The West Virginia University Community Music Program will host Morgantown Community Orchestra’s “Women in Leadership” concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Antoinette Falbo Theatre of the WVU Loulie, Valerie and William Canady Creative Arts Center.
The MCO’s performance is celebrating the program’s 60th anniversary and the event is honoring the service and efforts of all its directors since its establishment in 1962, including the late Margaret Lorince and Christine Kefferstan, Catherine Godes, Jeanne Frieben, Keith Jackson, Jodie Lewis and Karen Taddie.
With this concert, the performers and CMP faculty and staff are recognizing the service and devotion of these artists. 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 the community to learning music and the value it has in their daily lives.
Under the baton of Alyssa Schwartz, WVU alumna and director of bands at Fairmont State University, the Morgantown Community Orchestra will perform Callirhoë Suite d’Orchestre, Op. 37 by Cécile Chaminade, selections from Sleeping Beauty, 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. Assistant Director and WVU graduate assistant Shaun Hancher will conduct Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 by Johannes Brahms.
“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,” said Schwartz. “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.”
Arkoudis, director of the WVU Community Music Program, said, “With the exception of the program’s interim period in 2011, all former directors of the program have been women. 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.”
The concert will be livestreamed on the Morgantown Community Orchestra’ Facebook page at: facebook.com/MorgantownCommunityOrchestra.
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 West Virginia University’s Community Music Program.
The orchestra’s next performance will take place on at 2 p.m. April 24 in Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.
Registration for the Summer 2022 will open on May 9. For more information contact the Community Music Program’s Director Eftihia Arkoudis at evarkoudis@mail.wvu.edu or visit www.music.wvu.edu/cmp.
