School orchestras to present Orchestras in Review Thursday in Concert Hall

A congratulations to the Ponca City High School Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Paula Cochran, who traveled to Edmond last week to compete in the annual OSSAA Spring State Contest.

The 85–member group performed Procession of the Sardar by Ippolitov-Ivanov and Rhosymedre by Vaughan Williams. The ensemble was awarded superior ratings in both the performance and sight-reading portions of the contest, earning the Sweepstakes award for the group.

This is the 7^th consecutive year of receiving superior ratings in both portions of the contest. The students dedicated their performance of Rhosymedre to the late Marty Ladd for his longtime support of the orchestra program.

This award-winning group will begin the annual Orchestras in Review concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, by filling the new Concert Hall with grandeur through Andante Festivo by Sibelius.

The 6^th grade orchestra, under the direction of Katie Rolf and Jaryd Hinch, will perform next, followed by the 8^th grade orchestra, also under the direction of Katie Rolf. The 5^th grade orchestras will then take to the stage, accompanied by guest accompanist and administrator Tim Williams.

The Chamber Strings will then come to the stage with their upcoming contest pieces under the direction of Jaryd Hinch. The 7^th grade orchestra, under the direction of Jaryd Hinch and Paula Cochran, will present their contest pieces next. Each group will perform a third piece, joined by the Po-Hi Symphony Strings, under the direction of Dan Larson and accompanied on piano by Paula Cochran.

Concluding the concert, the Symphony Orchestra will return to perform a few selections. As a grand finale, the 5^th through 12^th grade orchestras will then combine to perform Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach.

The community is invited to join in the opening performance of Ponca City’s new Concert Hall.