A Season of Sound

Frankenstein and a New Years Eve celebration are not what comes to mind in thinking of an orchestral performance. For the Westfield Symphony Orchestra though, they were successful performances during the 2008-2009 season.

Performing in such venues as the Central Presbyterian Church in Summit, The Presbyterian Church in Westfield, Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, and Westfield High School, the six-show season offered something for everyone.

Kicking off in September, “A Gypsy Avenged” featured the music of Verdi and was part of WSO’s Opera-In-Concert series. “Monster Music!” was a unique format in that Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein movie was shown as the orchestra played sections of Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” as the background. The audience was encouraged to wear Halloween costumes, as there was a costume contest. Barbara Timko, the orchestra's operations manager, explained that the costumes “added a new dimension” to the concerts. She said members of all age groups took part in the festivities.

A popular part of the season was the New Year’s Eve Celebration: “Puttin’ On the Ritz,” which featured the music of Broadway at Westfield High School. Timko said that the community is offered a close, affordable, and professional celebration during the traditional holiday event.

The season continued to feature a blend of Latin dance and opera in February. The story of “Carmen” was told through Omayra Amaya’s flamenco dancing to Bizet’s classic music. This type of blend of artistic mediums is one of the WSO’s goals, as the company strives to “appeal to all your senses,” as Timko explained.

May 2, 2009 was a special night for the orchestra, as it was the first “Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Competition” showcase. Held at the Union County Performing Arts Center, a group of promising and exceptionally talented young musicians performed for a panel of judges, Maestro David Wroe, and the audience, which combined to choose the winner. The audience involvement was exciting for both the attendees and musicians, especially since the decision “came down to the audience vote,” according to Timko.

In keeping with the seasonal theme of SOUND Partnerships, on May 30, the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union and the Pro Arte Chorale performed Verdi’s “Requiem” with the WSO. Collaborating with national and international performance companies is a tenet of the orchestra.

Timko said the orchestra is currently working hard at planning the next season for Westfield. The next season is scheduled to kick-off in September.