
“Rhapsody in Blue” with the Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport
Celebrate with us the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Gershwin is one of the most significant American composers of the early 20th century and his work is an important part of Newport’s musical history. While the music was composed in 1924, the first Newport performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” was at the Newport Casino in 1931.
The Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport will be joined by piano soloist Kirill Gliadkovsky to perform this popular work and historical context for the music will be presented.
The program also will include a short piece written in tribute to Alfred Vanderbilt after he died on the Lusitania; a medley of Gilbert and Sullivan works; and a piece by French composer Cécile Chaminade.

Soloist: Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky
Kirill Gliadkovsky's performances have been met with great enthusiasm by audiences and music critics in Europe, Russia and North America. Josef Woodard, a critic at The Los Angeles Times, wrote: "... the intensity and a nicely honed musicality left the audience stunned ... enthralling ... all in all, a gripping and masterful performance.” Since making his first public appearance in Moscow at the age of 6, Gliadkovsky has toured extensively on three continents performing piano and organ recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in various cities in Russia as well as in Italy, U.K., Poland, Mongolia, Canada, Japan and throughout the United States. He has performed at music festivals such as the Aspen, Ventura, Music in the Mountains and Redlands Bowl festivals in the U.S., Credomatic Festival in Costa Rica and the Orfeo Festival in Vipiteno, Italy, and worked with well-known conductors Pierre Boulez, Mehli Mehta, Gordon Johnson, John Farrer, Mischa Semanitzky, Patrick Flynn and others.
Dr. Gliadkovsky has performed with singers, instrumental duo partners and various chamber music groups in concert series, competitions and festivals in the U.S. and abroad. He, his wife, Anna, and their two daughters, Anastassia and Sophia, perform as a family piano ensemble both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching at Saddleback College as a Professor of Piano and Director of Keyboard Studies. Prior to coming to Saddleback, he was on the piano faculty at USC and Santa Monica College and served as the Head of the Piano Area at Southern Utah University. Mr. Gliadkovsky has been in demand as a masterclass artist-teacher, guest lecturer and piano adjudicator in piano competitions throughout the United States.

Conductor: Dr. Mark A. Stickney
Dr. Mark A. Stickney was appointed Artistic Director of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble in 2016. Throughout his 20-year college teaching career, he held conducting, brass teaching and music education positions at the Community College of Rhode Island, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Plymouth State University, Salve Regina University and Southern Utah University. An active clinic and guest conductor, Dr. Stickney has traveled throughout the country working with bands and orchestras of all levels.
Dr. Stickney is the founder of Historic Music of Newport, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the rich musical heritage of the city (www.historicmusicofnewport.org). He also works part-time for The Preservation Society of Newport County and serves on the board of Newport Live. He received his BA in Music and Religion from Gettysburg College, his MA in Tuba Performance from Montclair State University and his DMA in Wind Conducting from Rutgers University.
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