Bountiful blessings
“Homegrown” is the theme of the Washington Symphony Orchestra’s musical roots concert Feb. 12 that will feature dozens of local performers.
When looking for a way to mark the WSO’s 15th anniversary season, its artistic committee decided to “stay home.” With so much talent in its own backyard, it was easy to fill an entire concert with performers and music with local ties.
Actually, the challenge was fitting it all in.
Breaking from tradition this year, the WSO’s concert also will be held on a Sunday at 3 p.m., instead of the usual Saturday evening offering.
One of the ways the WSO will mark its anniversary is by having Dave Owens, the WSO’s first conductor, lead the orchestra in “Appalachian Folk Song Suite.”
Local acts to be featured include Dan Baker and the Washington Jazz Society, Washington Community Theatre and the Mon Valley Push Polka Band.
Kyle Simpson, who has played with the WSO several times throughout the years, wrote a special arrangement of Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” and will play the trumpet solo for it. Simpson also composed another “Homegrown” piece, “Journey into Wissamaking,” which originally was debuted by the WSO in 2010.
Another encore performance will be that of “Journey Beyond Earth.” The short film, a collaboration by two local artists, filmmaker Ron Hankison and composer Dominic Carrola, shows images from outer space set to a score played by the WSO.
The Faith-Filled Singers are a large choir that is being gathered together for the first time to perform for “Homegrown.” Members come from 10 different Washington County churches, including Jefferson Avenue United Methodist, New Hope, Nazareth Baptist, Church of the Covenant, First Presbyterian, First Christian, St. Patrick, Immaculate Conception, First United Methodist and Center Presbyterian.
Washington Financial, a longtime supporter of the WSO, has stepped up to be the presenting sponsor of “Homegrown.” Washington Financial was the first corporate sponsor of the WSO in 2004 and has made contributions, both financially and in-kind, every year since then.
“The consistent support that the WSO has received from Washington Financial is a significant reason that we are still here and happily celebrating our 15th anniversary,” WSO board president Monica Merrel said. “From the beginning, they had faith in us and saw value in what the orchestra brings to the community. We are deeply grateful for their foresight and partnership.”
Keeping with the “Homegrown” theme, the concert also will feature 11musicians from three Washington County high schools, playing wind, brass, string and percussion instruments side-by-side with orchestra members.
Also representing local schools will be the Trinity High School chamber choir and Peters Township’s Rowdy Rhythm. The latter is an a cappella group known for its creative renditions of popular music.
Pre-concert programming at 2:15 p.m. will feature Max Gonano and Judith Sutton presenting a short video and talk about Pittsburgh legend Henry Mancini’s life and music. The presentation is part of the “Steel City Grooves” series, a project of the jazz committee of the Senator John Heinz History Center’s Volunteer Ambassador Program, in association with the California University of Pennsylvania Music Department.
Tickets for the concert start at $17 and can be purchased online at washsym.org, by calling 888-71-TICKETS, or at the following locations: Citizens Library and Peters Township Public Library, and the WSO office, 11 S. College St., Washington, by appointment only.
For more information about the symphony, visit www.washsym.org or connect with the WSO on Facebook (facebook.com/washsymphony) and Twitter (twitter.com/washsymphony).