More than 100 Musicians Will Perform to Support School Music

Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m., Orcas School’s Old Gym

— from Kristen Wilson for MAG —
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The Music Advocacy Group’s (MAG) 18th annual benefit concert will bring adult and student Orcas Island musicians together in support of school music on Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m. It is the single largest music concert on Orcas Island, with more than 100 musicians performing. Every year they come together to volunteer their time and musical talent to support one great cause: The Orcas School Music Program. The concert will take place in the Old Gym at the Orcas public school.

“Nothing would make us happier,” said Catherine Pederson, President of MAG, “than to fill the entire school gym for this concert. Thanks to the community’s support, the MAG concert has become an island tradition. The whole community joins forces, and by their attendance they are saying, ‘School Music Matters!’”

The concert will feature performances by Orcas Choral Society, Island Sinfonia, Orcas Island Community Band, and Orcas Public School musicians. Orcas Choral Society singers and Artistic Director Roger Sherman will bring two diverse pieces to the concert: Chellan Hoffman’s “Green Eggs and Ham,” and a preview of the Choral Society’s spring concert – “Cum Sancto Spiritu” from J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor. Island Sinfonia, led by Music Director Jim Shaffer-Bauck, will play “Quiet City” by Aaron Copland, and Mozart’s Overture to “The Abduction from the Seraglio.”

The Orcas Island Community Band, with Conductors Jim Shaffer-Bauck and Karen Speck, will play five selections: “Hungarian Dance No. 5” by Johannes Brahms, “Beguine Festival” by Glenn Osser, “Pavane” by Morton Gould, “Instant Concert” by Harold Walters, and “Ballad of the Green Berets” by Sadler and Moore.

The Orcas High School Strings, directed by Pamela Wright, will play the first movement of the “Bach Double” Violin Concerto, with Paris Wilson and Emy Carter as solo violinists. The Middle and High School Strings (combined), also directed by Wright, will play “Eleanor Rigby” by Lennon and McCartney. The Middle School Band, under the direction of Darren Dix, will play “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Klaus Badelt. Finally, all groups will participate when Karen Speck conducts the rousing finale, “God Bless America.”

“We rely on the funds from this concert to help us continue to build a strong school music program,” said Steve Alboucq, MAG board member and organizer of this year’s concert. “And the program is working. Our young band and string musicians, competing at regional contests with much larger schools, bring home stacks of ‘Superior’ and ‘Excellent’ certificates awarded by judges after every contest. Just last month, the Orcas High School Strings were awarded the second highest number of points at a contest with high schools from Bellingham and other Northwest Washington cities for their performance of the Bach piece they’ll be playing at this MAG concert.”

Everyone is invited to stay following the concert for a reception on the Old Gym stage, coordinated by Lynne Howe and Karen Blinn. There will be additional music from Almost Classical and an opportunity to see the new band room. Admission to the concert is by donation, and every person attending will be presented with a “School Music Matters” lapel button. Be sure to get yours as you walk in the door. All proceeds go to MAG, a 501(c)(3) organization whose sole purpose is to support and augment the music program of the Orcas Island public schools. Those who cannot attend but wish to donate can make checks payable to “MAG” and mail them to MAG, P.O. Box 1171, Eastsound, WA 98245.