47
ning with Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in the 2006/2007 season. The
culmination of the cycle will take place in 2011/2012 season with the
performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, in celebration of the 40th
anniversary of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra.
The Symphony’s Impact
In June 2009, the U.S. Commerce
Association (USCA) selected the
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra for
the “2009 Best of Wilmington Award”
in the orchestra or bands category.
Over the years, the orchestra has
not only contributed to the cultural
impact of the city, but has provided
the community with a number of edu-cational
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
programs and opportunities.
One major component of the WSO
is the Wilmington Symphony Youth
Orchestra — a full orchestra with
strings, winds, brass and percussion
— that is open to students grades 9-
12, by audition, from both public and
private schools, as well as young musi-cians
who are home schooled.
The Junior Strings Orchestra is
another educational program of the
WSO. Begun in the fall of 2009, the
program is geared for 6th-8th grade stu-dents
and provides ensemble experi-ence
for kids just starting in the string
instruments.
The WSO also spon-sors
the prestigious Richard
R. Deas Student Concerto
Competition for outstanding
student musicians. In its 33rd
year, the competition was
launched by the chair of the
UNCW Music Department
back when the WSO first
began. There are two annual
winners — a high school stu-dent
and a college student —
that are selected by a panel of
judges. The winners typically
perform in a February con-cert
and are accompanied by
the WSO.
The Artist-in-Residence
Program helps public schools by sending out orchestra soloists to play
and talk to students in an informal setting. Beverly Andrews, concert-master
for WSO, considers herself an ambassador for the Wilmington
Symphony. “I go places to talk or play, organize groups from the
symphony to play for benefits …” says Andrews. “This year, I was
asked to be one of the judges for the All-County Orchestra.”
The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra also puts on family concerts
to encourage parents to bring chil-dren
to the concerts. The Birthday
Club is a program for very young
children who might not be able to
sit through an entire performance.
They receive a birthday card signed
by the conductor, an invitation to
a dress rehearsal and get a special
backstage pass.
The Future
What does the future hold for the
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
“We’re looking ahead to an exciting
2010/2011 season and to the cel-ebration
of our 40th anniversary as an orchestra,” says Errante. “I also
hope for a larger venue at some point in the future, and I would like
to see us perform for a larger variety of events.”
Errante also sees the orchestra moving towards professional status.
“Myrtle Beach and Fayetteville both have professional orchestras,”
Errante points out. “It’s time for Wilmington to also move in that
direction.”
Right: The Wilmington
Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by Steven
Errante (below), performs
as part of the Homage To
Mozart celebration at Kenan
Auditorium Tuesday, Jan. 24,
2006. Bottom: Pianist Anh
Quyen, performs a Beetoven
Concerto with The Wilmington
Symphony Orchestra at Kenan
Auditorium.
UNCW/Eric Howell
UNCW/Jamie Moncrief
Allison Breiner Potter