On Sunday, March 24 at 3 pm, the Windham Orchestra, under the direction of Hugh Keelan, continues its commitment to offering extraordinary opportunities for young artists and music lovers with “Pathways to Imagination & Performance” at the Latchis Theater in Brattleboro, VT.
Anchoring Sunday’s performance is Dmitri Shostakovich’s 1945 Symphony No. 9. Although originally intended to be a celebration of the Russian victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
From masterwork to the local works of our community’s young composers, the Windham Orchestra performs a medley of original compositions by elementary and middle school students. This unique opportunity creates a pathway for bringing the artistry and imagination of young composers into reality.
Music teachers Andy Davis, Jim Kurty, Alli Lubin and Dan Seiden have been working with students from Dover, Green Street, Oak Grove, Putney Central and The Grammar School. Participating students include: Kindyl Alfonso, Colette Anton, Owen Bailey, Sophie Basescu, Andrew Brooks, Elijah Burdo, Wesley Capitani, Wesley, Seviah Cepeda, Clara Chambers, Gracie Childs, Pierce Clarke, Kylie Cleanthes, Julia Fillion, Andrew Foster, Miranda Fuller, Cassidy Gallivan, Henry Glajzer, Amelia Harrison, Aicher Hearon, Sam Kendrick, Sienna Lewis, Jamie Lumley, Jillian Mahon , Reed McKay, JonMichael, Kaitlyn North, Abraham Moore Odell, Michael Olson, Emma Paige, Grace Powers, Gus Powers, David Sherman, Alex Shriver, Nate Snell, Challie Vicary, and Garrett Weil.
Among the student compositions to be performed is “An Amalgamation in Four Flats,” by Putney Central School eighth graders Andrew Foster, Henry Glejzer and Nathan Snell. By matching key and tempo, the trio has combined their unique individual talents to create a joyous piece that sounds like the work of one composer.
“All composers create worlds of imagination and wonder that live in defiance of the day-to-day, and that is why everyone has an opportunity for inspiration as we play or listen to these young composers’ works,” says Keelan. “ We can open our minds with unbounded delight to the works or fragments that the young composers are offering.”
The concert continues highlighting an outstanding young instrumentalist, 16-year-old violinist Anna Perkins. In February Anna was chosen the winner of the Windham Orchestra’s 2013 Concerto Competition for High School Students from an unusually strong field of contestants. Since it inception, 27 years ago, the annual concerto competition has been funded by Douglas Cox, violin maker.
Anna will perform the first movement “Allegro non troppo” of the Symphonie Espangole by Edouard Lalo, accompanied by the Orchestra.
Sunday’s performance concludes with Jean Sibelius’ “Finlandia,” opus 26, the musical accompaniment to a rousing patriotic Finnish poem, “The Melting of the Ice on the Ulea River” by Zachria Topelius.
As Keelan explains, “All elements of this concert explore and amplify what it means to be human, to strive and perform, and we promise our audiences of any age an enjoyable and inspiring experience.”
A special abbreviated children’s performance of this concert will be performed on Thursday, March 21, for Windham County school students.
“Pathways to Imagination & Performance” will be performed on Sunday, March 24, 3 pm, at the Latchis Theater, 50 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT. For tickets ($15, $10 students, seniors, AARP members) call the Brattleboro Music Center at 802-257-4523 or purchase on-line at www.brattleborotix.com.
For more information about this concert visit www.bmcvt.org or the Orchetsra visit www.windhamorchestra.org.
