Chamber String Orchestra will present its first concert of Fall Semester

The Wright State University Chamber String Orchestra will perform publicly for the first time this academic year when it gives a special performance on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union Atrium.

The open space of the Student Union Atrium will allow performers and audience members to be physically distanced while enjoying the orchestra’s performance. Everyone must wear a face covering while on campus.

The Chamber String Orchestra is the string section of the Wright State University Chamber Orchestra, which is made up of faculty and students. The Oct. 6 performance will be conducted Jackson Leung, professor of music and coordinator of keyboard studies.

The program will feature “Lyric of Strings” by American composer George Walker, who wrote the piece (originally titled “Lament”) in memory of his grandmother, who had been enslaved.

“Given the pain and conflict with social injustice in our country, I chose this work to give the performers and audience a sense of comfort and peace,” Leung said

Walker was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in Music, graduate from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, receive a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, perform a recital at Manhattan’s Townhall and solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The program also includes “Serenade” by the Swedish composer Dag Wirén and the “Concerto Grosso” by American composer Vittorio Giannini, featuring the Faculty String Quartet.

The Wright State School of Music has implemented a series of protocols to keep students and faculty safe while allowing for rehearsal time. Because of the pandemic, choral and wind ensembles may not rehearse in person this semester. The orchestra area is limited to strings, with optional percussion participation. The Chamber String Orchestra is one of the few ensembles in the School of Music that is still able to rehearse.

Performers must wear masks, cannot share stands or parts, and every member of the orchestra must maintain a safe distance of six feet apart from others. Members are responsible for cleaning and returning their own stands to the stand racks after rehearsals.

The Oct. 6 program will be the first public performance by a Wright State ensemble this academic year and the Chamber Orchestra’s first performance since the Concerto-Aria Night concert in February.

“As performers, to be able to rehearse and perform together again after six months is indeed a very emotional experience,” Leung said. “We are all grateful for the opportunity to make music as a group after such a long break and looking forward to sharing this joy with others.”

Future School of Music performances:

Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.: Gabriella Erbacher’s Junior Recital
Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m.: Tyler Ohlemacher’s Percussion Recital
Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.: Katelyn Quinn’s Graduate Voice Recital
Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m.: Guthrie Douglas’ Senior Percussion Recital
Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m.: is Drew Gillum’s Senior Trombone Recital
Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m.: Haotian Bu’s Graduate Voice Recital
Friday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m.: Daniel Hackathorne’s Senior Trumpet Recital
Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m.: Rachael Watts’ Graduate Voice Recital
Sunday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m.: Mariah Paynter’s Senior Flute Recital
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, at 8 p.m.: Concerto Aria Night Winners Recital

All performances take place in the Creative Arts Center.