The Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA) Youth Orchestra presented its first-ever, full theatrical musical event on June 10 at Lakeport”s Soper Reese Community Theatre. Some 200 music lovers turned out to salute the efforts of the 16 young musicians, their back-up colleagues and supporters.
Susan Condit, now completing her second year as music director and conductor of the orchestra, put together a fast-moving and complex program designed to show off the skills of her players. Her success can be measured by the applause ending each piece.
The program opened with the Appalachian sounds of “Cripple Creek,” a traditional fiddle favorite, ending with the familiar “Shave and a Haircut” theme. This was followed by a much more contemporary piece, “Mythos” by young Korean composer Soon Hee Newbold that demonstrated the tight playing ability and rhythmic progressions of the strings.
Before the next number, Condit said that Hollywood composer John Williams was known for his complicated music, made particularly evident in his themes from “Harry”s Wondrous World” from the movie “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” As a result of hours of practice time and rehearsals, the orchestra flew through the piece with near-perfect execution.
“Pirates of the Caribbean ? the Curse of the Black Pearl,” a Disney film, provided the basis for a medley of four musical themes from the movie. Eight members of the Lake County Symphony moved in to accompany the youth orchestra members. They were violinists Andi Skelton and Marta Fuller; Aaron Bielenberg and Eleanor Cook, viola; Clovice Lewis and Amanda Bronson, cellos; Austin Ison, bass and Jeanine Mullen, flute. These musicians had served as volunteer instructors for their protegees during many of the orchestra”s numerous rehearsals.
This was followed by “Hit The Beach,” written by Dean Sorenson. Based on the music of Brazil, it featured complicated rhythms carried by assistant director Eleanor Cook on claves and past Lower Lake High School graduate Kristin Currier on the conga drums.
The second half of the program featured Camille Saint-Saens” “Carnival of the Animals.” Condit invited two graduating seniors from Lower Lake High School, Kaylee Smith and Rebecca Sires, to accompany the musicians in interpretive dances.
Doug Rhoades provided rhyming narration ? with clever lines written by Jack Prelutsky ? and a slide show assembled by Wally Fuller.
Although there was no admission fee, a donation box in the lobby produced donations of nearly $550, far more than any such youth program has generated in the past. These will go toward the CLPA Youth Education Fund, which supports music activities open to students throughout Lake County. Residents wishing to support these programs may find details at www.ClearLakePerform-ingArts.com or by contacting CLPA President Ed Bublitz at 277-8172.
The next CLPA event will be presentation of the 10th annual Lake County Home Wine Makers Festival on Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Library Park in Lakeport, where attendees can taste wines from both amateur and professional wine makers.
Admission is free, but those wishing to taste wines may obtain tickets at the gate. The cost of $25 will include a commemorative wine glass.
Advance tickets are available at a cost of $20 at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Band Box music store or Watershed Books in Lakeport, or at the tasting rooms of Vigilance, Thorn Hill, Shannon Ridge, Wildhurst, Steele, Rosa d”Oro, Moore Family or Bell Hill wineries.
Connel Murray is a past president of Clear Lake Performing Arts.
