The Quad City Symphony Orchestra launches its 2010-11 season with a concert commemorating the 200th birthday of Chopin with Gustavo Romero's performance of Chopin's First Piano Concerto. This concert also features the powerful music of Beethoven's Egmont: Overture, as well as his famous 7th Symphony. These concerts will be performed on October 2 and 3, and are sponsored in memory of Elsie von Maur and Donald McDonald, by their family. Saturday evening's concert will be held at the Adler Theatre in Davenport at 8 PM, and followed on Sunday afternoon at 2 PM at Centennial Hall in Rock Island. Tickets for this concert can be purchased in person at the QCSO Box Office, 327 Brady Street in Davenport, by phone at 800.745.3000 or online at www.qcsymphony.com.

On the Thursday before the concerts, Quad Citians will get the chance to hear Music Director Mark Russell Smith share his insights into the upcoming performance at Inside the Music. Expert and novice alike will enjoy this casual musical conversation at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport from 5 to 6:30 PM on Thursday, October 1. This event is free to the public, with free hors d'eouvres and cash bar available.

On Friday, October 1, Gustavo Romero will be leading a piano Master Class at West Music in Moline from 4 to 5:30 PM. Concert pianist Gustavo Romero has a stellar reputation for both the technical brilliance and interpretive depth of his playing, as well as his commitment to in-depth exploration of individual composers. Mr. Romero, a native of San Diego with heritage in Guadalajara, Mexico, discovered his love and gift for music at age five. He started taking lessons, and gave his first public performances at the age of 10. His early teachers included Ilana Mysior. Highlights of the past three years include feature stories on NPR, a seven city recital tour of Japan, as well as concerts in South Africa, Asia, Mexico and the United States.  This Master Class is presented free of charge, with all interested adults and students are welcome to attend. A few select students will be pre-selected to participate.

Mark Russell Smith will also be available at Kai Swanson's Concert Conversations, held in the concert hall an hour before each of the weekend's concerts. At Concert Conversations the audience members will be given a quick tour of highlights from the program they are about to experience. This look into the background of the concert's repertoire, sponsored by Rich James of Wells Fargo Advisors, is in its tenth year and has become an audience favorite.
Returning this season will be Saturday night's Afterglow reception at the Woodfire Grill immediately following the Saturday night concert. Audience members are invited to reminisce about the evening's performance, mingle with Mark Russell Smith and musicians from the QCSO, and sometimes even meet the guest artists. You never know who will be there! The evening promises free hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and remarkable repartee.

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