The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is bringing a young, rising star in the symphonic music scene, along with a member of the orchestra who graduated from Midlakes, to perform with Midlakes’ students during a concert this month.
Jherrard Hardeman, 25, will lead the RPO during a 7 p.m. concert, underwritten by G.W. Lisk Co. and supported by the Clifton Springs Rotary Club, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the Midlakes High School Auditorium, 1554 State Route 488.
The Midlakes Holiday Concert is the first performance by the RPO at Midlakes with Midlakes vocal students since 2019. Proceeds of the concert to benefit Rotary.
“We are thrilled to bring this event back to the Midlakes community,” said Amy Conner, vocal director at Midlakes Middle/High School. “The kids are very excited to have the opportunity to perform with the RPO and Jherrard Hardeman. We are eternally grateful to G.W. Lisk, Rotary, the District, and the community at large for making this event possible. It will be a fantastic way to kick off the holiday season.”
The concert will feature seasonal music, classical orchestral pieces, and a special sing-along. Midlakes graduate Lisa Albrecht, a member of the RPO, is scheduled to return to Midlakes for the concert, which is open to members of the community.
Hardeman, a 25-year-old conductor, will lead the RPO. As a teenager, he attracted national attention as a classical conductor, composer, and violinist.
The Detroit native studied conducting under internationally renowned conductor David Robertson of The Juilliard School. Hardeman mentored under Mei-Ann Chen of the Chicago Sinfonietta and Kevin Noe of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.
Hardeman has appeared with the Seattle Symphony, Grosse Pointe Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra.
He has also formed and/or conducted orchestras at the New England Conservatory of Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the AVANTI Summer MusicFest.
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