Dexter Community Orchestra at 20 – a Celebration of the Orchestra

Individual members of the Dexter Community Orchestra will hold the spotlight at the DCO’s festive twentieth anniversary concert Sunday, March 8, 4 pm at Dexter High School’s Center for the Performing Arts.

                  To celebrate 20 years of music-making in Dexter, music director David Schultz wanted to showcase the talents of some of the orchestra’s best players. Three soloists will perform movements from concertos by Weber, Saint-Saens and Dragonetti. And each section of the orchestra will have their chance to shine in Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”. This piece introduces the instruments, one at a time, and ends with a stirring demonstration of how the individual components of the orchestra come together to create the overall symphonic sound. Guest artist Stephen West will serve as narrator and guide for this musical tour.

                  Soloists will include principal clarinetist Ralph Katz, pianist Paul Shen (who also plays violin in the orchestra), and principal bassist Kirstin Brown. Mr. West, a bass-baritone, will also sing an aria by Mozart. A brass ensemble will open the program with Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man”. And the full orchestra will present Brahms’ rousing “Academic Festival Overture”.

                  This is a once-in-20-years opportunity to hear the full range of the DCO’s virtuosity, so don’t miss it! All DCO concerts are free and open to the public. No ticket is required; seating is first-come-first-serve, so plan to arrive early for this memorable event. Donations to support the orchestra are gratefully accepted.