UBC Symphony Orchestra visits Germany in first ever European tour

UBC Symphony Orchestra with Jonathan Girard, conductor and Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinet

The UBC Symphony Orchestra and University of Stuttgart Academic Orchestra reunite in Germany

The camaraderie and beautiful music continue as the UBC Symphony Orchestra, with UBC faculty members, Director of Orchestral Activities Jonathan Girard (conductor) and Assistant Professor Jose Franch-Ballester (clarinet soloist), embark on a tour of Germany from May 1 – 11, 2023. This tour will take the Orchestra to performances in Tübingen, Ulm, Bensheim and a stop reuniting them with the University of Stuttgart Academic Orchestra at the Beethovensaal in Stuttgart.

“I am thrilled to be taking the UBC Symphony Orchestra to Germany for its first ever European tour! This project was started by past-President, Santa Ono who wanted to create a stronger relationship between both UBC and the University of Stuttgart. We are overjoyed to perform in the Beethovensaal in Stuttgart in a shared concert with University of Stuttgart. Taking an entire orchestra abroad is no small endeavour. I know that this will be a fabulous cultural and artistic exchange between our two countries. Germany has a wonderful tradition of musical excellence and I am looking forward to bringing our orchestra to participate in their musical celebration.”

Jonathan Girard

Director of Orchestral Activities

This musical connection with Stuttgart was sparked in August 2019, when Rector Ressel visited then UBC President and Vice-Chancellor, Santa Ono to talk about a future tour of each university’s student orchestra. After COVID-19 pandemic delays, the Stuttgart Academic Orchestra travelled to UBC to perform with the UBC Symphony Orchestra in September 2022. Their North America tour started with this spectacular performance at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and ended at Stanford University.

UBC Symphony Orchestra in Germany

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
20:00 Beethovensaal – Berliner Pl. 1, 70174 Stuttgart
If you happen to be in Germany: Purchase Tickets

Friday, May 5, 2023
19:00 Festsaal Neue Aula – Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, 72074 Tübingen

Sunday, May 7, 2023
17:30 Kornhaus – Kornhauspl. 1, 89073 Ulm

Tuesday, May 9, 2023
19:30 Sankt Georg – Marktpl. 10, 64625 Bensheim

Programme

Alexina Louie (UBC Alum) Music for a Celebration

Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major
Jose Franch Ballester, clarinet

Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60