Oak Ridge Philharmonia has open house Sunday; bring your instrument if you’d like to play

 

By Dale Gedcke

Would you like to join an ensemble that plays famous Baroque, Classical, and Contemporary music…with strings attached?

The March 12 Open House with the Oak Ridge Philharmonia may be the opportunity you need to explore the benefits of playing with this excellent orchestra. Bring your instrument, and discuss the possibilities with Director/Conductor Marcelo Urias, the board members, and current players in the Philharmonia.

Refreshments will be served, and you may be able to play a few pieces with us, just for fun, while you are there. No auditions are necessary. Within a few rehearsals, you will be able to decide whether you and the orchestra are a fulfilling match.

Aspiring musicians typically encounter little difficulty locating concert bands in which to play. But orchestras, with the full complement of strings added to the woodwinds and brass, are hard to find. Even experienced professionals have to compete intensely for the scant positions open in sparse, professional orchestras.

The Oak Ridge Philharmonia is a community orchestra dedicated to committed volunteers. It presents a rare opportunity for musicians who want to polish their skills, while enjoying playing with the full spectrum of sounds only the combination of woodwinds, brass, and strings can deliver. Orchestra members find that this ensemble stretches and develops their skills in a very pleasing and fulfilling environment.

The Oak Ridge Philharmonia typically performs four to five concerts per year in the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area. We rehearse throughout the entire year on Saturdays from 10 am to noon at the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge.

To explore the rewarding opportunities afforded by playing in the Oak Ridge Philharmonia, visit the orchestra Open House on Sunday, March 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall on the lower floor of the First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. The church is located at the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. Enter through the double doors under the canopy in the lower parking lot, adjacent to Lafayette Drive. You may wish to make some preparatory contacts via the information below.

The Oak Ridge Philharmonia is a 501(c)3, nonprofit, volunteer organization performing under the baton of Conductor and Music Director Marcelo Urias. Anyone wishing to regularly participate in the orchestra is encouraged to contact Personnel Manager Cyndi Jeffers at oakridgephilharmonia@gmail.com. Usually, we can accommodate additional string players, and occasionally there are openings in the brass, woodwind, and percussion sections. The orchestra welcomes experienced musicians of all ages. The Oak Ridge Philharmonia is a rewarding venue for instrumentalists who enjoy playing for an appreciative audience, with music ranging from Baroque through Classical to Contemporary.

For more information about the orchestra, visit www.OakRidgePhilharmonia.org. We can also be found on Facebook at oakridgephil.

Dale Gedcke is publicity manager for Oak Ridge Philharmonia.