ARTISTS:   

Joanna Morrison and Andrew Eckard, Honolulu Symphony Cellists
   

PREVIEW:       

Monday, September 14: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
           
Borders Ward Center, Second Level
           
Victoria Ward Centre, 1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu
   

TICKETS:   

Free – no tickets required.
Call the HSO Volunteer Desk at (808) 524-0815 x221 for more information.
Or, contact Borders at (808) 591-8995

E-mail: SymphonyAssociates@gmail.com
www.honolulusymphony.com

Honolulu, HI – September 11, 2009 – The Honolulu Symphony Associates present the tenth program in their highly successful  series “Meet the Musicians,” a free concert preview series that shares insights into the music-making process with the community. In partnership with Borders at Ward Center, “Meet the Musicians” spotlights Symphony musicians in the up-close-and-personal setting of the second-floor stage area of the music department at Borders Ward Center and will take place on Monday, September 14 at 7 p.m. with Honolulu Symphony cellists Joanna Morrison and Andrew Eckard. “Meet the Musicians” welcomes music lovers of all tastes and knowledge levels. The program is free and open to the public.  A complimentary pair of tickets to a symphony concert will be given away at each “Meet the Musicians” event. 

Joanna and Andrew will share their personal stories, play their cellos and preview the season which open this weekend September 19th and 20th.   

About Joanna Morrison
Joanna, from Orlando, Florida, received her Bachelor and Masters Degrees from Boston University, studying with Leslie Parnas, Mike Reynolds and George Neikrug. While in Boston, Joanna was principal cellist of the Indian Hill Symphony and a member of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.  An avid chamber player, Joanna performed in Boston with members of the Boston Symphony and studied under members of the Guarneri and Julliard Quartets.  Joanna toured Asia with the Verbier Chamber Orchestra and was principal cellist of the Verbier Festival Orchestra for the 2007 USA/European tour.  As a member of the World Symphony Orchestra, Joanna recently toured South Korea with conductor Nanse Gum.  Joanna has been awarded fellowships to summer festivals including Verbier Festival, Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, AIMS in Graz, International Festival Institute at Round Top, Blossom Music Festival and the Cascade Music Festival.  This past summer Joanna performed at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Joanna is currently in her third season with the Honolulu Symphony and plays on a William Forester Junior Cello.

About Andrew Eckard
Andrew is a native of Portland, Oregon.  He began piano studies at age 8 and cello studies at age 10.  When he was 14 he was featured as a concerto soloist with the Oregon Symphony.  He attended Indiana University and the University of Illinois where he studied with Janos Starker and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi.  Upon graduation he joined the Spokane Symphony, was on the faculty of Oregon State University in Corvallis and afterwards was Principal Cellist of the New York City Opera National Company until he joined the Honolulu Symphony as Associate Principal Cellist in 1996.  He also teaches cello lessons. 

 About “Meet the Musicians”
A community outreach and education initiative, the monthly “Meet the Musicians” series will feature Symphony musicians as they share personal stories, demonstrate their instrument and discuss upcoming Symphony concerts – all followed by an informal question and answer session. Musicians will also discuss the “little known facts” that offer behind-the-scenes insights into live concerts and the experience of working with music’s superstars.  Borders will also host a display area complete with Honolulu Symphony Orchestra brochures and materials, and feature recordings of upcoming repertoire. 

The ‘Meet the Musicians’ series is a valuable resource for people who are curious about music or who want to develop their familiarity with the repertoire and the workings of a professional orchestra.

About the Honolulu Symphony Associates
For more than 60 years, the Honolulu Symphony Associates (HSA) has been proud to support the Honolulu Symphony. Its mission is to provide financial support for the symphony, to be a ready and able body of volunteers, to provide supplementary education opportunities, and to help demonstrate and communicate the value of the symphony to the community. When you become a member of the Honolulu Symphony Associates, you also become an important part of a unified effort to ensure music education for Hawaii’s youth.

The Honolulu Symphony Associates welcomes support and participation. For more information, visit www.HonoluluSymphony.com and click on “Support the Symphony.”