The Somerset Valley Orchestra’s annual spring concert will pay tribute to a wide range of popular and classical songs that honor different aspects of nature.
The concert, scheduled for 3 p.m. April 27 in the Bridgewater Raritan Middle School Auditorium, is being billed as a “Celebration of Nature: Notes to Mother Earth” and includes a selection ranging from Georg Handel’s timeless “Water Music” to the famed themes from Star Wars.
Other selections include Bedrich Smetana’s “The Moldau,” about a Bohemian river, Johannes Hannsen’s “Valdres March” about a rural Norwegian district and Alexander Borodin’s “In the Steppes of Central Asia.”
This community orchestra brings together a wide diversity of players, who meet on Thursday evenings to enjoy making music together. With a huge range of interests, experiences and abilities, musicians from high school through retirement rehearse together.
Ann Cucchiara from Hillsborough plays many instruments, including the flute, guitar and piano, but she attends this orchestra to fine-tune her viola skills. Music has been part of her life-long family experience, and she enjoys “learning new pieces, particularly classical masterpieces!”
Mildred Murphy, also of Hillsborough, remembers playing Taps on the trumpet for many different occasions as a Cadet Army Nurse. She eventually taught herself to read music, and joined the orchestra to expand her world.
Wendy Kroon, an orchestra member from Flemington, said that she enjoys “the sound we make together when we’re playing well. It’s much greater than the sound I make alone, and I feel like I contributed to it.”
The orchestra is conducted by Emily Bengels of Lebanon Township. She joined the orchestra as a violist when she moved to New Jersey 13 years ago, and is enjoying her second year of conducting this community orchestra.
Don Kalbach, the former director and current orchestra manager, will also be conducting a number, and assisting in presenting information about some of the songs.
The Somerset Valley Orchestra began in the fall of 1974 as a class in the Jointure for Community Adult Education. Some orchestra members have been in the group for over 25 years. Bobbi Agins, a violinist from Somerville, says that it is more than just the music that keeps her coming back. “It’s the friends, and the continuing commitment many of us have to each other,” she said. “And making music, of course, but that’s why I became a member.”
Funding for “Celebration of Nature” is provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State through a grant administered by the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
Admission is free, and donations are welcome.
For more information, call Don Kalbach at 732-356-2966 or visit the orchestra’s Web site www.svorchestra.com.
