‘Stories and Surprises’ from Warren orchestra

Staff report

WARREN

The Warren Philharmonic Orchestra will present its fall concert, “Stories and Surprises!,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NE.

Admission is $25 ($15 for students; free for children under age 13) at the door.

The colorful concert will feature harp and flute magic, mysteries of the sea, a prince saved by a bee, Sleeping Beauty and young violinists. The program includes Mendelssohn’s “Fingal’s Cave”; Ravel’s “Sleeping Beauty” and “Empress of the Pagodas”; Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp, with soloists Kathryn Thomas Umble, flute, and Marissa Knaub Avon, harp; the world premiere of Yehudi Wyner’s “MAZE II,” with Strings of Joy student soloists; “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake; and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee.”

“What excites me particularly is how this concert puts us into the middle of witty, loving, surprising, musical exchanges among such contrasting personalities,” said Susan Davenny Wyner, music director and conductor. “We have a rare opportunity to hear Mozart’s concerto with two internationally acclaimed soloists in an unexpected pairing of flute and harp. A young Mendelssohn evokes his stormy sea voyage to a mysterious island, home of a mythical giant, while Ravel, by contrast, creates a delicate magical world of miniature creatures.”

The WPO’s Strings of Joy program provides free violin lessons to selected Trumbull County students in grades three through seven. This year’s students will perform with the orchestra during the world premiere of “MAZE II,” composed by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wyner.

For a season subscription for both 2017-18 concerts, call the WPO office at 330-399-3606 or email warren.philharmonic@gmail.com.