Carmel Symphony to welcome ‘Rising Star’ cellist for April 22 performance featuring composition by UIndy professor

Exciting young cellist Sterling Elliott joins Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) under Artistic Director Janna Hymes on Saturday, April 22 for CSO’s Masterworks 5 performance with selections from Saint Saens and Tchaikovsky.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Carter Green, Carmel. Tickets start at $25 and are available at the Palladium’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office, by calling (317) 843-3800, or online at TheCenterPresents.org. Concert sponsor is United Fidelity Bank; media partner is WICR 88.7 FM.

Berners

Elliott

Elliott, 23, recently was cited by the U.K.’s Classic FM net radio as among its worldwide Top 30 Rising Stars for 2023. The young musician – who learned to play the cello at age three and made his concerto debut at seven – is currently a student at New York’s Juilliard School of Music. Acclaimed for his stellar stage presence and joyous musicianship, Elliott already has appeared with major orchestras throughout the U.S., is in demand on the summer festival circuit, and made his European debut in Munich last spring.

“Sterling is a phenomenal musician with tremendous charisma,” Hymes said. “We’re so pleased that we’ve been able to include him as our guest artist in our season’s final Masterworks presentation. I know our audience is going to fall in love with this young musician and his extraordinary abilities.”

A special feature of this concert will be the CSO’s performance of In Rowan Oak, a tribute to the great American writer William Faulkner, composed by University of Indianapolis Professor of Music Dr. John Berners.

Hymes

“I’m always interested in featuring music by local composers, and a year or so ago CSO Executive Director Cara Pittenger called my attention to an early version of In Rowan Oak on Dr. Berners’ YouTube channel,” Hymes said. “I was really intrigued by what I heard and contacted John. We talked about the piece, how it was originally written for chamber orchestra, and I asked if he could expand it for full symphony orchestra, which would include adding full brass and percussion sections. John has done that and more – he has essentially reorchestrated all of it, so what we’ll be performing on April 22 truly can be considered a World Premiere, and we are thrilled to be a part of it! Our final Masterworks program of this season is going to be an exciting presentation for multiple reasons, and we look forward to welcoming both current and brand new CSO fans to the Palladium as we celebrate with these incredible musical selections!”

CSO is a resident company of the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts located in Carmel’s City Center district. An abundance of free parking – in garages, lots and curbside – is available within easy walking distance of the Palladium. There also are numerous restaurants in the area for pre- or post-concert dining.

One performance remains in the CSO’s 2022-23 season following Masterworks 5 – CSO Pops: Respect – A Tribute to Aretha Franklin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Palladium. Tickets are available now for this rousing tribute to the immortal Queen of Soul at the Palladium’s Fifth Third Bank Box Office, by calling (317) 843-3800, or online at TheCenterPresents.org.

The 2022-23 CSO season is supported by the City of Carmel, the Center for the Performing Arts, the Palladium, and Pedcor.