Television
"The Region's premiere youth orchestra ... The Protégé Philharmonic, an orchestra of some of the finest musicians from high schools and junior highs in the region. Their hard work played out to rave reviews."
Channel 5, NBC TV-Chicago
Newspaper & Magazine
"On Saturday, The Classical Symphony Orchestra and The Protégé Philharmonic from Chicago played on a summer concert stage of the Central City (Marinsky) Park. The spectators who had been very sad and disappointed about this summer's "uncultural" (lack of culture) atmosphere, filled all the benches and the seating, and even the branches and flower lawns. Joseph Glymph, the orchestra director, with his American smile, waved his master's stick, and the orchestra begins to play the ardent cowboy dance (more exactly there were four dance etudes from Copland's Rodeo Suite Ballet).
During the evening, the brilliant Second Symphony by Brahms sounded beautiful...and the audience asked for more. The public did not want to free the musicians nor the very emotional orchestra director."
Kiev News
Kiev, Ukraine
"Under the leadership of its founder and music director Joseph Glymph, The Classical Symphony Orchestra for the past 17 years has provided orchestral training opportunities for many young Chicago-area musicians, and Maestro Glymph deserves a salute for nearly two decades of dedicated yeoman work with his young players....Glymph and his players made the most of the high-steping dance rhythms, with a lively Malaguena and a noisly energetic Feria that was as bright and iridescent as the Iberian sunshine.
Both orchestras took the stage for Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," narrated by the Chicago Bears' amiable defensive tackle, Chris Zorich....With No. 97 on hand, "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" provided an apt and lively encore....there was little doubt of the evening's success."
Lawrence A. Johnson
Special Reviewer to the Chicago Tribune
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“Protégé, Classical Symphony stake strong claim on future”
Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier
“Two youthful orchestras, The Classical Symphony and The Protégé Philharmonic, joined Sunday under their mutual maestro,Joseph Glymph. It was billed as their fall showcase, and the phrase fit: Navy Pier’s enormous Grand Ballroom is a splendid showcase, and the orchestras proved worthy of it.
The Classical Symphony’s players are musicians mostly of college age, the Protégé is for gifted high schoolers. They do not have the razor-edge precision or immense dynamic range of a professional group, which means they only lack the years of practice. But for energy, enthusiasm and the ability to make music exciting, they are up there with big-name orchestras.
It took a while to make this clear. Maestro Glymph’s puzzling opening selection with Protégé was Ponchielli’s ‘Dance of the Hours,’ which hasn’t excited anybody in decades. Its sweetish, overdecorated tunes seem to invite parody—remember Disney’s hippos in ‘Fantasia,’ or Allan Sherman’s “Hello muddah, hello fadduh”? The orchestra took a few bars before it fully adjusted to the beat. Once settled in, its playing had verve and conviction.
But the next piece showed a profound change. Richard Strauss’ ‘Death and Transfiguration’ is one of the most deeply felt works of German romanticism. It depicts a dying man’s last moments through stages of fear, false hope, despair, then calm, expectation, even happiness.
It did not seem possible that high schoolers, no matter how gifted, could convincingly portray such moods. But the moods were there, quick-changing, full of contrast in texture and shading. And they worked—most impressively in the gradual glow from sorrow to serenity.
The Classical Symphony Orchestra took over with another pair of contrasts, Tchaikovsky’s fantasy-overture ‘Hamlet’ and Respighi’s ‘The Fountains of Rome’—one a study in surging emotion, the other a masterly bit of scene-painting. ‘Hamlet’ will never be as popular as the composer’s ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Its melodies are agreeable but not memorable. Still, it is finely wrought, expressive music, and the orchestra transmitted its drama intact.
Respighi’s four fountains, each caught at a different hour of the day, are a wondrous study in orchestration, with their veiled strings, glinting woodwind colors, bright droplets showering from piccolo and celesta. It may not have a hint of meaning beyond the surface, but the surface is gorgeous and was played that way.
The combined orchestras wound up the program with ‘Americathe Beautiful,’ with soprano Jane Kenas, and Liszt’s ‘Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.’ There was one encore beyond which no further encore is imaginable: Sousa’s ‘Stars and Stripes Forever.’”
Dan Tucker, Special Reviewer to the Chicago Tribune
Letters
It is with great pleasure that we at the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs take this opportunity to express our gratitude for over 3 decades of magnificent music presented by The Classical Symphony Orchestra and The Protege Philharmonic at the Chicago Cultural Center.
As a long-established member of the "Cultural Center Family", you have consistently contributed to our mission, which is to make accessible to all members of the public through free performances, the finest artistic product. You have shared with us the surety that the survival of the arts is dependent upon the nurturing of young artists. Your commitment to that goal is evident in the success of The Classical Symphony Orchestra/Protege Philharmonic.
We can attest to the enthusiastic following which your orchestras maintain based on the full attendance at each of your concerts at the Cultural Center. Congratulations on your successes, and we look forward to many more years of what has proven to be a wonderful collaboration.
City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs
Congratulations on a stunning concert, from first to last. Both orchestras; did superbly, under your brilliant conducting. Georgia and I enjoyed it all thoroughly.
The Bartok and Pines of Rome, blockbusters! Knockouts! How fortunate these talented young instrumentalists are to have your marvelous talent, energy and vision to guide these two incredible institutions.
The WISCONSIN PROFILES was performed marvelously. Thank you for the great compliment and honor of putting it on such a program surrounded by masterpieces. Wisconsin Profiles has had many performances during its 22 year life, and this was among the finest, especially of an orchestra made up of young musicians of high talent and wonderfully trained. Just fabulous! Thank you! Thank you!
Warmest best wishes always for your continued success. Godspeed!
Crawford Gates
Composer & Music Director Emeritus
Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra