February 23, 2016

Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra joins with the award-winning Oak Harbor High School Harbor Singers for a set of concerts presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at South Whidbey High School in Langley and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6 at Oak Harbor High School. Music Director Anna Edwards will lead the ensemble in musical works by Vivaldi, Bach, Lauridsen and Wagner.

OHHS’ Harbor Singers will again be sharing the stage with the Saratoga Orchestra after last season’s overwhelmingly successful presentation of “Carmina Burana.” Music Director Edwards, a strong advocate for presenting educational experiences for youth, is pleased to showcase Darren McCoy’s select 55-voice Harbor Singers on Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Pacific Northwest composer, Morten Lauridsen’s “Veni Sancte Spiritus.” McCoy, Director of Choirs at Oak Harbor High School, was recently acknowledged by GRAMMY In the Schools™ program for his outstanding choral ensembles here on Whidbey Island.

The program will also feature J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 for Strings. Bach’s six Brandenburg concerti were dedicated in 1721 and exemplify the rich textural writing of the baroque period. The orchestra is pleased to welcome baroque violin specialist and founder of the Whidbey Island Music Festival, Tekla Cunningham, as the orchestra’s guest concertmaster for these concerts. Ms. Cunningham brings a vast knowledge and experience of baroque music, being a member of Pacific MusicWorks, American Bach Soloists, Seattle Baroque Orchestra and Musica Angelica.

This season, the Saratoga Orchestra is offering a pre-concert chat beginning 45 minutes prior to each concert to enhance the concertgoing experience. For this series, Music Director Edwards will be joined by Darren McCoy to discuss the music and musical process for this series.

General Admission tickets are $25 for adulst and $20 for seniors and members of the military. Students under 18 are admitted free (under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult). Tickets are available with cash or check at Moonraker Books in Langley, bayleaf in Coupeville, and Click Music in Oak Harbor or on-line at Brown Paper Tickets. Cash, checks or credit cards will be accepted at the door.

For complete information and tickets please visit our website www.sowhidbey.com or call 360-929-3045.