THE Coffs Harbour City Orchestra is getting into show business with a concert medley of Broadway Musicals.
The concert will be held in the performance space at the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium on Sunday 8 November at 3pm.
The orchestra will provide a free concert to the residents of Shoreline on Saturday 7 November at 2 pm.
Rehearsals have been fun and the musicians are exciting ‘to go on with the show’ and provide the audience with myriad melodies of well-known musicals from over the years that connect with all age groups: The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, The Phantom of the Opera, Le Misérables, Chicago, Wicked and more.
Broadway musicals produce some of the most memorable, iconic songs and there are sure to be many melodies that are instantly recognisable to the audience, the orchestra’s Musical Director, Tim Egan, told News Of The Area.
“Music from the musical theatre genre provides audiences with feelings and emotions far beyond pure listening pleasure,” he said.
“It has the extraordinary ability to transport us to another time and place, stirring memories, awakening passions and touching the very heart of the human experience.
“Who could listen to the soaring beauty of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music, the stirring defiance of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from Les Misérables, or the haunting strains of “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera without feeling something profound?”
These melodies are far more than memorable tunes; they are powerful expressions of hope, love, sacrifice and the enduring human spirit, he said.
“Equally captivating is the emotional intensity of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita, with its poignant blend of vulnerability and grandeur, and the exhilarating optimism of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, which celebrates courage, individuality and the freedom to challenge convention.
“Such songs remind us that great musical theatre is not simply entertainment, but an experience that resonates long after the final note has faded.”
The orchestra members are appreciative of the City of Coffs Harbour for grant funding.
“This funding accommodates the free concerts we are hosting in retirement villages and our popular Christmas Carols at Sawtell Surf Club,” orchestra spokesperson Cathie McIntyre said.
“The grants help with purchasing music, advertising, venue hire and so on.”
Anyone who is interested in joining the orchestra can attend a rehearsal on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm in the Seventh Day Adventist Church Hall, Valley Street, Coffs Harbour.
“There is no age limit, anyone who can read music and play a few scales is welcome,” Ms McIntyre said.
“You will need to bring your own instrument; however, we do own a number of percussion instruments if that’s your forte.”
By Andrea FERRARI
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