(9/3) Betty Soubricas, a long time resident of Gettysburg, is eagerly awaiting the September 14th Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra concert where her two sons will return home as soloists with the professional orchestra.

Charles Rex, violinist with the New York Philharmonic, and brother Chris Rex, principal cello with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will be performing the Brahms Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra on Sunday, September 14, at 4:00 pm in the Gettysburg Seminary chapel on Seminary Ridge.

The concert opens the 2008-2009 Music, Gettysburg! concert series, which is free and open to the public.

Another other major work on the program is Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 3, the Eroica Symphony. This composition was originally planned to be dedicated to Napoleon, but when that figure declared himself Emperor, Beethoven changed the dedication to the concept of the heroic.

The Rex brothers are no strangers to Gettysburg, having performed here on many occasions. They were born into a musical family and both began their musical studies at an early age. Charles Rex made his debut at the age of thirteen with the Florida Symphony Orchestra and continued his studies at Florida State University, where he studied violin with Richard Burgin, former concertmaster of the Boston Symphony. Upon graduation, he joined the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, where he played for eight years before accepting the position of Associate Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. He relinquished that position in 1999 in order to be available for more solo and recording opportunities. Charles also served as concertmaster of the London Symphony under Colin Davis and performed many solos with the New York Philharmonic in its home at Lincoln Center.

While Chris Rex was attending Gettysburg Area High School, he was traveling weekly to Philadelphia to study with the world-famous pedagogue and performer Orlando Cole. After studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, Chris joined his brother in the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he remained until 1979. In that year, he was invited to join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as principal cello, the same year he became the first cellist to win the string prize in the biennial Young Artists Competition. In addition to his many solo and recital performances, Chris is also a founding member of the Georgian Chamber Players and is artistic director of the Amelia Island (FL) Chamber Music Festival. In 1994, Charles and Chris premiered a double concerto by Stephan Paulus to sold-out audiences at four concerts in Lincoln Center with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic.

The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra is celebrating its eleventh year of performances under the banner of Music, Gettysburg! The orchestra was founded in 1997 by Norman and Carolyn Nunamaker and is devoted to using as many local musicians as possible as both soloists and as members. In May 2009, Gettysburg cellist Colin Stokes, a student at the Eastman School of Music, will perform with the GCO, and in July 2009, pianist Jocelyn Swigger, a member of the faculty at the Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the local ensemble.

Come enjoy this Sunday afternoon concert which is free and open to the public. The Seminary Chapel is located at 147 Seminary Ridge in Gettysburg. For more information about this and other concerts remaining in the 2008 Music, Gettysburg! schedule, please call 717-334-6286 ext 2197 or visit the web site at www.musicgettysburg.org . For information about the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, call 717-334-5508.