Full ORCMA season returns; excitement, variety
The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association — home of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Chamber Music Series — will present its 2022–2023 season in partnership with First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge.
“It is an extraordinary season that features our four imaginative music director finalists, four outstanding special guest artists, an amazing line-up of chamber music concerts, and three chorus concerts of varied musical styles and genres led by Choral Director Brenda Luggie,” Executive Director Lisa Muci Eckhoff said in a news release announcing the full season. “Each music director finalist — Régulo Stabilito, Kevin Class, Wilbur Lin, and Ian Passmore — will be in Oak Ridge for the week leading up to his concert, speaking at philanthropic clubs, meeting with school students and the public, and more. ORCMA Board Member Joan-Ellen Zucker will help us get to know these finalists even better in articles she is writing from interviews with them.”
Special guests who will be in Oak Ridge are the soloists performing on the finalists’ concerts.
On Aug. 28, clarinetist Nickolas Hamblin will perform Aaron Copland’s iconic Clarinet Concerto written for jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman. On Sept. 18, Knoxville favorite William Shaub, violinist, will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. On Oct. 30, dramatic soprano NaGuanda Nobles will sing music from Beethoven’s opera, Fidelio, in addition to “I am Moses” by Nkeiru Okoye. Finally, on Nov. 20, pianist Clare Longendyke is featured in Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Peanuts Gallery Piano Concerto, inspired by some of our favorite Charles M. Schulz characters, Schroeder, Linus, Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucie, Peppermint Patty, and Marcie.
The Chamber Music Series will feature the Atlanta-based Summit Piano Trio on Jan. 14, 2023; a jazzy evening with Concertmaster Karen Kartal & Friends, including Knoxville-based composer and saxophonist Marcel Holman on Feb. 4, 2023; the Seraph Brass Quintet on March 25, 2023; and the Grammy-award-winning guitarist Paul Galbraith on May 5, 2023.
“Once again, we are fortunate to welcome world-class musicians to perform concerts in Oak Ridge,” Chairperson Bill Schwenterly stated.
Following performances in each of the music director finalist concerts, the Oak Ridge Chorus will collaborate with the Roane Choral Society for “A Holiday Celebration” on Dec. 3 performing music by John Rutter, Cecilia McDowall, and more.
“Celebrating New Directions,” on March 4, 2023, shows off the choruses and guest choruses in a performance of Andre Thomas’ Mass: A celebration of love and joy. The Oak Ridge chorus closes ORCMA’s season on May 20 with a grand community event, “The Big Screen on the Big Stage!”
Choral Director Brenda Luggie described the chorus season as “one you won’t want to miss!”
Rock to Bach
ORCMA’s Fundraising Committee is excited to announce the return of the all-day Rock to Bach Music Festival, Auction & Fundraising Dinner on Feb. 18, 2023. Lois McKeever, the event organizer, wrote, “Attendees will enjoy the event’s original format with a new twist or two. Mark your calendars!”
Season subscriptions and individual tickets will go on sale during the week of Aug. 8. Subscription prices remain frozen. Subscription concerts are free for youths 18 and younger, and every youth who attends all four music director concerts this fall may have a free metronome to further their interests in music. Call (865) 483-5569 or visit https://orcma.org for additional information.
ORCMA's 2022–2023 concert season, New Directions: Year of the Conductor, also includes the Free Family Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo on April 16, 2023 at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. Free Coffee Concerts will be announced. Call (865) 483-5569 or the ORCMA website for information and updates.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Full ORCMA season returns; excitement, variety
