About the Orchestra
In its 40th year, the University-Community orchestra at the University of Mary Washington is one of the most successful organizations on campus, boasting approximately 90 members from the student body and the community. The orchestra is highly respected for its musicianship and its mission to support students and the Fredericksburg community.
The orchestra performs six or more concerts annually, including the October Masterworks program, a Young Peoples Concert, two Holiday POPS concerts (a Fredericksburg "must do"), a "Musical Mix" concert, and the April Celebrity Series. All concerts are free except for the April Celebrity event.
The orchestra has performed the “Independence Day Spectacular” at Pratt Park for the past two years, kicking off the city’s fireworks display to over 7,000 people. Recent performances include a Carnegie Hall concert, a performance of Faure’s Requiem in Paris, a Holiday POPS "Once Upon a Sleigh Ride"- tribute to Leroy Anderson, and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
The April Celebrity Series is an annual event that features world-class artists performing with the UMW-CSO. Celebrity Series artists have included Broadway maestro Marvin Hamlisch, the Canadian Brass, singer Judy Collins, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, and the Kingston Trio. In May 2009, the UMW-CSO performed under the direction Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. This year, they will host TV's legendary Wonder Woman, singer Lynda Carter. [http://www.lyndacartersings.com]
In May 2006, the UMW-CSO recently kicked off its new touring program with a trip to Europe. The group traveled to the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany on a “Mozart Tour,” which mirrored the travels of the young Mozart as a child prodigy. In May 2008, the orchestra toured England and France, and featured performances of Faure's Requiem with a French choir in Paris. This year, they will be travelling on a national tour to California.
The orchestra program enjoys remarkable community support, with a 250-member "Friends of the Orchestra" and financial support that has generated over $800,000.00 in endowments to finance student scholarships. This year, over $36,000 in scholarships were given to orchestra students. The string faculty includes several nationally-known performers and educators.
The UMW-CSO’s outreach organization, "Fiddlestix," sponsors several children’s programs each year including a Young Peoples Concert, an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” and other children's concerts.
Dr. Bartram’s vision for the UMW-CSO includes the “Composer’s Project” that commissions artists to write music for the group. The premiere work in this series, written by internationally-renowned composer Dr. James Grant, was performed at the University’s 2008 Centennial Concert. The work, entitled "Quest: Symphony of Celebration" was a six-movement symphony for full orchestra and narrator. A second commission was offered to two UMW music students to score the UMW Alma Mater for symphony orchestra. The orchestra also has premiered a work by UMW Music Professor David Long entitled "LXXV+XXV: A Celebratory Overture for Orchestra.”
With an established record of excellence, vision for the future, the University of Mary Washington-Community Symphony Orchestra will continue to add prestige to the university and to Central Virginia.
Click Here for highlights of some of the orchestras more memorable performances.