Details

Celtic music is as diverse as the Celtic spirit. This concert, featuring Edmonton’s award-winning Knock School of Irish Dance, explores all the colours and as many kinds of Celtic music as a stage can hold. From classics by Mendelssohn, Herbert, and others to traditional tunes from the Emerald Isle, this Celtic celebration has it all.

Tickets available for purchase at Hawrelak Park on-site box office beginning at noon.

Adult Reserved $29 / Grass $20
Child Reserved $13 / Grass free

Tickets subject to applicable service charges.

Family BBQ After Performance

Nothing beats a picnic in the park! Join ESO musicians as they host a family BBQ, serving up tasty burgers and refreshing beverages. Snack on both for only $5. All proceeds to support the ESO's Education programs.

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra thanks its generous sponsors!

Green Power	Media	Vehicles	50/50 Draw

Program Info

 Knock School of Irish Dance

*Indicates approximate performance duration

Artist Bios

Bob Bernhardt, conductor

Bob Bernhardt is the second Music Director in the history of the combined Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, and is currently in his 15th season with the company. Mr. Bernhardt also holds the additional title of Principal Pops Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra, where he is currently in his 27th season. He began his professional career there in 1981 as Assistant Conductor, and has worked with the Orchestra every year since. He was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic (1995-98), Music Director and Conductor of the Tucson Symphony (1987-95), Principal Guest Conductor of Kentucky Opera (1991-96), and Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra (1985-1987). His vast symphonic repertoire covers most of the standard canon and his commitment to the music of our time is significant.

He has guest conducted the Detroit, St. Louis, Seattle, Phoenix, Nashville, Colorado, Pacific and Iceland Symphony Orchestras among others, and has been a frequent guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Tucson Symphony, and the Boston Pops. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1978. In addition to his work with the CSO, he has conducted the Opera Companies of Nashville and Birmingham. He has also conducted the Louisville Ballet, the North Carolina Ballet, the Jacksonville Ballet and the Lonestar Ballet. Born in Rochester, NY, Robert Bernhardt holds a Master's Degree with Honors from the University of Southern California School of Music where he studied with Daniel Lewis. He was a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of Union (NY) College, where he was an Academic All-American Baseball Player.

Since making his ESO debut in May 2006, Robert Bernhardt has become a favourite guest conductor of both the orchestra and its audience. The 2010 Symphony Under the Sky is the fifth consecutive edition of the festival led by Mr. Bernhardt. In the 2010-2011 ESO performance season, he will return to Edmonton to conduct holiday programs including Glad Tidings – A Lightly Classical Christmas and Christmas Pops.

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Knock School of Irish Dance

The Knock School of Irish Dance was established in 1996 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, by Angela Hogan, T.C.R.G.  From those early days with 13 dancers, until today with more than 120 dancers of all ages and levels, the school strives for excellence and joy in dance.  Busy in the community, the Knock School dancers are extremely well received and frequently requested for performances of all kinds.  They have performed at Heritage Days; Klondike Days Military Tattoo; Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Education, POPS, and Symphony for Kids concerts; the Emerald Ball; Big Breakfast Television; and absolutely everywhere during the week of St. Patrick’s Day!

Each June brings with it the excitement of Knock School’s annual Dance Drama.  The magnificent Winspear Centre is the venue for this presentation featuring every dancer at the school.  Dancers from Knock School have competed at the World Championships in Ireland and Scotland since 1997 and at the North American Championships in Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Ottawa.  The school’s advanced dancers have ranked as high as 3rd at the North American Championships.  Knock has had two 1st place dancers in the Western Canadian Regional Championships, and their Ceili Teams have placed 1st, 2nd & 4th in Western Canada, winning a combined total of six Western Canadian Regional Championships.

The Knock School of Irish Dance last appeared with the ESO in November 2009.

Festival Info

Parking

Park your vehicle for only $5 at the U of A’s Stadium Car Park (116 St & 89 Ave), and ride Hybrid ETS buses for FREE directly to Hawrelak Park! Parking is very limited at Hawrelak Park and not guaranteed. Free, supervised bike racks will also be available at Hawrelak Park, courtesy of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society.

On-site Box Office

Food & Drink

Food vendors will be located in the Heritage Amphitheatre and the Winspear Concession stand will offer snacks, hot and cold drinks, wine & beer.

Symphony Under the Sky Online

We’ll be blogging, tweeting, and posting updates to our Facebook page all weekend – and you can do the same using the free Wi-Fi at the Amphitheatre.

Twitter: @edmsymphony (festival hashtag is #yegsuts)
Facebook: facebook.com/edmontonsymphony
Blog: EdmontonSymphony.com/blog

You can also submit your favourite pictures from your experiences at our festival to our photo contest! Complete rules and guidelines will be posted on our website.

Weather

In case of inclement weather, festival concerts will take place at the Winspear Centre. If at all possible, all performances will remain at Hawrelak Park. The decision about whether to change venues will be made 3 hours prior to the performance. Venue change information will be announced on 105.9 Shine FM, posted on the front page of this website, and noted at (780) 428-1414 and 1-800-563-5081.

Festival Supporters

Thank you to our festival supporters The City of Edmonton through the Edmonton Arts Council, The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton, AM 930 The Light, 105.9 Shine FM, Lexus, Bullfrog Power, Trailblazer RV, General Metals Recycling, Shanked Computer Recycling, General Dynamics and Canadian Western Bank.

Multimedia

Conductor Bob Bernhardt shares highlights of Symphony Under the Sky: