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Bluefield College will launch its new Community Orchestra this fall, and local musicians, young and old, are invited to be a part of the historic group.

September 18, 2009

The Community Orchestra is the latest component of the school's new instrumental music program, introduced last fall in order to give students an opportunity to study and/or participate in instrumental music at the collegiate level.

In just its first year, the instrumental music program developed a jazz band, a concert ensemble, and an instrumental music education curriculum for students.

Now, the school will embark on the Community Orchestra with the purpose of giving not only students, but also local residents yet another opportunity to study and perform instrumental music.

"The Community Orchestra will provide an orchestral experience for string players of any age in our region," said Dr. Andy Necessary, associate professor of music and head of the instrumental music program. "It will also provide an opportunity for young band instrumentalists to perform in a symphony orchestra. In other words, brass, woodwind and percussion musicians will be comprised of area musicians who are high school age."

Auditions are ongoing for violin, viola, cello, bass, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, and timpani -- instruments that will be featured during the college's three nights of performances of Handel's "Messiah," December 3, 5 and 6. The Community Orchestra will combine with the school's Masterworks Chorale to present a variety of arrangements from Handel's oratorio.

Additional auditions will take place later this fall for other Community Orchestra positions, including piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, trombone, French horn, tuba, and percussion. Both groups of instrumentalists will combine to form a full Community Orchestra for performances in the spring of 2010.

To schedule an audition or for more information, please contact Dr. Necessary by phone at 276-326-4234 or by e-mail at .

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