APPLETON, WIS. — The Lawrence Academy of Music is busy getting ready for its annual winter concerts, scheduled for December 3 in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. The Academy String Orchestra and String Groups present a concert at 3:00 p.m. While the Academy Honors Band and Wind Ensemble perform at 7:00 p.m.
The Academy String Orchestra and String Groups concert includes a variety of works that will appeal to young and old alike. Opening the concert is the Academy String Groups, which includes string students from a variety of Academy programs. Most notably are the String Repertoire Class students who range in age from three to 13 years old. These students will perform several selections during the concert. The String Groups will conclude their portion of the concert with works by Seitz, Bach, and Vivaldi. The String Orchestra, which includes violin, viola, cello, and string bass, performs Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace), three American fiddle tunes, Cripple Creek, Haste to the Wedding, and Bile Them Cabbage Down, along with The Barber of Seville (Overture), Night Shift, and more.
The Academy String Orchestra is an auditioned ensemble for talented and very motivated string players in grades four through eight. There are currently 63 members in the orchestra, which is conducted by Linda Calhan. Students performing in the String Groups are from the studios of Arden Lambert, Barbara Beechey, Caroline Brandenberger, and Yuliya Smead. Most of these students are currently continuing their ensemble playing in the Academy String Orchestra, the local Fox Valley Symphony Youth Symphonies, or other smaller chamber ensembles.
The Honors Band and Wind Ensemble perform several pieces during their evening performance. Works on the program for the Honors Band include Ballade by Darren Jenkins, Cavata by Francis McBeth, Mountain View Portrait by Jared Spears, and The Black Knight by Clare Grundman. The Wind Ensemble performs Folk Dances by Dmitri Shostakovich and arranged by James Curnow, Whatsoever Things… by Mark Camphouse, and Irish Tunes From County Derry and Shepherd’s Hey by Percy Aldridge Grainger. The concert will close with an Honors Band and Wind Ensemble combined performance of Fidelity March by K.L. King.
The Honors Band provides experience with advanced music for middle school band students. Jon Meyer conducts the 49-member band. The Wind Ensemble provides advanced high school band students with the opportunity to become acquainted with music specifically composed and arranged for wind ensembles. Conductor Michael Ross currently has 63 members in the ensemble.
Tickets for each concert are $6 and are available at the Lawrence University Box Office, located in the Music-Drama Center or by phone at 920-832-6749. Tickets, if available, will also be sold at the box office beginning one hour before each show.
