Today’s Warsaw (IN) Times-Union newspaper carried this announcement by Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, who directs the Christian Performing Artists Fellowship and the MasterWorks Festival.
Kavanaugh Announces Formation Of Warsaw Symphony Orchestra
BY TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer
WINONA LAKE – “Warsaw is ready for its own symphony orchestra,” said Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh. “There are so many talented musicians in this area, we will be able to perform repertoire of the highest caliber. This will take the excitement and enthusiasm we find each summer with MasterWorks Orchestra and spread it throughout the entire year, just as our Second Sunday Series now performs each month instead of just in the summer.”
As executive director, Kavanaugh brought the headquarters of the Christian Performing Artists’ Fellowship and the organization’s MasterWorks Festival here last year. The author of nine books about music also writes a column, “This Week In Music,” published in the Times-Union’s Leisure section each Thursday.
This fall Kavanaugh will be the Grace College Music Department chairman. He currently teaches a weekly music appreciation class at Grace.
The Grace Community Orchestra will fold, Kavanaugh said. It is expected that former GCO members will form the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra core group.
Kavanaugh said Warsaw is being used as a designation because most symphony orchestras are named after a city. Rehearsals and performances will be in Rodeheaver Auditorium.
Then there is that orchestra in Poland, the Warsaw Philharmonic, to which the local group can aspire.
“Per capita, there are a huge number of musicians here. It’s just a question of sounding the trumpet and getting them to come out of the closet and realize they’re real musicians. The orchestra will enable a lot more people to be involved,” he said.
Premiere performances of the WSO will take place this fall. Auditions begin this spring for violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, harp and orchestra percussion.
For more information or to set up an audition, call 574-267-1888.