Saturday, Jan 22, 2011
Performing works by Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Hofmann.
by Anne Sears
The Westminster Community Orchestra , conducted by Ruth Ochs, will present a concert entitled “Orchestral Gems” on Saturday, January 29 at 8 p.m. Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University in Princeton, N.J.
The program will feature Serge Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes and Sergei Rachmaninoff ‘s Symphony No. 2 in E Minor. The orchestra will be joined by flutist Katherine McClure to perform Leopold Hofmann’s Flute Concerto in D Major, which has been attributed to Franz Joseph Haydn.
Ruth Ochs is in her sixth season as conductor and music director of the Westminster Community Orchestra. She led the orchestra in performances of major orchestral and choral-orchestral works, including symphonies by Brahms, Mozart and Shostakovich. She is also in her eighth season as conductor of the Princeton University Sinfonia. Ms. Ochs has guest-conducted many ensembles, which include the Princeton University Orchestra, the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia and faculty ensembles at the Westminster Conservatory of Music.
Katherine McClure earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Skidmore College and a Master of Music in Flute Performance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She is currently on the faculties of Westminster Conservatory and the Lawrenceville School and maintains a private studio in Kingston, N.J. An active chamber and orchestral player, Katherine has appeared in Carnegie Hall as principal flutist of the Edison Symphony, and is a member of the Riverside Symphonia and the Delaware Valley Philharmonic, among others. She performs with the Westminster Winds Woodwind Quintet, in Duo with pianist Esma Pasic-Filipovic and is a founding member of the Volanti Flute Quartet.
Now celebrating its 25th season, the Westminster Community Orchestra is based at Westminster Conservatory, the community music school of Rider University’s Westminster College of the Arts. Its performances showcase the artistry, commitment and passion of a true community ensemble. The group presents popular programs noted for their diverse repertoire and widespread appeal. Members are professional and gifted amateur musicians from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They come from all walks of life but share a common goal: the desire to make wonderful music for themselves and their community.
Admission for this performance is $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For tickets call 609-258-9220 or order online at www.princeton.edu/utickets.