THSO Opens 99th Season with Playing Favorites
[Terre Haute, IN] – On September 21, 2024, at 7:30pm, the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra presents Playing Favorites featuring the extraordinarily talented Drew Petersen, a highly sought-after soloist who has performed throughout the United States and internationally, who will perform Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concert in G Major. This concert will open the symphony’s 99th season titled Artistry & Excellence: Celebrating the Bowden Era. This will be Artistic Director David Bowden’s final season with the THSO prior to his retirement in June 2025.
The concert will feature favorites drawn from musician and audience requests including Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet, Verdi’s Overture to La Forza del Destino, Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol.
Petersen performed Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the THSO in September 2023 and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto in April 2022. Stephanie Salter’s review in the Tribune Star of his performance captures Petersen’s immense talent and highlights his rise to stardom:
“Unlike many concert pianists, Petersen is economical with his body. No flying arms, bouncing torso or swooping head moves. He allows his hands to deliver the fireworks and, boy, do they deliver... [he] executed the dazzling arpeggios as if he had four hands. His interpretation of the second movement, the gorgeous adagio sostenuto, was exquisitely sweet...”
At the age of five, Petersen made his debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He was presented in a solo recital at Steinway Hall in Manhattan for the company’s 150th Anniversary when just 10 years old. The New York Times has written about the early performances of the gifted, “freckle-faced 10-year-old who still impresses adults with his intelligence, maturity and depth” and New York Magazine prominently featured Petersen in an article about child prodigies. Petersen’s extraordinary gifts were also chronicled in the documentary Just Normal and in Andrew Solomon’s book, Far From the Tree, which features case studies of exceptional children.
Petersen graduated cum laude from Harvard at age 19 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in social science and did his graduate music studies at the Juilliard School, where he also completed his Artist Diploma as a recipient of the prestigious Kovner Fellowship.
An avid traveler, Petersen’s emerging career frequently takes him abroad, where he sets out to discover new foods and meet locals as eagerly as he performs for new audiences. Overseas appearances include recitals at the Musica e Arte Festival in Tolentino, Italy, Verbier Festival in Verbier, Switzerland, and Euro Arts Music Festival in Leipzig, Germany.
This concert is proudly sponsored by Prospect Bank, Carolyn Steinbaugh, and Dr. Bill Hughes.
Supper at the Symphony
Make it a date night with a concert and Supper at the Symphony! Come to the concert early and enjoy a delectable three-course meal served in the Heritage Ballroom of Tirey Hall, right down the hall from Tilson Auditorium. The cash bar opens at 5:00pm, and dinner is served promptly at 5:30pm. Dinner reservations are $30 per person. Patrons will enjoy a Greek salad to start and choose one entrée of either Molasses Glazed Pork Loin, Basil Pesto Salmon, or Vegetarian Pasta Alfredo, all served with Fresh Grilled Asparagus and Herb Roasted Potatoes. Raspberry Cheesecake will be served for dessert. Reservations can be made at www.thso.org or by calling the THSO office at (812) 242-8476. Reservations close at 12pm on Tuesday, September 17.
Concert Conversations
Join Artistic Director, Dr. David Bowden, as he talks about the repertoire of the concert and interviews guest artist Drew Petersen during Concert Conversations in the Heritage Ballroom in Tirey Hall on the campus of Indiana State University before the concert at 6:45pm. FREE to all concert ticket holders!
Concert Tickets
Patrons can purchase concert tickets by visiting www.thso.org or calling the Hulman Center at (812) 237-3737. Ticket prices for adults are $20, $50, and $65. Student and youth tickets are $6, $12, and $16. Prices do not include facility and venue fees.
ISU Student Tickets
ISU students receive FREE tickets to THSO concerts! Students can show their student ID at the Tilson Auditorium ticket window starting at 6:30pm before a concert to receive a free ticket. Only 100 tickets are available for ISU students. Students can get their tickets in advance by visiting the Hulman Center box office.
Accessible Entrance
An elevator is available for patrons who need accessible entry at the rear of Tirey Hall. Patrons can be dropped off behind Tirey Hall in the alley between Fairbanks and Tilson for direct access to the elevator or enter through the ground level at the front of Tilson Auditorium via the downstairs lobby. Signage will be posted at the venue with directions to the elevator.
Parking
Patrons may park in the Indiana State University Parking garage located at 750 Cherry Street for free between 4 PM and 11 PM on the day of the concert. This parking garage is located across the street from Tilson Auditorium.