Elizabethtown College’s Fine and Performing Arts Department presents the College-Community Orchestra in concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. The fall concert features the 78-member ensemble, directed by Dr. Robert Spence.
The orchestra will perform works by W.A. Mozart, Philip Glass, Johann Halvorsen, Steven Sondheim, Jacques Press and Itaal Shur. “One of the points in our ensemble’s Mission Statement is to give the orchestra members the exposure to orchestra literature and composers of quality and diversity as well as provide our audiences with a concert experience that serves to both educate and entertain; with our music helping to support, encourage and uplift the human spirit,” said Spence, who has been the Orchestra director since 2007.
…our music helping to support, encourage and uplift the human spirit,”
One highlight of the concert is the final piece, “Smooth,” made popular by artists Rob Thomas and Carlos Santa. “We have an outstanding guitarist by the name of Frank Zarefoss in school now,” said Spence. “He can play guitar in the Santana style. As soon as I heard this arrangement of “Smooth” I knew that we should do it and feature him.” Two violinists, Cole Goodman and Gabriel Edwards, also will be featured in this piece.
The College-Community Orchestra is composed of students who are both music and non-music majors. Also included are a number of non-student musicians from the community of Elizabethtown and surrounding counties. All members must audition to join.
There will be pre-program music provided by student chamber ensemble members. The community is invited to attend this free event.