It鈥檚 not quite summer yet, but White Rock City Orchestra will help get everyone in a summer frame of mind with an exhilarating selection of classics at its upcoming concert, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Olive Lutheran Church (2350 148 St.).

From Shostakovich鈥檚 Festive Overture to Smetana鈥檚 Dance of the Comedians, the works selected by the orchestra鈥檚 maestra, Paula DeWit, are all of an upbeat or uplifting nature.

鈥淚t has a 鈥楶roms鈥� feel to it, doesn鈥檛 it?鈥� she said, referencing the venerable eight-week series of popular concerts, now known as the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. The series is presented annually by the BBC at London鈥檚 Royal Albert Hall, and seen as a cornerstone of an ongoing movement to involve the general public in the wonders of the classical repertoire.

鈥淭he Shostakovich overture sparkles 鈥� it has a lot of life from the fanfare in the beginning, to where the clarinet takes off and the flutes come in. It鈥檚 exciting 鈥� a good way to start a program.鈥�

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Adding another dimension will be the voices of one of DeWit鈥檚 other groups, the renaissance and baroque-focused a capella vocal ensemble Belle Voci , who will be featured with the orchestra as well as in three spotlight performances demonstrating their versatility in various genres.

These will be the rousing American spiritual Joshua Fit The Battle of Jericho; the medieval French chant Ubi Caritas (identifying God鈥檚 presence in acts of charity); and Dan Forrest鈥檚 The Sun Never Says, a moving setting of poetry by Daniel Ladinsky inspired by the 14th century Persian lyrical poet Hafiz.

鈥淭his is the first time we鈥檝e played with them,鈥� DeWit said. 鈥淚 always like collaborations.鈥�

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The concert program also includes the Mexican rhythmic flair of Marquez鈥� Danzon No. 2, the romantic lyricism of Faure鈥檚 Pavane and the soulfulness of the same composer鈥檚 setting of the Cantique de Jean Racine, as well as the inspiring majesty of Hubert Parry鈥檚 hymn Jerusalem 鈥� a closing-night staple of London鈥檚 Proms Concerts.

Rounding it out will be the meditative and calming In A Monastery Garden, by British composer Albert Ketelby as well as Jean Sibelius鈥� spirited and heartfelt tribute to the wonders of his homeland, Finlandia.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a powerful ending to the concert,鈥� DeWit said. 鈥淎gain it starts with fanfares 鈥� it feels like a piece designed to unite people together,鈥� she added.

鈥淚 wanted to involve the chorus as well as giving the orchestra something exciting to play,鈥� DeWit said of the ambitious program, which she acknowledges would have not been possible to bring together under the pandemic limitations of the last two and a half years.

And the members of the now 25-strong orchestra are meeting the challenge 鈥� and the inspiration 鈥� of the new repertoire well, DeWit said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e rising to the occasion,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he level keeps getting better and better.鈥�

She credits concert master Monika Niedzielko, who will often call extra rehearsals to sharpen up section work, for an 鈥榓mazing鈥� contribution to both the spirit and capabilities of the orchestra.

鈥淲hen you have that, it gives you something, a foundation to build on 鈥� and I鈥檓 looking forward to building it. I think the orchestra is getting to be a real point of pride in the community,鈥� she said.

But while she said she has pretty much a full complement of musicians in the White Rock ensemble, DeWit is on the the lookout for young pianists who want the opportunity to perform as a soloist with a professional orchestra 鈥� part of two concerts she is organizing with concert pianist Clinton Giovanni Denoni, for May 17 and May 24, 2024 with the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra, which she also directs.

Auditions will be held later this month in Vancouver, 91原创 and Chilliwack. Application deadline is June 10. For more information, visit chilliwacksymphony.com/piano-auditions/

To purchase tickets for the White Rock concert, visit www.wrco.ca

alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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