SPOKANE, WA — September 19, 2006 — Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that it is sponsoring an exchange of musicians from the National Music Conservatory (NMC) of Jordan as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) in Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. A concert will be held at 8 pm, Saturday, Oct. 7 in Fayetteville.
Itron, with its corporation headquarters in Spokane, WA, has numerous facilities throughout the world, including a new Middle East sales office in Qatar.
In honor of the 50th season, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan will attend the opening night gala performance. Maestro Fouad Fakhouri, current conductor and musical director of the FSO, extended the invitation to Queen Noor. Fakhouri’s father, Kifah Fakhouri, is director of the NMC in Amman, Jordan, which is sponsored by the Noor Al Hussein Foundation. Queen Noor will also bring a group of young musicians from the NMC to play with the FSO and to participate in a week of musical workshops in schools in the Fayetteville area. Itron is sponsoring the travel expenses of the young Jordanian musicians who will bring a host of Western and Arabic instruments.
“We’re happy to be working with the Fayetteville Symphony and the National Music Conservatory of Jordan to celebrate the symphony’s impressive accomplishment,” said Doug Staker, vice president and general manager, international at Itron. “With our growing business in the Middle East, including our new office in Qatar, this is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness both in the U.S. and in the Middle East for our dedication to the cultures and communities where we do business.”
About Itron
Itron is a leading technology and services provider, delivering critical knowledge to the global energy and water industries. Nearly 3,000 utilities worldwide rely on Itron’s award-winning technology and professional services to provide the knowledge they require to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Itron creates value for its clients by providing industry-leading solutions and services for electricity metering; meter data collection; energy information management; demand response; load forecasting, analysis and consulting services; distribution system design and optimization; web-based workforce automation; and enterprise and residential energy management. To know more, start here: www.itron.com
About National Music Conservatory of Jordan
In 1986, the National Music Conservatory (NMC) was established to encourage the development of accomplished musicians and to promote music appreciation in Jordan. The NMC offers Pre-College and College Programs in Western and Arab music, enabling students, as young as three years old, to pursue their music education and to participate in international competitions, seminars, workshops, and master classes. The Pre-College program offers beginner to advanced instruction in all instruments and voice. The College program offers a Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance (instrumental or vocal), Composition and Conducting and Arab Music, in collaboration with Jordan’s Yarmouk University.
About Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1956 the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra's primary goal is to bring quality concert music to residents of the city of Fayetteville and surrounding communities. Through its various educational programs, the orchestra has sponsored workshop demonstrations and instrumental classes in local schools. The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra continuously seeks creative ways to make its music more accessible to all the citizens of our community and in particular, underserved populations. We are proud to present the world's greatest music to the people of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and southeastern North Carolina.
For additional information, contact:
Christina Kelly
Marketing/Communications Specialist
(509) 891-3268
christina.kelly@itron.com
