The Olga Symphony, gloriously attired. From left JP Wittman, Anita Orne, Melinda Milligan, Dave Zoeller, and Gordon Koenig
By Mary Ann Slabaugh
The 12th annual Olga Symphony & Friends’ holiday concert is quickly approaching on Friday & Saturday nights, December 3 and 4th at 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Center. Get your tickets now or else you’ll be in the over-sold section sitting on stage behind the Symphony and their friends, if you get in at all!
Not ever having been a holly, jolly gal myself, I began my own holiday tradition 5 years ago with the Olga Symphony & Friends’ holiday concert being my solo gift giving gesture. The deal is, I buy concert tickets for some friends, have a pre-concert meal in my home, then enjoy the Symphony’s fine community holiday hoopla.
A bit of history of the Olga Symphony & Friends’ holiday concert:
The Olga Symphony and friends began their particular form of holiday musical merriment 13 years ago. Prior to that the Symphony had sometimes hosted Orcas Center’s “Holiday Magic” variety show, inspired by the Center’s “Everything But Classical Music” Committee.
The stable and loyal back stage crew is also a carry-over from Holiday Magic days. Consistency and “family ways” are apparent in this once-yearly production for the music makers, back stage personnel and audience all around.
An endearing tradition of all Olga Symphony’s concerts and CD sales is that profits are split half way between Orcas Center and other community causes. Since the Olga Symphony originated in the early 1980s, all profits made by the Symphony have always been donated.
Not only do these eclectic (as opposed to classically-trained) musicians make a great sound, they are very entertaining. I really enjoy that they have fun at what they do. They encourage the audience to dress up, saying, “It’s not about the music — it’s all about the clothes!
What other symphony is there where the concert bass player, dressed in a beautiful gown without heels changes to the concert saw and warbles away? Only here on Orcas!
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