Concerto Focuses on American Repertoire

The Westmont Orchestra will perform an American-themed program at the Orchestra Concerto Concert on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. in Hahn Hall, at the Music Academy of the West and Sunday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara. Tickets, which cost $10 for general admission (students are free), may be purchased at the door. For more information, please contact the music department at (805) 565-6040 or email music@westmont.edu.

The orchestra will perform works “The Cowboys Overture” by John Williams, “Hoe Down” from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, Felix Mendelssohn String Symphony No. 10, and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” arranged by Dan Goeller.

Featured student soloists include Tim Beccue (cello) performing Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, as well as Sierra Farrar (violin) and Erik Fauss (viola) performing Max Bruch’s Double Concerto for Violin and Viola.

“We are thrilled to be able to present this concert after all the challenges of starting the semester this spring,” says Michael Shasberger, professor of music and director of the Westmont Orchestra. “The students have rallied and practiced to present on a shorter rehearsal span. We are playing the Cowboys and Hoe-Down as we build our American repertoire for this summers’ tour to Ireland and the U.K. This spring we will present the Irish and English components of that tour concert with music by Stanford, O’Boyle and Vaughan Williams.”