Orchestra to Perform Spring Concerts in SB

After playing five concerts throughout California during the President’s Day weekend, the Westmont College Orchestra returns home to perform two concerts in Santa Barbara. The Spring Orchestra Concert is Friday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. in Hahn Hall at Music Academy of the West and Sunday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church. General admission is $10; all students are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling (805) 565-6040.

The 58-member orchestra will perform Maurice Ravel’s “Menuet Antique,” Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite,” Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza Del Destino,” Ronan Hardiman’s “Lord of the Dance” and Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Rondo Capriccioso,” featuring junior violin soloist Emily McClean.

McClean, born and raised in Whittier, began studying the violin at 4 at the Colburn School of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Recently, McClean and the Siloam String Quartet have been traveling throughout the nation as part of Westmont’s Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign.

Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship, conducts the orchestra.

A $750 grant from Montecito Bank and Trust allows students from an after-school string program to attend Westmont’s orchestra concerts, including the Spring Orchestra Concert.