Celebrate the WVU Community Music Program 60th birthday with the Morgantown Community Orchestra March 27 at 3 p.m., in the Antoinette Falbo Theatre of the Canady Creative Arts Center.
The concert will also be livestreamed on the Morgantown Community Orchestra’ Facebook page.
As a tribute to former directors of the Community Music Program, all of which have been women since 1962, the MCO will perform works written by female composers or centering around female figures to honor women in leadership.
Directors include the late Margaret Lorince and Christine Kefferstan, Catherine Godes, Jeanne Frieben, Dr. Keith Jackson, Jodie Lewis and Karen Taddie. Their leadership abilities and innovative ideas have been pivotal to the CMP’s growth, evolution and success throughout the years, making it a bridge that connects our community to learning music and the value it has in their daily lives.
“Much of the repertoire centers on strong female figures, in an effort to recognize the powerful lineage of female leaders of the WVU Community Music Program over the years,” Schwartz said. “From the terrifying Valkyries and allure of Carmen to the charming Callirhoë Suite written by under-celebrated female composer Cécile Chaminade, this concert seeks to celebrate women in music.”
The Morgantown Community Orchestra will perform Callirhoë Suite d’Orchestre, Op. 37 by Cécile Chaminade and selections from Sleeping Beauty under the baton of Alyssa Schwartz, WVU alumna and director of bands at Fairmont State University. Other performances include Op. 66 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Carmen Suite No. 1 for Orchestra by Georges Bizet, The Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner and Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach. Shaun Hancher, assistant director and graduate assistant, will conduct Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 by Johannes Brahms.
“With the exception of the program’s interim period in 2011, all former directors of the program have been women,” said Eftihia Arkoudis, director of the WVU Community Music Program. “Every woman that has directed this program has brought her aesthetic and creativity on board, transforming the music education curriculum and the program’s services throughout the years. We wanted the orchestra’s repertoire selection to reflect that.”
Designed for intermediate and advanced players in the community and greater region who wish to share and develop their artistic talents, the MCO is one of the largest musical ensembles of WVU’s Community Music Program. The orchestra welcomes instrumentalists of a wide range of musical experience and provides a meaningful opportunity for artistic growth, community engagement and high-quality performance opportunities.
The Orchestra's next performance will take place Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m. in Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Canady Creative Arts Center.
Registration for the summer 2022 will open on May 9. For more information, contact the Arkoudis at evarkoudis@mail.wvu.edu or visit the WVU Community Music Program.