Recently voted the Best Performing Community Orchestra in the U.S. –yes, the best in the ENTIRE COUNTRY!—the Summerville Orchestra this weekend opened its 23rd season, themed Together In Sound. The ever-effervescent conductor, Wojciech Milewski, always a highlight of any performance, led the audience in a fascinating journey through the origins of symphonic music in our country, tonight exploring Music of a New America.

Starting off with the Overture to Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber, a wonderfully melodic German Romantic opera with folklore and supernatural elements. Von Weber was a main influence on our early American composers. “I enjoyed the overture, especially the beautiful horn chorale that really set the serene mood,” remarked Helaine Lewis, part of a group of eight friends who are all enthusiastic SO season-ticket holders.

The second selection was something completely different, the Postmodern piece Tree of Life by Holland Albright, who drew his inspiration from film and video game images of mystical trees. Holland represented the new generation of American composers who incorporate symphonic elements in music for video games and anime.

One might wonder what a folk tune from a remote Scottish island has to do with the origins of symphonic music in America. The haunting Soay, arranged by Rebecca Dale, turned a simple folk tune into a sweeping, cinematic piece that led to a well-deserved standing ovation for guest concert master and solo violinist Thierry de Lucas Neves. “His amazing solo work in Soay was my favorite part of the concert,” said Lianne Kohlmeyer, also a season-ticket holder.  

The third selection, the Raiders March from the film Raiders of the Lost Arc by John Williams, was a rousing audience favorite. Williams was the first composer to give American blockbuster film music an epic, symphonic style, still enjoyed today and featured in countless award-winning Williams film scores. The orchestra members obviously loved playing this one…and Wojciech added to the fun by donning an Indy-style fedora as he conducted.

In a very rare bonus treat, an extra number was added to the program, The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa, which got the audience clapping along enthusiastically.

The last half of the program consisted of William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 2, Song of a New Race. Known as the dean of African-American symphony composers, Still wrote music during the Harlem Renaissance in New York, and also worked as an orchestrator in the Hollywood studio system in the 1930s. This piece is part of his trilogy tracing African American roots through modern Black America, and in it the audience recognized echoes of jazz and dance, as well as phrases reminiscent of Gershwin and Broadway.

“The first concert of the 23rd season of the Summerville Orchestra was nothing less than fabulous,” said season-ticket holder Joy Donahue.

I agree. And so does Marcia Jakob, another happy season-ticket holder. “The Summerville Orchestra never disappoints. Programs offer a theme, usually introducing a unique musical form, with explanations of background and context, but at the same time including the familiar. Concerts are often augmented with guest appearances of widely acclaimed musicians and performance groups.”

If you’ve never been to one of their concerts, you are really missing out on some great music and wonderful entertainment. During each concert season, the orchestra also has a free Encore Series of open-air performances, as well as Art Strolls at the Public Works Art Center, and Wojciech gives popular Music Chats at the county library. Be sure to check out all their coming events on this website!

Show review by Nina Bruhns. Photo by Nina Bruhns.

Nina Bruhns is a longtime Summerville Orchestra fan, as well as a New York Times Bestselling thriller author. She currently works as a fiction editor with Reedsy. Nina grew up singing in concert choir, and she loves all kinds of music, but her faves are opera, bluegrass, and classic rock.