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The Hot Springs/ Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild- Welcome
- Program Notes
“Dances and Songs for Strings, Wood and Winds: Colorful Voices in Concert”
The Hot Springs/Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild is delighted to continue its 2025–2026 Classic Concert Series with Dances and Songs for Strings, Wood and Winds: Colorful Voices in Concert, a compelling collaboration between Little Rock Wind Symphony musicians Susan Antonetti (flute), Jonathan Tomasello (marimba and snare drum), Gabriel Womack (alto saxophone), Janice Bengston (Clarinet), Jason Brannon (Bassoon), and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra principal harpist Alisa Bekebrede (née Coffey). The chamber music concert performance is on Sunday, March 8 at 3:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines (275 Asturias Drive). General admission is $10. You may register for the event in advance on the Guild website(your email confirmation serves as your ticket) or pay at the door. The concert will last approximately one hour.
This program presents a vibrant journey through a diverse array of chamber and solo works, each rich in color, character, and emotion. It opens with Sergei Golovko’s Charanga Salada, a Cuban dance for flute and marimba in which the two instruments pulse with the rhythms and spirit of Cuban dance, engaging in a lively and colorful dialogue. A graceful French thread follows with Jean-Michel Damase’s Sicilienne Variée, which transforms a gentle dance theme into a series of refined and virtuosic variations for harp, and continues with Jacques Ibert’s Entr’acte, a sparkling exchange between flute and harp marked by the composer’s hallmark clarity, charm, wit, and lightness of texture. Balancing these works are pieces that span a wide range of styles and voices. Stop Speaking by Andy Akiho for snare drum and digital playback is an energetic and narrative work that blends the many sounds of the snare drum with electronic playback. In Rumble Strips, Gordon Stout uses the marimba to depict the grooves on the side of the highway that alert inattentive drivers that they’re drifting off the road, creating a vivid sense of atmosphere and sudden jolt. David Maslanka’s Song Book explores intimate, meditative moments on alto saxophone and marimba, Jenni Brandon’s Spider Suite spins whimsical tales through flute, clarinet, and bassoon, and Robert Muczynski’s Exit from his larger work Fragments concludes the program with bold, energetic interplay that leaves listeners exhilarated. Together, these works celebrate imagination, virtuosity, and the expressive power of small ensembles and solo instruments.
About the Program
Sergei Golovko’s vibrant piece, Charanga Salada, a Cuban dance for Flute and Marimba, draws on the rhythms and spirit of Cuban dance. The bright, agile voice of the flute blends with the rich sonorities of the marimba, creating a lively dialogue full of energy and color.
Also inspired by dance, Jean-Michel Damase’s Sicilienne Variée presents a graceful set of variations on the gentle rhythm of the sicilienne. True to his elegant and lyrical style, Damase transforms the lilting theme into a series of vivid variations that highlight both expressive melody and the harpist’s dazzling virtuosity. The work captures his signature mix of charm, wit, and refinement.
Jacques Ibert’s Entr’acte continues this French lineage with music that is light, witty, and refined. Written for flute and harp, the piece highlights Ibert’s gift for clarity of texture and sparkling musical conversation. Brief yet memorable, Entr’acte balances elegance with playful charm, allowing both instruments to shine while engaging in a lively exchange.
Stop Speaking by Andy Akiho for snare drum and digital playback is an energetic and narrative work that blends the many sounds of the snare drum with electronic playback. Written in 2011, Akiho used the voice prompt and stock keyboard sounds of the MacBook Pro to create what appears to be an eerie dialogue between the snare drum and a sentient computer, Vicki.
Rumble Strips by Gordon Stout depicts the actual grooves on the side of the highway that alert inattentive drivers that they are drifting off the road. This vibrant and exciting work for the marimba captures the feeling of a sudden jolt by creating an interplay of atmosphere and suspense in the first movement followed by a boisterous outburst in the second.
David Maslanka’s Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba is a collection of short, lyrical movements that explore memory, loss, and joy. Each “song” carries a personal, almost meditative quality, as if capturing a fleeting emotional moment. Selected movements include Song for Davy, Lost, Song for Allison, and Hymn Tune with Four Variations.
Jenni Brandon’s playful Spider Suite for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon spins a musical web of imagination, telling the story of a spider’s adventures. Each movement brings a fresh scene, from stealthy entrances to lively dances. Selections from the suite include Along Came a Spider, Spinning Song, and The End of the Day…Begin Again.
Exit, the final movement from Fragments for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon by Robert Muczynski bursts with rhythmic vitality and bold, angular lines that highlight the character of each instrument. Written with the composer’s trademark energy and clarity, the music drives forward with wit, color, and momentum. Though concise, the piece feels complete, offering a spirited showcase of interplay and leaving listeners with an exhilarating finish. Click the link below to hear the music included in the program.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN78A1jrTu7y7VIaiesyTYX8uFAR2zkSi&si=ZfeSL5GF99daPC0t.
About the Artists
Susan Antonetti (flute) is a retired high school band director and former adjunct instructor of flute at the University of Arkansas (LR) and Harding University. She now teaches flute in the Little Rock area using the Suzuki method. She is Principal Piccoloist with the Little Rock Winds, performs with the River City Men’s Chorus, co-directs the Alchēmia Flute Ensemble, and holds degrees from Arkansas Tech University and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Alisa Bekebrede is the Principal Harpist for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Appointed in 2011, Alisa performs widely throughout the Mid-South region both as soloist and as an orchestral performer. She has performed regularly with Iris Orchestra and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, as well as Shreveport Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. Formerly in Philadelphia, Alisa performed with ensembles such as Symphony in C, the National Philharmonic, Philly Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Alisa's summers have been spent taking part in festivals such as Artosphere Festival, Saratoga Harp Colony, Spoleto Festival U.S.A. and Aspen Music Festival. An enthusiastic educator, Alisa keeps a large private studio in Little Rock, and also teaches at University of Arkansas and Hendrix College, and has recently completed training in the Suzuki method. As a soloist, Alisa received recognition in the 2011 Lyon and Healy Awards as well as the 2011 American Harp Society National Competition. She completed her M.M. at Temple University with Elizabeth Hainen and her Performance Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music with Judy Loman.
Janice Bengston (clarinet) is a former U.S. Air Force clarinetist with over 20 years of performance, touring, and recording experience, including Grammy-winning projects. After her career as a band director, she now focuses on clarinet performance, serving as principal clarinetist of the Little Rock Winds and bass clarinetist with the Arkansas C4 Clarinet Quartet. She holds a bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of South Florida and a Master’s and Specialist’s degrees in Educational Leadership.
Jason Brannon (bassoon) is a bassoonist with the Little Rock Winds, where he also serves as librarian. He works in data engineering at First Orion in North Little Rock and enjoys traveling, cooking, and entertaining in his free time.
Jonathan Tomasello (marimba, snare drum) is a percussionist and educator living and working in Central Arkansas. He currently serves as the 6th and 7th grade band teacher at Maumelle Charter Middle School and Music Director at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Little Rock. He regularly appears in the little Rock area as a solo and collaborative artist as well as with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Little Rock Winds. He previously held positions in the Terre Haute Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and the Urbana Pops Orchestra. He studied Music Education and Performance at Texas Tech University and Percussion Performance at Indiana University.
Gabriel Womack (alto saxophone) is a Malvern native who has been playing alto saxophone with the Little Rock Winds since 2013 and was named Principal Alto Saxophone in 2019. He attended the University of Central Arkansas where he studied Music Education and Saxophone Performance with Dr. Jackie Lamar. While at UCA, he performed with the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Saxophone Quartet. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Little Rock where he studied saxophone with Dr. Andy Wen.