Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m., the Lawrence Memorial Chapel will provide its customary stately setting for a concert featuring three ensembles whose members share the Lawrence title, yet never set foot in Downer.
These groups, run through the Lawrence Academy of Music, are the Lawrence Academy Flute Choir and the New Horizons Band and Orchestra. Saturday’s exciting concert program is designed for musicians and music enthusiasts of all ages – including the performers.
Both the New Horizons Band and Orchestra are adult groups, while the Flute Choir is comprised of high school students.
The New Horizons programs are designed to satisfy the musical wishes of experienced musicians and adult beginners. Some members played an instrument in college and are hoping to give it a thorough dusting, while others are simply looking for something new.
The musicians of the Lawrence Academy Flute Choir are 12 high school students from around the Fox Valley.
Barbara Boren, the director of the choir, explained the origin of the flute choir. “Flute players abound!” she exclaimed. “What do schools and communities do with so many flutists? We form flute choirs. Today, there is a wealth of original and arranged composition for flute choirs and the different instruments in the flute family.”
The Flute Choir rehearses once a week for six weeks before their concert. The season is quite short, because the members are active in their respective school music programs, other Academy ensembles, and various other activities.
These are serious musicians – most study privately with area flute teachers, and several seniors will pursue music majors in college, including music performance, music education and music therapy.
The eclectic program is sure to shine. The New Horizons Orchestra, directed by Rachel Meagher, will begin the performance with four melodious arrangements, including the first movement of J.S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto” and a traditional Korean folk tune.
Jon Meyer and the New Horizons Band will offer four diverse selections, ranging from Frank Erickson’s “Symphonette for Band” to John Williams’ “Hymn to the Fallen.”
The featured ensemble, the Flute Choir, will perform a number of works, including Jean-Joseph Mouret’s “Rondeau,” the signature tune of the PBS program “Masterpiece Theater;” “America the Beautiful” by Samuel Ward; the Hallelujah Chorus from G.F. Handel’s “The Messiah;” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite.”
To conclude the concert, the three groups will join forces for “March to the Scaffold” from Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” – a fitting conclusion to a concert that promises to be nothing short of fantastic.
New heights for New Horizons
