The Jewish Community Orchestra welcomes everyone to share in the joy of music. In our Fall Concert we will perform:
"Les Preludes", a symphonic poem written by the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. The piece is structured in a single movement and is known for its dramatic and evocative qualities. The music of "Les Preludes" reflects the Romantic era's fascination with the idea of life's journey and the human experience. It is often described as a musical representation of the various stages of life, from youthful exuberance to contemplative introspection and eventual triumph.
“Fantasy for Viola and String Orchestra” by JCO’s very own Maestro Don Appert: this piece was originally written for contrabass and placed Dr. Appert as a semi-finalist for orchestral composition in 2015. That same year, Dr. Appert was one of only five artists chosen as Honored Artists of the American Prize.
Our honored guest soloist, Wendy Edgar, has the joy of being both a performer and a teacher. She has played with various groups in the greater Portland, Oregon area, including the Portland Opera Orchestra and the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra. She also teaches private lessons and is an adjunct viola professor at Clark College. Every summer she heads to southern Oregon for three weeks to play in the Britt Festival Orchestra. In addition to her music, she enjoys spending time with her family on a few acres in rural Clark County. Add in some weaving, books, animals, and time spent outdoors, and she is content with life.
Wendy Edgar started violin lessons at age 6 but later fell in love with the warm rich tone of the viola and never looked back. A native of Washington, she had her first orchestral experiences as a member of the Vancouver Symphonette and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. She has a Bachelor of Music in viola performance from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music in viola performance from Northwestern University. Her teachers have included Ruth Petrasso, Martha Warrington, Jeffrey Irvine, and Lynne Ramsey. Her viola was made by Mark Moreland in 2002.
Our program concludes with “Symphony No. 2 in Eb, op. 35” by Jewish composer Karl Goldmark, whose music is noted for its Romantic-era expression. In celebrating Karl Goldmark and once again performing his music, the Jewish Community Orchestra pays tribute to a talented composer and also emphasizes the richness of Jewish musical heritage within the classical world.