fortunate to have her return to Barton this fall as a guest artist,” said Peterson. “Since Mozart wrote this concerto for his close friend, the music […]

“Love The Symphony” to Feature Tenor Caleb Skinner on February 14

Posted January 29, 2019 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — January 29, 2019 — Celebrate Valentine’s Day in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, Feb. 14, at the twenty-eighth annual “Love the Symphony.” This year’s concert, under the direction of symphony director Mark Peterson, will feature tenor Caleb Skinner performing a collection of music theater favorites. The event will begin with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. in Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus. A candlelight buffet dinner will immediately follow the program at 8 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person, and reservations may be made by calling Sharon Barnes at 252-399-6369. Please note that tables for eight are available by reservation. […]

Solomon Eichner to Return for Barton College / Wilson Symphony’s Fall Concert on November 18

Posted November 1, 2018 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — November 1, 2018 — Acclaimed American pianist Solomon Eichner returns to the Barton College stage to join the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra for its annual Fall Concert on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre on campus. The orchestra, conducted by music director Mark N. Peterson, will feature Dr. Eichner performing Chopin’s scintillating Piano Concerto No. 2. “When Solomon performed here two years ago, he really wowed our Wilson audience,” said Peterson. “Our original plan was to perform the Chopin concerto at that concert, but he had to prepare the Liszt concerto for a competition in England. Finally, we get the opportunity to complete […]

Barton College/Wilson Symphony To Feature Eric Mazonson on April 29

Posted April 10, 2018 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — March 28, 2018 — Acclaimed pianist Eric Mazonson will join the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra for its Spring Concert on Sunday, April 29. The concert will be held at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre on the Barton campus. Mark N. Peterson, director of music at Barton College, will be conducting. Mazonson will be performing two Mendelssohn concert pieces for piano and orchestra: the Serenade and Allegro op. 43 and the Capriccio Brillant op. 22. “It will be great to feature my longtime friend, Eric, again at Barton,” said music director Mark Peterson. “He has played twice for the Love the Symphony concerts, and, now, we get the chance perform classic […]

Barton College/Wilson Symphony will Feature Dexter Ruffin for “Downtown” Concert on Oct. 5

Posted September 27, 2017 · Add Comment

The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra, featuring local artist Dexter Ruffin, will present its annual “Downtown” concert Thursday, October 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 100 Green Street in Wilson. There is no charge for the program, and the community is invited to attend. The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra opens every new concert season with an admission-free, off-campus event, designed to introduce itself to a wider audience. This year’s concert at the First United Methodist Church will feature Ruffin playing the sparkling Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra by Franz Joseph Haydn. “Dexter has been a powerful musical force in Wilson for many years, and it’s great […]

Barton College/Wilson Symphony to Feature Pianist Beth Levin on Sunday, Nov. 20

Posted November 11, 2016 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — November 11, 2016 — Renowned pianist Beth Levin returns to the Barton stage for her fourth appearance with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. The orchestra’s annual fall concert, conducted by music director Mark N. Peterson, will be held in Barton College’s Kennedy Family Theatre on campus. Levin and the orchestra will perform Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 20 in d-minor, and the orchestra will also present Haydn’s “Symphony No. 45,” often called “The Farewell Symphony,” as a result of the unusual final movement where the orchestra is instructed to leave the stage one by one until there are only two players left […]

Barton College/Wilson Symphony Welcomes Renowned Flutist Michel Bellavance for the “Downtown” Concert on September 29

Posted September 14, 2016 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — September 15, 2016 — It’s that time of year again! The annual “Downtown” Concert, presented by the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, located at 100 Green Street. The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra opens every new concert season with an admission-free, off-campus event, designed to introduce itself to a wider audience. And, this concert promises to be one of the symphony’s best, featuring the internationally celebrated Swiss-Canadian flutist Michel Bellavance. He will perform among other pieces, the Flute Concerto in D minor by C.P.E. Bach. “We are fortunate to have a local connection to […]

Barton College/Wilson Symphony to feature acclaimed Canadian pianist Jeremy Thompson on May 1

Posted April 19, 2016 · Add Comment

WILSON, N.C. — April 19, 2016 — The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra will present their Spring Concert on Sunday, May 1, at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre on the Barton campus. The symphony welcomes back to the Barton stage noted pianist Jeremy Thompson performing Franz Liszt’s brilliant, orchestrated version of Franz Schubert’s “Wanderer Fantasy.” “Jeremy has performed with us several times, and always with remarkable success,” said Barton music director Mark N. Peterson. “This year, he’s playing something that is really a specialty of his, the flamboyantly pyrotechnical music of Franz Liszt. The original Schubert work is a spectacular, rollicking piece, and Liszt’s stunning arrangement transforms it into a […]