Annual WSO Children’s Concert makes return Feb. 22

For years Wayne and Holmes fourth-graders have taken the educational field trip to The College of Wooster for the annual Wooster Symphony Orchestra Children’s Concert.

Around 1,400 students will fill the chapel on Feb. 22 for a 45-minute concert that gives kids the opportunity to see a live symphony. The excursion is organized by the college, Tri-County Educational Service Center and the Friends of the WSO.

“It’s exciting to have that many students in one place,” said Jeff Lindberg, music director.

Lindberg, who has conducted WSO for the past 38 years, said he and his musicians enjoy performing for children. The orchestra is made up of high school and college students, faculty members, and other community players.

Students receive program booklets ahead of time that introduce symphony instruments, concert etiquette and information about specific pieces. The Friends of the WSO, which funds the educational booklets, soloists and special performances, received a $5,000 grant from the Ohio Arts Council called ArtsRISE. It will fund this year’s concert.

The concert will feature pieces the symphony has been practicing for its upcoming public show along with a few favorites. This year’s selections will include “Mvt. 5 from Capriccio Espagnol” by Fandango Asturiano, Haydn’s “Concerto No. 2 in D Major,” “Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavelleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni and “Nun danket alle Gott” by Martin Rinkert.

The show generally ends with the “William Tell Overture,” a student favorite. Pat Miles, co-chair of the Friends, volunteers every year and enjoys watching the students.

“People my age equate that (piece) to the theme of the Lone Ranger,” Miles said. “These kids don’t know the Lone Ranger, but boy, they’re hitting their knees and they’re really into that music.”

The concert usually features a pop culture movie favorite. This year kids had the choice between hearing a piece from “Star Wars” or “Indiana Jones.” “Star Wars” won.

Lindberg likes to highlight all instrumental sections of the orchestra and chooses pieces that fit. Because McGaw Chapel houses a large organ, Lindberg includes an organ piece to go with the brass.

“The students are always asking for the organ, so we’re going to do this big organ piece with the brass section,” Lindberg said.

Additionally, students will get to see select instruments up close as players walk out into the audience.

“The principal player of each section will stand up and play a short melody that shows off the instrument. We’ll have one (member) playing on stage demonstrating it musically and then another walking out so the students can see it up close,” Lindberg said.

The concerts have held true to their original intent, which was to give students cultural exposure, along with an interest in playing themselves.

“This may be the only live orchestra they ever attend in their lifetime,” said Michelle Muro, fine arts consultant of Tri-County ESC. “So it’s a very significant part of their music education.”

WSO was founded in 1915 by Daniel Parmelee as a way to enhance the cultural life of Wayne County. The children’s concerts followed, the earliest reported concert in 1930, according to local newspapers. While a recurring occurrence, the concert became annual sometime in the 1970s or 1980s, just before Lindberg began conducting, he said.

The Friends, formerly known as the Women’s Committee, was founded in 1972 as a way to promote the WSO, which includes fundraising, ushering and giving out special awards. The nonprofit became the Friends last year and has grown to about 73 members, Miles said. Anyone interested in joining the Friends may call Miles at 330-264-6434.

The children’s concert and programs like it have sparked the next generation for decades. WSO’s performance is geared toward fourth grade in preparation for band and other musical endeavors.

“Traditionally, students begin their instrument study in fifth grade,” Lindberg said. “Hopefully, that gets them excited about playing, and hopefully in the future, some of them will actually play in the orchestra.”

“(Fourth grade is) a prime time to get children interested in music,” Miles said. “Music has so many benefits — mathematics, reading, with all kinds of things — and it’s lifelong.”

The children’s concert will conclude the symphony’s winter season. Another concert is set for May 10, and a holiday concert is in the works.