‘Orchestras in Review’ concert Thursday night

The annual Orchestras in Review concert is Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Ponca City Schools Concert Hall. Admission to the concert is free and the public is invited.

In order to accommodate parent work schedules and to avoid standing room only, the concert will be divided in two portions. The first part of the concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature the 5^th grade orchestra, directed by Katie Rolf, the 8^th grade orchestra, directed by Ella Gordon, and the Po-Hi Symphony Strings directed by Paula Cochran.

The 5^th grade orchestra will start the concert with two traditional pieces, Hot Cross Buns and Lightly Row. To close its portion of the concert, the 5^th grade orchestra will perform the fiddle tune Bile ‘Em Cabbage Down and will feature four senior string soloists.

Next, the 8^th grade orchestra performs its contest pieces Moonlight Tango by Richard Meyer and Dragon Dances by Soon Hee Newbold. Retired maestro Dan Larson will then lead the 8^th grade orchestra and the Po-Hi Symphony Strings in Larry Moore’s arrangement of Lean On Me.

To close the first portion of the concert, the 5^th and 8^th grade orchestra and the Po-Hi Symphony Strings will combine to perform Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach. At the conclusion of this program, the 5^th and 8^th grade students will be released to their parents.

At 7:30 p.m., the second portion of the concert will begin, featuring the 6^th grade orchestra, directed by Ella Gordon, the 7^th grade orchestra, directed by Katie Rolf, and the Po-Hi Chamber Strings and Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Paula Cochran.

The 6^th grade orchestra will begin this portion of the concert with Mississippi Cakewalk by Mark Williams and Dragon Slayer by Rob Grice. Student teacher Samantha Kerns from Oklahoma State University will guest conduct during the 6^th grade performance. The 6^th grade orchestra concludes its portion of the concert by combining with the Po-Hi Symphony Strings to present Adrian Mansukhani’s Groovy Little Hippo!, guest conducted by Dan Larson.

The 7^th grade orchestra will then take the stage to present its two contest pieces, Nocturne by Francis Biletzky and Medieval Kings by Soon Hee Newbold. After their contest selections, the 7^th grade orchestra combines with the Po-Hi Symphony Strings to perform John Higgins’ arrangement of the Colors of the Wind, guest conducted by Dan Larson.

Next, the Po-Hi Chamber Strings will present its two contest selections, Colors of Home by Alan Lee Silva and Land of Dragons by Chris Thomas. To conclude its portion of the concert, the Po-Hi Chamber Strings combine with the Po-Hi Symphony Strings to perform Dragonhunter by Richard Meyer, guest conducted by Dan Larson. Following, the Po-Hi Symphony Orchestra will present its symphony contest selection Millennium by Richard Meyer.

To conclude the concert, the 6^th, 7^th, and Chamber Strings will join the Po-Hi Symphony Strings to perform Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach.