All for the Families: Orchestra sets show date

Published 4:47 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Sequim Community Orchestra’s latest show at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, features a first — vocalists — at their free, family-geared concert.

Music director Phil Morgan-Ellis brings in local singers Joel Yelland and Robin Reed to perform the duo from Bizet’s “Pearl Fishers” with the orchestra. The program also features such tunes as “March Slave” by Tchaikovsky, “Wedding Day at Troldhaugen” by Grieg and Mozart’s “Sleigh Ride.”

The concert, held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sequim, brings in the orchestra’s after-school strings class, which continues into its third year, to play some short pieces, too.

This year, 45 students take classes at three locations in Sequim School District. Above, second- and third-year string students with the after-school Sequim Community Orchestra program plan to play in a portion of the Sequim Community Orchestra’s show on Feb. 19. Lilias Green, orchestra program coordinator, said instruction and other costs are funded entirely by community donors and foundations.

“We are an all-volunteer organization, only the teachers are contracted to provide top level instruction,” Green said.

“In a district with over 50 percent on the free or reduced lunch program, we fulfill a need for many children whose families are otherwise unable to provide private instruction.” The public may mingle with performers and see instruments up close at 6:30 p.m. and after the show when refreshments are served.

Donations are accepted at the door for programming.