Music of John Williams

   The greatest music of one of America’s greatest composers—John Williams—will be played at the Oct. 13 Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra concert at 8 pm at Ridgefield High School.

   Williams is famous for music in several styles.  He attended Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Madame Rosina Lhevinne.  In the classical genre he has written concerti for ten different instruments, and many have been premiered with famous orchestras such as the Chicago and London Symphony Orchestras.  In movies he has written scores for almost 90 films.  With 47 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most nominated person, after Walt Disney.

   The program includes music from such popular and award winning movies as Star Wars, Superman, E.T., Jaws, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, Catch Me if You Can, and Memories of a Geisha.  

   Other Williams selections include Olympic Fanfare and Theme, The Mission Theme (NBC Nightly News), and the Liberty Fanfare, written for the Centennial Celebration of the Statue of Liberty.

   Guest soloist, Broadway tenor Greg Mills, will sing songs from three Williams movies: “Somewhere in my Memory” from Home Alone, “Can You Read My Mind” from Superman, and “For Always” from Artificial Intelligence.  He has sung in both in the United States and abroad, and he is currently in “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway.  He has appeared in concert performances on Broadway with Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore.  Ira Joe Fisher will interview Mills from 7 to 7:30 pm on concert night.

   The concert is sponsored by Fairfield County Bank.  Single ticket prices are $25, $45, or $60.  To purchase tickets, use www.ridgefieldsymphony.org (preferred) or call the orchestra office at (203)438-3889.