SEQUIM — The ninth annual spring concert — the final performance of the Sequim Community Orchestra’s 2018 season — will see its long-time “string coach” perform as a soloist.
Mary Moon, who sat as principal violin with the Port Angeles Symphony for many years, will be in the spotlight as the Sequim group performs at 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim.
The concert will be free. Donations will be accepted.
“Romance” by Beethoven is the piece Moon selected, orchestra board president Beth Pratt said, and the orchestra is playing the original score in accompaniment; traditionally, the orchestra performs abridged or music arranged for youth orchestras.
“With each concert our music director, Phil Morgan-Ellis, tries to find something different for us to do,” Pratt said. “We have performed some operatic pieces with local singers, played original work by local musician Kate Powers, even included a harp from time to time. But, this concert may be the most special.”
Moon said: “I have played violin for 54 years [and] in all of those years, I have played a solo that was built into an orchestral piece when I was the concert master for the Port Angeles Symphony. I have played a solo as a duet with another violinist accompanied by an orchestra and as part of a sextet accompanied by an orchestra.
“However, in all of these years I have never played as a soloist by myself with an orchestra. I have always wanted to do this. During this concert, I get to.”
Several young musicians will join the ensemble for this concert. Young artist winner Lauren Waldron will solo on viola during a performance of Hindemith’s “Trauermusik” and the youth orchestra of the Sequim Community Orchestra String Kids program will perform “1812 Overture” together with the ensemble.
“We are mostly excited to see what our strings coordinator, Emma Mitchell, has worked out to approximate the sound of cannon fire,” Pratt said.
Donations received at concerts provide about a quarter of the income that pays for the Strings Kids program.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to keep string music education free to the families of our students,” Pratt said.
After the performance, SCO String Kids students and their families will hold a bake sale and provide refreshments for concert goers.
“We love how involved our students and their families have been in the program, now at the end of our fifth year,” Pratt said. “They support our program and we help their young musicians grow.”
This concert also marks the end of Pratt’s tenure as president of the nonprofit’s board; Pratt will remain on the board as past president for one year.
“Serving this organization for the past three years as president has been an honor, but it is time to hand off the baton,” she said.
“The program is healthy, streamlined, and has great support. It will be my pleasure to introduce our new executive board at the concert.”
For more information, call Pratt at 360-460-7368, email president@sequim communityorchestra.org or see www.sequimcommunity orchestra.org.
