PROMUSICA ARIZONA
TO FEATURE THREE SOLOISTS IN
“FAST FINGERS AND KEYS” CONCERT MAY 15 & 16

The jazzy upbeat sound of Gershwin’s Concerto Rhapsody in Blue is but one of many musical treats ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra will present at their last concert of the season at 7:30 PM on May 15 and 16 at Boulder Creek Performing Arts Center in Anthem. This concert marks a number of firsts for the organization now in its sixth season.

Artistic Director Kevin Kozacek selected the music for this concert to celebrate the artistic growth and depth of PMAZ. For the first time, the orchestra will present three concertos showcasing the exceptional solo talents of three of its principal musicians.  Sally Bailey will play Strauss’s Horn Concerto #1.  Rebecca Brand will play Chaminade’s Flute Concertino, and Karen Stephens Taylor will perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. “All three concertos require extreme dexterity and finesse by soloists and orchestra musicians alike, hence the concert title “Fast Fingers and Keys,” Kozacek said.  “It is truly wonderful that PMAZ has matured to the artistic level that we can provide our talented members and audience the opportunity to perform this type of repertoire.”

Sally Bailey (Horn) is originally from Clearwater, Kansas a small town outside Wichita. While in High School she was a member of the Wichita Wind Ensemble and Kansas Ambassadors of Music. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Horn Performance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2004. She moved to Phoenix in 2005 so she could attend Arizona State University where she earned a Master of Music degree in Horn Performance. She currently teaches private horn lessons out of her home. This is Sally’s second season with ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra.

Rebecca Brand (Flutist), originally from Chicago, began piano lessons at age seven and added private flute lessons at the age of ten.  In 2001 she graduated from Calvin College, in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her degree in geology and her minors in biology and music with an emphasis in flute performance.  While in college she had the opportunity to travel the U.S. and Eastern Europe with the Calvin College Band, study with a nationally renowned flutist, and teach private flute lessons on and off campus.  In 2002 Mrs. Brand and her husband moved to Anthem, Arizona where she began working as a geologist in Phoenix and teaching private flute lessons in Anthem.  Mrs. Brand currently is a proud mother of two girls (ages 4 and 2 ½), serves as needed on the music team at Phoenix United Reformed Church, is a member of PMAZ Orchestra, and maintains her flute studio in Anthem.  

Pianist Karen Stephens Taylor began her music studies at the age of four in New Jersey. To say that she was musically precocious would be an understatement. In elementary school she was accompanying her school choir. By the age of 12, young Karen became the church pianist in Sylva, North Carolina, and at age 16, she became church organist. In high school, Karen accompanied soloists at West Carolina University. She attended high school and college concurrently and began accompanying choirs at the university level.
In 1987, she graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in music (piano pedagogy), under the instruction of Dr. Richard Anderson.  Since graduation, Mrs. Taylor has taught piano in Dallas, El Paso, Valparaiso, Indiana and Phoenix, played for many musicals, conducted church children’s choirs, served as church organist and played for community and university chorales.

Photo credit: Jolie Anne Photography

Mrs. Taylor says she is thrilled to have the challenge and the opportunity to perform Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue with ProMusica Arizona.  She says, “My husband recently reminded me of an experience we shared at BYU. One day, the head of the Music Department, Dr. Newel Kay Brown advised me that if I gave my time generously then, accompanying for other students, the day would come when an orchestra would give their time to accompany me. As I recall at the time, we both just laughed and said that would never happen.  As it turns out, he was right!”
PMAZ is pleased to announce their first collaboration with Steinway of Phoenix, who is providing a Steinway grand piano for this concert. The Steinway piano will also be a featured instrument during the Chorale’s performance of Fats Waller’s, A Handful of Keys and Irving Berlin’s,  I Love a Piano.  These songs require four-hand piano accompaniment that will showcase the talents of accompanists Linda Schwartz, and Paula Tresslar.

PMAZ would like to thank concert sponsor Gutowski Cabinet Works and owners Donna and Tony Gutowski for their continuing support.

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra is comprised of 110 singers and musicians who volunteer more than 16000 hours each season bringing music to the Phoenix North Valley.

For More Information Contact:
ProMusica Arizona Chorale & Orchestra
2424 W Anthem Way, Ste 118
Tel: 623-551-8327
Internet: pmaz1@q.com