Vashon United Methodist Church

Tickets: $12 general/$10 students & senior (All tickets available at the door)

On April 5 and 6, Vashon Maury Chamber Orchestra will perform works of Vivaldi, Biber and Dvorak on it’s spring concert at the Vashon United Methodist Church. Superb Island soprano Holly Boaz will join the group to perform Vivaldi’s intense motet In furore, RV 626, composed in the 1720s. Ms. Boaz is an active performer and teacher in the region. In recent seasons she has performed leading roles with Tacoma Opera, Aspen Music Festival and Seattle Opera Young Artists, as well as performing on the concert stage with orchestras such as Seattle Symphony, Hartford Symphony and Bellevue Philharmonic. She serves as adjunct faculty in the music department of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, and will be well-known to Islanders as “Berta” from Vashon Opera’s production of Il Barbiere de Siviglia.

A second Baroque piece, Battalia à 10, was written nearly half a century earlier than Vivaldi’s work by Bohemian-Austrian composer Heinrich von Biber. This fascinating work is one of the earliest examples of programmatic music and depicts various “battle” scenes from troops being gathered, to a fife and drum band, to the battle itself and the lament afterward. Biber was a famous violinist, and makes use of special string techniques to produce effects such as musket fire and drums. Rounding out the program, the orchestra will also perform movements from Dvorak’s beloved String Serenade. In turns lyrical, rambunctious, tranquil and lively, this gracious and quietly joyful piece truly serenades the audience.

Vashon-Maury Chamber orchestra is a not-for-profit community orchestra which welcomes Island musicians of varying skill levels from advanced students to professional musicians and teachers. The group is led by violinist Karin Choo, who performs with many Island groups including Vashon Opera and the Vashon Chamber Music series, and is Acting Associate Concertmaster of Northwest Sinfonietta.

Dvorak, String Serenade (selections)

H. Biber, Battalia à 10

Vivaldi, In furore, RV 626

Holly Boaz, soprano


Contact Karin Choo at chookl@comcast.net for more details