Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major, K.495 was his last completed horn concerto to be published. This brilliant concerto opens with a bright tutti section, before introducing the famous theme in the violins, echoed by the horn a few bars later. The final movement, the Rondo, opens with a hunting horn call. The tonic and dominant triads in the main melody are known as an open-air hunting call.

Elgar: Serenade for Strings in E Minor, Op. 20 was the first of Elgar's compositions with which he was pleased after the premiere. In a letter to a friend, Elgar writes: "I like 'em (the first thing I ever did)." Although we are only playing the second movement tonight, I encourage you all to listen to the piece’s entirety. I consider the second movement comparable to Barber’s Adagio for Strings. The second movement opens with a brief introduction, before introducing the beautiful main theme. In his 1906 book Elgar, Ernest Newman calls the main theme "a long and flexible melody sung by the first violins … one of the finest and most sustained that ever came from Elgar's pen: the expression is very tense and penetrating, and the underlying emotion really comes from the depths of the musical nature.”

About the Conductor:

Alex Gemeinhardt is a senior in High School at Professional Children’s School in New York City. He began the Violin at age 3, and is in his second summer performing with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. In New York, he played in the InterSchool Orchestra. He started his studies in conducting at the New York Youth Symphony in 2023 with Andrew J. Kim. This is his 7th summer attending Interlochen. He’d like to thank his parents and his teachers for their constant support and guidance in all his new adventures.

About the Soloists:

Sam Bangert is an aspiring horn player from Austin Texas. He loves chamber music and has competed in the Fischoff international chamber music competition as well as many regional events. In his free time he enjoys biking, working out, and volunteer work. This fall he will be attending Northwestern University to study horn performance under Gail Williams and Jon Boen. 4

Jaksen Vargas is a dedicated musician currently attending Valor North Austin. He’s spending his second summer at Interlochen Arts Camp, a testament to their commitment to musical excellence. Jaksen Vargas has achieved significant milestones in their musical journey, including acceptance into the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO), Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), and Brevard Music Center. Throughout his high school years, Jaksen Vargas has consistently advanced through the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) process, showcasing their talent and dedication to music. His accomplishments include performing at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. Currently a rising junior, Jaksen Vargas continues to pursue his passion for music with unwavering determination and enthusiasm.

Ben Shugart is a horn player in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He is a member of the World youth Symphony Orchestra and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and studies under David Heyde of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Outside of Horn, he enjoys playing piano, drawing, and composition.