Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra Welcomes Gary Hoffman

SPOKANE, Wash. – International cello soloist Gary Hoffman will perform with the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra for its season finale Monday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. 

Hoffman, who performs on a rare cello made in 1662 by Nicolo Amati, has appeared with the world’s most noted orchestras and at prestigious festivals. He will join GU’s orchestra, conducted by Kevin Hekmatpanah, for “Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque for Violoncello and Orchestra,” the final work of composer Ernest Bloch’s Jewish Cycle, and Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129.

Igor Stravinsky’s spectacular “Firebird Suite” will kick off the concert at Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, on campus at 211 E. Desmet Ave.

General admission is $17 and $14 for non-GU students and seniors. The performance is free for GU faculty, students and staff with ID. For tickets, call (509) 313-2787 or visit the ticket office at the Woldson Center.

After winning the Premier Grand Prix of the Rostropovich International Competition in Paris in 1986, Hoffman embarked on his international career as a soloist with, among others, the Chicago, London, Montréal, Toronto, San Francisco, Baltimore and National symphony orchestras; the English, Moscow, and Los Angeles chamber orchestras; Orchestre National de France; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; and the Netherlands and Rotterdam philharmonics.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Hoffman made his debut at Wigmore Hall in London at the age of 15 and at 22 became the youngest faculty member in the history of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he served for eight years.

Residing in Paris, Hoffman is an active recording artist with the BMG (RCA), Sony, EMI and Le Chant du Monde labels and serves as master in residence for cello at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Brussels.

For more information about this or other Gonzaga Music Department concerts, please call (509) 313-6733 or visit the orchestra’s website at www.gonzaga.edu/gso.