‘Tis the season and Olga Symphony is coming back to celebrate

||| FROM ANITA ORNE for OLGA SYMPHONY |||

It all began in 1984 at the Olga Potluck. A band of musicians who had been jamming together for some time played their first public performance. When a member of the happy audience asked the name of the group, they realized they didn’t have one. A quick-witted audience member, honoring their location, shouted out “why, they’re the Olga Symphony!”

Olga Symphony from 1998. (left to right) Tim Cardinale.Dave Parish, Lesley Liddle, Gordon Koenig, Anita Orne, Melinda Milligan, and Dave “Z” Zoeller. Not pictured: JP Wittman.

Fast forward 40+ years and—lo and behold—-the Olga Symphony is still alive and well, ready for their annual concert. Original members Tim Cardinale and Lesley Liddle rejoin the current band members (Gordon Koenig (also a founding member), Anita Orne, JP Wittman, Melinda Milligan and Dave Zoeller) for a Reunion Concert at 7pm on November 27 and 28 at the Orcas Center.

Come on out after the turkey and cranberries are put away for a special night of singing and tunes old and new on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, concertina, guitars, bass, dobro, and, of course, saw.

Tickets and more information are available at the Orcas Center website (orcascenter.org), by donation. If you can’t attend in person, the concert will be available to stream, also by donation.

The band feels strongly about having the concert available to all, knowing that many generous Islanders support them in this effort, as the band donates all income to local charities and causes, as it has done since those modest beginnings over 40 years ago.