Acclaim

It really captured their attention, engaged their imaginations, and drew them into the music in new ways. People say nothing about Beethoven 5 on the same program! Rose easily and completely upstaged one of the most famous classical symphonies of all time! All the ingredients, careful thought and planning, outreach, and of course the music and performances themselves, helped make it a very special event, so no wonder folks are still talking about it!

Alastair Willis
Music Director, South Bend Symphony

It was a great pleasure to bring Rose to my orchestras in Arizona and Colorado. The piece is immediately approachable, enjoyable, and feels familiar in all the right ways. It’s the perfect blend of ‘classics’ and ‘pops’ and quite successful.

Charles Latshaw
Music Director, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra
Music Director, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra

Though we were expecting something wonderful from The Rose of Sonora, we did not anticipate the magnitude of sheer delight and impact the concerto would have on our audience. George S. Clinton’s powerful storytelling guided us through Rose’s escapades; a palpable, evocative musical journey in five scenes. Holly Mulcahy delighted as she embodied the spirit of powerful women and the West in her outstanding performance. What a treat to showcase the incredible talents of Mulcahy with the powerful storytelling of Clinton’s music!

Carrie Athay
Executive Director, Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra

The highlight of the GJSO’’s season was violinist Holly Mulcahy, performing George Clinton’s “Rose of Sonora”. An artistic triumph of beautiful music not to be missed! The word got out it was a concert not to be missed!

After opening night, the audience soared for the second performance of George Clinton’s Rose of Sonora featuring violinist Holly Mulcahy.

Holly Mulcahy’s performance of Rose of Sonora was amazing! Stunning music with an outstanding artistic soloist.

Kelly Anderson
Executive Director, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra

The Rose of Sonora is a wonderful new addition to the violin concerto repertoire, and I really enjoyed conducting this work! George Clinton perfectly captures the essence of the Old West. His lyrical writing is beautiful – the second movement’s theme, particularly, is timeless and gorgeous – and the dramatic storytelling is compelling and exciting. Holly Mulcahy was a captivating soloist whose intimate connection with this piece created wonderful dialogue with the orchestra, as well as riveting soliloquy moments. Our audience loved it – an immediate standing ovation!

James Fellenbaum
Artistic Director and Conductor, Brevard Philharmonic

Holly Mulcahy’s performances of The Rose of Sonora with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra swept audiences off their feet. Ticket lines for the second day’s ‘Classical Goes West’ concert stretched around the theater after a phenomenal first night. Clinton’s vivid writing and Mulcahy’s artistic and passionate performances captivated the audience’s imagination and engaged dialogue beyond the stage. Weeks later, audience members were writing to share how the concert moved them. The Rose of Sonora is much more than a violin concerto, it is an unforgettable shared experience. This project was born from a beautiful collaboration, celebrates a unique and powerful woman, and continues to touch audiences everywhere. I was honored to conduct performances with not only Mulcahy’s parents and former teachers in attendance, but also devotees who traveled across the country to seek out this thrilling and one of a kind work.

Renee Noel Gilliland
Conductor

The Rose of Sonora was part of the season finale for the Brevard Philharmonic. The story created by George S. Clinton and delivered by Holly Mulcahy is one that pierces the heart and thrills the senses. It was beautiful, dramatic, and it left our audience wanting for more. The buzz after Holly’s performance was palpable and intoxicating!

Dusty Campbell
Executive Director, Brevard Philharmonic

Clinton, who’s an award-winning and very accomplished film composer, wrote his piece at the suggestion of, and in collaboration with, violinist Holly Mulcahy…and the result is not only stunningly complex for its soloist, but extremely approachable (to say nothing of downright fun) for its listeners….and as for Mulcahy’s performance? Wow and wow. The piece calls upon her to wring out seemingly every ounce of what is possible to do with a violin, whether in classical style or more fiddle-like work, and the cadenza she’s created for the fifth movement is mesmerizing. She absolutely nails this piece, with a mastery of her instrument that’s, in a word, breathtaking. ~ Full Review

Arlene Bachanov
Adrian Daily Telegram Special Writer

George S. Clinton’s new violin concerto, The Rose of Sonora, is a magical movie of the mind. He takes us on a thoroughly entertaining and often moving journey, all the while expertly using the soloist and orchestra to their fullest. It’s also a lot of fun. Holly Muchaly is in full command and gives a beautiful performance.

Peter Golub
Composer, Director of Sundance Film Music Program at Sundance Institute

The Rose of Sonora…a concerto in five scenes, features renowned violinist Holly Mulcahy and…it’s just an incredible emotional adventure and masterwork. When I close my eyes and listen I see colors…lots of yellow, crimson, and azure.

Doreen Ringer-Ross
Vice President Creative – Film, TV & Visual Media at Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI)

Mr. Clinton’s new concerto in several scenes is, as one would expect, a masterpiece of storytelling. Without images, he conjures up through the violin solo and a full and colorful orchestra, the characters and scenes of a woman’s Wild West! George’s fertile imagination leads us into a delightful and dangerous world.

David Lockington
Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony

For anyone who loves stories, soundtracks or symphonies, “The Rose of Sonora” gloriously wraps all three into an evocative, thrilling, melodic and moving soundscape. It has the thrill of a classic Western, the sweep of a majestic movie soundtrack and, at its center, a soulful soloist and inspired symphonist. To call Holly Mulcahy an esteemed violinist and George S. Clinton an accomplished composer would be accurate, but also woefully inadequate. As much as anything else, they are storytellers, and in “The Rose of Sonora,” they bring to life a tale both epic and intimate. It’s wonderful listening, to be sure, but even more thrilling watching. Holly doesn’t perform this evocative score; she fully embodies it. Supported by some smart and thoughtful projections deigned to invite the audience into a tale that both honors the tropes of the outlaw while also skillfully subverting them, Holly manages to both interpret the score and wordlessly arcuate the narrative. Her dedication to living composers has always been impressive, and her performances are reliably nothing short of stellar; add to that the visceral thrill of seeing her perform a work composed specifically for her, and you have “The Rose of Sonora,” a score to relish and a performance to celebrate.

Scott Silberstein
Co-founder/Executive Producer, HMS Media Inc.

George Clinton has taken a remarkable narrative of an Old West outlaw and illustrated it beautifully with a violin concerto in five memorable “scenes”. Performed exquisitely by soloist Holly Mulcahy the work sonically draws you into Rose’s world with alternating vigor and unforgettable lyricism. The variety of Clinton’s orchestral colors, including the device of a male chorus, is, using a totally inadequate word,… lush.

Christopher Blair
Principal, a•’ku•stiks
President-Elect, The Conductors Guild

I am absolutely humbled and honored to have conducted the world premiere of George S. Clinton’s The Rose of Sonora written for Holly Mulcahy. This is a groundbreaking work for violin, orchestra, and chorus, which engages the audience in a new refreshing way. This work has everything you can ask for: beautiful and memorable melodies, carefully crafted orchestrations, thrilling rhythmic drive, intense drama, and unexpected twists and turns. I am excited for the future audience of The Rose of Sonora to experience this emotional journey through captivating music and mesmerizing performance by Holly.

Kayoko Dan
Former Music Director, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera

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