DVORAK Symphony No.8 – BRUCH Violin Concerto – ALFVEN Swedish Rhapsody Embrace your inner Czech with Dvorak’s energetic and tuneful 8th Symphony conducted by Maestro Carl Topilow, Music Director of The Cleveland Pops. This concert also features Cleveland Institute of Music Violinist James Thompson performing Bruch’s popular violin concerto. Suburban Symphony Orchestra occupies a unique position in the rich musical community in Northeast Ohio. In a city alive with music making, Suburban bridges the gap between the area’s renowned professional organizations and its many volunteer ensembles. The orchestra, based at Beachwood High School, has built a solid community following over the past 65 years, presenting five free concerts throughout the season. Guest Conductor Carl Topilow, is in his 24th year as founding conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. He is also music director of the National Repertory Orchestra, (a summer music festival based in Breckenridge, CO), and the Firelands Symphony Orchestra in Sandusky (OH). In 2018, he was named Faculty Emeritus at Cleveland Institute of Music, after serving as the CIM’s conductor for 37 years. Violinist James Thompson is forging a promising career as a versatile chamber musician, soloist, and music educator. He is currently an Artist Diploma candidate at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Jaime Laredo, having studied previously with William Preucil and Paul Kantor. Mr. Thompson regularly performs for top-tier chamber music festivals around the country, including Music@Menlo, the Perlman Music Program, and the Taos School of Music. He has collaborated in concert with a multitude of artists across the country including David Finckel, Soovin Kim, Peter Salaff, Roger Tapping, and a variety of musicians from both the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music.