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The Washington Symphony Orchestra will open its 15th season on with “Made in America” on October 15 at 8 p.m. The concert will be held at Trinity High School and doors will open at 6 p.m.

Logo for “Made in America”

One of Made in America’s featured pieces will be George Gershwin’s “Concerto in F” played by Pittsburgher Tom Roberts. "For me, the Gershwin is so incredibly exciting,” said WSO Artistic Director Yugo Ikach. “The frenetic pulse of the city, the sometimes jerky, sometimes yearning jazzy syncopations all make for a piece that is quintessentially American sounding."

Roberts has performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. He also arranged and performed the music for the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s film The Aviator, starring Leonardo di Caprio.

Roberts has recorded over 40 albums and has performed throughout the United States and Europe and is widely-known as an expert on early jazz.

Another guest artist for Made in America will be trumpet soloist Kyle Simpson, providing improvisation during Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A-Train.”

Also on the program for the evening will be Aaron Copland’s “John Henry” and “Fanfare of the Common Man,” saluting the builders of our country.

As pre-concert programming at 7:15 p.m., Max Gonano and Judith Sutton will present a talk on Billy Strayhorn as part of the “Steel City Grooves” series. Steel City grooves is a project of the Jazz Committee of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Volunteer Ambassador Program, in association with the California University of Pennsylvania Music Department.

The presentation will feature a short video, along with a discussion about Strayhorn’s life and music and the history and evolution of jazz in Pittsburgh.

Tickets for Made in America start at $17 and can be purchased online at washsym.org, by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS, or at the following locations: Citizens Library, the Peters Township Public Library, and the WSO Office at 11 South College Street in Washington (WSO Office by appointment only). For further information about the symphony, visit www.washsym.org or connect with the WSO on Facebook (facebook.com/washsymphony) and Twitter (twitter.com/washsymphony).

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