Event

American Masters

Okanogan Valley Orchestra & Chorus present their final concert of the season on Sunday, March 24th, at the Omak Performing Arts Center. Choral director Jonathan McBride has chosen selections from American artists Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Samuel Barber, John Denver, plus a medley from the Broadway musical Jersey Boys. American composers featured by the orchestra include pieces by Aaron Copeland and the thrilling Suite from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.
OVOC has focused on outreach for this season, culminating in the inclusion of over 100 countywide students in this concert. Grant proceeds received from the Woods Family Music and Arts Fund are providing for transportation of students from Oroville, Tonasket, Omak, Okanogan, Bridgeport and Brewster. The grant also covers the price of admission for these students. Each group is working with their schools music educator to learn the choral arrangement for Aaron Copelands Simple Gifts. The tune was written by Joseph Brackett (17971882) in 1848 while a member of the Shakers in Maine. The song was largely unknown outside Shaker communities until Aaron Copland used its melody for the score of Martha Graham's ballet Appalachian Spring (Shakers once worshipped on Holy Mount, in the Appalachians), first performed in 1944. Copland used "Simple Gifts" a second time in 1950 in his first set of Old American Songs for voice and piano, which was later orchestrated. This piece will be performed by the OVOC orchestra as the chorus and dozens of students join in vocal harmony.
The concerts have been held on Saturday afternoons but due to scheduling conflicts, this concert will be performed on a Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available at the door and through Brown Paper Tickets (event 3742073). Adult price is $12, Senior $10, Youth 14 and under are always free. Contact judy@ovocmusic.org with inquiries.