Talent meets inspiration: trumpeter Ryan Anthony to perform with Bozeman Symphony

The performance, Concerto for Hope, was written specifically to chronicle Anthony’s heroic fight with multiple myeloma
Current Principal Trumpet for the Dallas Symphony and former Principal Trumpet for the world famous Canadian Brass, Ryan Anthony joins the Bozeman Symphony to present Concerto for Hope. Anthony is known as one of the greatest trumpeters and entertainers in the world today. Having performed many times with Maestro Matthew Savery, he’s become much in demand among Bozeman audiences. Concerto for Hope is set for Saturday, October 27th at 7:30pm, and Sunday, Oct. 28th at 2:30pm. Both concerts will be held at Willson Auditorium, located at 404 W Main Street in Downtown Bozeman.
The performances will begin with the grandest of ceremonial fanfare, the vivacious Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich. Then, Anthony will take the stage performing James Stephenson’s Concerto for Hope, written specifically to chronicle Anthony’s heroic fight with multiple myeloma, proving nothing can stop the human spirit. The radiant joy of Brahms’ pastoral 2nd Symphony will conclude each performance.
Concerto for Hope is completely and entirely dedicated to Anthony. Just three years before the creation of this concerto, he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that is still incurable. Determined to beat it, he’s been on a mission to raise awareness through “Cancer Blows” concerts and establishing the Ryan Anthony Foundation, and telling his story to anyone who will listen. All of this while maintaining an active schedule of performances, clinics, travel, regular treatments, and as a husband and father of two young children. At Anthony’s request, this concerto would be about his story: a concerto that would evoke the events that have shaped forever his view on life, the world, and relationships.
“[…] emotionally powerful, beauty and heartache but ending with hope; fun and full of rejoicing,” Anthony says of the concerto. “My recent life: hearing the news and crying out ‘why’ and realizing ‘what’s going on?’ Then accepting it and dealing with the reality and possible future. Then surviving and enjoying life.”
The composer, James Stephenson, therefore essentially set Anthony’s descriptive paragraph to music. The first movement is full of beauty and fun, with a slight undertone of foreboding. This leads directly (without stoppage) into the second movement, where disbelief, pain and sadness are most prevalent. At one point, the soloist almost literally screams ‘why me?’ to the audience, as the orchestra reaches its most climactic point. This is followed by off-stage musicians who carry on seemingly with a joyous life, leaving the soloist temporarily feeling almost indescribably alone. The instrumentation for the off-stage players, and for other key moments in the work, involves violin, cello and French horn (and brass), all of which have played a significant role in Anthony’s family and musical life.
Again, the second movement passes almost seamlessly onto the third; as we move from sadness and despair to hope and a rebirth of the joy of life. The music struggles constantly between uplifted spirited music and music with a certain darkness. This is musically represented by a battle between G and Eb Major. G Major finally triumphs in the end, and the piccolo trumpet of the soloist awards the listener with the undeniable belief that life is to be lived to the fullest, and that nothing can stop the human spirit.
Anthony’s heroic fight has been ongoing as he is in the middle of tandem stem cell transplants in October as life-saving treatment of his multiple myeloma. In the first transplant, Anthony received his own stem cells and in the second, he will receive stem cells from a matched donor located through the Be The Match Registry®.
Single tickets for Concerto for Hope range $27–$67 with student discounts available. Tickets for all Bozeman Symphony performances may be purchased in advance at www.bozemansymphony.org or at the door, based on availability. Those interested may also visit the Symphony offices, located at 1001 W Oak St., Ste. 110, or call (406) 585-9774 for further details.