Spring Orchestra Concert Honors the Bard
The Westmont Orchestra celebrates the life of William Shakespeare (1582-1616) on the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death at its Spring Orchestra Concert on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Hahn Hall at Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road, and Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave. General admission is $10, and students are free. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact the music department at (805) 565-6040.
The 60-member orchestra, under the direction of Michael Shasberger, will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture,” “Music for Shakespeare” by Edward Green and “At Shakespeare’s Tomb” by alumna Emily Rutherford ’15.
The Stratus Chamber Orchestra and Westmont Orchestra co-commissioned Rutherford’s new work, composed around a libretto that mixes a variety of excerpts from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets.
“It explores Shakespeare’s deep understanding of the human condition and encouragements to his audiences to truly experience the richness of life,” Rutherford says. “Musically, the work seeks to highlight the profound depth and breadth of experience to which Shakespeare calls us throughout his body of works.”
Following both performances, Westmont celebrates the orchestra’s 10th anniversary season by hosting special receptions for former members of the Westmont Orchestra, faculty, patrons and family members.