Sunday, February 2nd 3pm

Stravinsky and Mozart

Christ the King Lutheran Church

3:00 to 4:30pm

What makes a piece of music classical? Join us for a virtuosic exploration of the classical sound featuring dazzling compositions by Stravinsky and Mozart. Stravinsky’s colorful Pulcinella Suite features every section of the the orchestra as soloist. The orchestra shines in Mozart’s thrilling symphony. Experience these two masterworks up close and hear them like never before!

Program:

Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite

Intermission

Mozart Symphony No. 41 in C major “Jupiter”

Tickets Available Here

Watch us in action!

The Great Falls Philharmonic performed Dvořák’s marvelous Eighth Symphony on August 25, 2024. Click below to see an excerpt from the first movement.

Stravinsky and Mozart

  • 1882-1971

    a revolutionary composer whose daring creativity shaped the sound of 20th-century music. Renowned for works like The Rite of Spring and the Pulcinella Suite, he seamlessly blended bold modernism with classical traditions. Stravinsky’s genius lay in his ability to continuously reinvent his style, captivating audiences and redefining musical boundaries.

  • 1756-1791

    a prodigious composer whose genius remains unmatched in the history of classical music. From the sparkling elegance of Eine kleine Nachtmusik to the dramatic grandeur of his 41st Symphony, Mozart's works epitomize grace, innovation, and emotional depth. His music, spanning every genre of his time, continues to inspire and delight listeners worldwide.

Meet the Artists

Derek Maseloff is the founder and Artistic Director of the Great Falls Philharmonic.

His musical journey began on the organ bench at age 8, studying with Martha Fisher at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Quakertown, PA.

Derek earned a degree from Cornell University in China and Asian-Pacific Studies and authored a thesis on the history of classical music in the cultural relationship between the United States and China. After graduating from Cornell, he was accepted into the prestigious woodwind quintet fellowship program at the University of Maryland, studying with Gregory Miller and Phil Munds while completing a Master of Music in Horn Performance.

He is a core member and composer of Classically Dope, an innovative fusion group of classical music and hip-hop featuring Konshens theMC. Derek’s compositions have been performed at The Anthem alongside the NSO, the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, and recently live on the airwaves at Texas Public Radio in San Antonio. He received a commission from the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra to compose a brand new work for rapper and wind orchestra titled “Dreams”, which premiered in 2022.

From 2019-2022 he was Director of Artistic Planning for the National Youth Orchestra of China, organizing and leading international tours in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and China.

Derek is currently Director of Music at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls, VA where he leads worship from the piano/organ bench and directs the choir. He lives in Greenbelt, MD with his wife Katie and his cats Lily and Liza.

Japanese-American violinist Ryo Usami is a member of "The President's Own" US Marine Band in Washington DC where he performs regularly at the White House, and is also the principal second violin of the Santa Barbara Symphony in California. Ryo has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Hollywood Studio Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Charleston Symphony, and Harrisburg Symphony.

As a violinist and violist, Ryo has performed alongside members of the Brentano Quartet, Meliora Quartet, Orion Quartet, National Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic, and has appeared in masterclasses led by the Gil Shaham, Johnny Gandelsman, Rainer Kuchl, Gordon Nikolic, Stephan Picard, and the Dover, Juilliard, Borromeo, and Ying Quartets.

During the summers, Ryo has participated as a violinist in the Colorado Music Festival, Orchestra of the Americas, Dali Quartet International Music Festival, Festival Napa Valley, Pacific Music Festival, and Aurora Chamber Music Festival in Sweden. As an instructor, he taught at the Chamber Music Institute in Maine from 2008 to 2016 and joined their Japan Tour in 2018. In 2022, Ryo will join the faculty of "Quartet Intensive" in Sofia, Bulgaria, as well as the Varna International Music Academy in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Ryo received a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was a member of the honors string quartet. Notable instructors and mentors include Ayano Ninomiya, Violaine Melancon, Simeon Simeonov, and Akiko Hirose Silver. Ryo is an avid supporter of contemporary instrument making and proudly performs on a violin made by Gabrielle Kundert and a bow made by Benoit Rolland.