The Placer Performance Calendar

 

Great Local Shows - Concert Reviews

Title Benefit Memorial Day Concert
Organization Placer County Youth Orchestra
Date(s) of show May 24, 2015
Reviewer Letha Dawson
Review The patriotic concert began with the Intermediate String Orchestra and the Bridgeway drama class presenting musical skits about the founding of America. The children were costumed in 18th-century dress, either British or pilgrim. Three little Indians enacted the dumping of tea to demonstrate against taxation without representation. The adorable children sang with high, clear voices.

Kaj Jakobsen, a senior who will be leaving the orchestra this year, joined by the Fifth Street Ensemble, played the violin solo in Fritz Kreisler’s "Praeludium" and "Allegro." This piece has been played by violin virtuosos the world over and is considered one of the great standards of violin music. Kaj Jakobsen showed his immense talent last night in playing this piece of music.

The Symphony Orchestra took the stage next for the remainder of the evening, with Marjorie Hartung conducting, bringing old favorites to the house: "The Star-Spangled Banner," the "Armed Forces Salute," and ending with "Stars and Stripes Forever." There were a couple of pieces which may not have been as familiar: Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, “From the New World,” conducted brilliantly by Wayland Whitney, and "Hymn to the Fallen," by John Williams, conducted by Ben Hartung.

During the playing of the Armed Forces Salute, veterans of the five service branches, Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, Navy, and Marines were asked to stand while that service’s official song was played. Proceeds from this Memorial Day concert were donated to the veterans' organization, “Homes for Our Troops.”

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