Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra concludes its 15th Anniversary season with a set of concerts on May 20, 7:00pm at South Whidbey High School, and May 21, 2:00pm at Oak Harbor High School. Music Director, Anna Edwards, leads the musicians in a program featuring popular selections that have been performed over the past fifteen seasons.
Music selections from stage and screen will be featured, including John Williams’ Suite from Star Wars, Bernstein’s West Side Story, and even an audience singalong of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music featuring soprano Eva Nelson. Returning as special guest is Sarah Pizzichemi, former concertmaster, performing The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Fanny Mendelssohn’s Overture in C and the Allegretto from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 (The King’s Speech) gives nod to works featured at the orchestra’s highly esteemed Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute held each summer.
Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra was formed as an expansion of the Saratoga Chamber Players founded by Whidbey Island’s legendary violinist and arts supporter, Michael Nutt. Previously known as Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, the name is derived from the beautiful Saratoga Passage that flanks the east side of Whidbey Island and the stand of trees known as the Saratoga Woods. In 2007, Legh W. Burns, Music Director Emeritus, began a regular concert series performing throughout the island for Whidbey audiences. Dr. Anna Edwards has led the orchestra as Music Director since 2015, and has brought national attention to the ensemble for its innovative programming championing women, BIPOC, and underrepresented composers. Whidbey’s Saratoga Orchestra also hosts the highly esteemed weeklong Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute each summer, with participants coming from all over North America and a few other countries.
General Admission concert tickets are $30/Adult and $25/Seniors (65+) and Military. Students 17 and under are admitted free. Tickets available at Click Music in Oak Harbor, bayleaf in Coupeville, and Moonraker Books and Blue Sound Music in Langley. Online tickets and further information at www.sowhidbey.com or 360-929-3045.
