The WSU Symphony Orchestra, which started out as the University/Community Orchestra, brings musicians from the community and students together. Some members are beginners while others have been playing for many years.
The WSU Symphony Orchestra is made up of a full orchestra. According to In-Hong Cha, Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Orchestras, the Symphony Orchestra plays Romantic and big pieces. The orchestra has been around for more than 30 years and some musicians have been members since then.
The Symphony Orchestra currently has about 60 members. Half of the members are from the community and the other half are students.
On May 22 they will perform their final show for the year.
“I’m designing this as a festive concert for the recent opening of Schuster Hall,” said Cha.
The show will have a variety of festive songs. The concert will start off with Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” which is a brass and percussion piece. Then they will play “Voice of Spring Waltz” by Johann Strauss followed by Emmanuel Sejourne’s “Concerto for Vibraphone and Strings” with faculty percussionist Jerry Noble.
The orchestra will then play a classical Jewish piece by Max Bruch called “Kol Nidrie” with concert cellist from Cincinnati Sae Rom Kwon.The concert will end with “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” which is a piece by Benjamin Britten. This piece is unique because it includes narration on each section of the orchestra. The narrator will be Zach Cramer, WDPR public announcer.
Cha has been the director of the orchestra for the past 12 years.
“This orchestra has been growing a lot,” said Cha. “We have a good reputation, we have fans who attend every concert. I really appreciate the orchestra members.”
This will be the orchestra’s first concert in Schuster Hall. Everyone is invited to come and here what the orchestra has been working on all quarter. This event is free. It will take place in Schuster Hall at 8 p.m. on May 22.
To join the orchestra students are required to register for the class, which will be on Monday evenings, and audition. The audition includes sight reading and a brief performance. Community members must also audition.
“Some may be professionals, some are not, but we play together,” said Cha.
For more information go to http://www.wright.edu/music/ensembles/symph-orch.html.
