Columbia Orchestra

The Columbia Orchestra has been doing so well at the box office that it's giving people two opportunities to hear its Symphonic Pops concert this weekend. The concert on Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m., will be repeated on Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m., with both performances in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. "Last year we sold out our pops concert, so this allows us to engage more people," explained Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love. He noted that the added Sunday matinee should prove popular with senior citizens who prefer daytime driving.

When the Columbia Orchestra concludes its 35th season on Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School, it will not go out quietly. "I wanted to go out with a bang," said Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love about the ambitious program he has planned. He added that the three main pieces on the program "all deal with struggle and rebirth. " All of that struggle and rebirth warrant considerable orchestral forces, so the Columbia Orchestra will be joined by an additional 15 to 20 players for this performance.

European composers still tend to dominate most classical music programs in the United States, but the Columbia Orchestra makes a case for our country in a program titled "American Inspirations. " Some of that American music is freshly minted, too, in its concert on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Although the concert-opening piece, N. Cameron Britt's "Inledning," bears a Swedish word meaning "Introduction" as its name, that merely reflects this contemporary American composer having spent time in Sweden.

The Columbia Orchestra has been doing so well at the box office that it's giving people two opportunities to hear its Symphonic Pops concert this weekend. The concert on Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m., will be repeated on Sunday, March 17, at 3 p.m., with both performances in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. "Last year we sold out our pops concert, so this allows us to engage more people," explained Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love. He noted that the added Sunday matinee should prove popular with senior citizens who prefer daytime driving.

When the Columbia Orchestra concludes its 35th season on Saturday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School, it will not go out quietly. "I wanted to go out with a bang," said Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love about the ambitious program he has planned. He added that the three main pieces on the program "all deal with struggle and rebirth. " All of that struggle and rebirth warrant considerable orchestral forces, so the Columbia Orchestra will be joined by an additional 15 to 20 players for this performance.

The holiday season calendar tends to fill up pretty quickly, so it's not too soon to start your shopping for classical music concerts in December. One classy upcoming program to keep in mind is the Columbia Orchestra's next concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Just as chestnuts are roasting on an open fire at this time of year, the program ignites with beloved musical chestnuts by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. However, it also includes the Maryland premiere of a short piece by New York-based composer Nkeiru Okoye.

You don't have to venture farther into the alphabet than the letter "B" to discover the bulk of the Columbia Orchestra's 35th season-opening concert on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Symphonic giants from the 19th and 20th centuries are paired in this program anchored by Leonard Bernstein's "Symphony No. 1, Jeremiah" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8. "Placing Bernstein and Beethoven on the same program relates to something that I'm doing in a lot of concerts this year.

Music director Jason Love will not be wielding his baton when the Columbia Orchestra gives a free chamber concert on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, in Columbia. The nine orchestra members performing in this concert have picked the repertory on their own and also are making their own interpretive decisions about how to play it. Lest you think there has been a palace revolt, Love is all for it. "There are so many great players in the orchestra and sometimes the individuals are lost in the 90-piece orchestra, so it's great to hear them" in smaller ensembles, Love says.

The 19th-century German classical music repertory is not directly represented on the Columbia Orchestra's next concert, but its romantic influence will be heard in the program scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jim Rouse Theatre, at Wilde Lake High School. On the upcoming program are Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, Benjamin Britten's "Four Sea Interludes" from his opera "Peter Grimes" and Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. "They're all 20th-century composers, but rather than breaking with traditions they're extending traditions," observes Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love.

When conductor Jason Love comes onstage wearing a brown cowboy hat, and concertmistress Brenda Anna dons Princess Leia braids during intermission, you can bet it's not just another night at the symphony. Indeed, Saturday night at Jim Rouse Theatre proved a delightfully different musical affair as the Columbia Orchestra concluded its 25th anniversary season with a "Symphonic Pops" program of selections by Richard Rodgers, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, George Gershwin and film composer par excellence, John Williams.

The 19th-century German classical music repertory is not directly represented on the Columbia Orchestra's next concert, but its romantic influence will be heard in the program scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jim Rouse Theatre, at Wilde Lake High School. On the upcoming program are Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, Benjamin Britten's "Four Sea Interludes" from his opera "Peter Grimes" and Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. "They're all 20th-century composers, but rather than breaking with traditions they're extending traditions," observes Columbia Orchestra Music Director Jason Love.

The holiday season calendar tends to fill up pretty quickly, so it's not too soon to start your shopping for classical music concerts in December. One classy upcoming program to keep in mind is the Columbia Orchestra's next concert on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Just as chestnuts are roasting on an open fire at this time of year, the program ignites with beloved musical chestnuts by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. However, it also includes the Maryland premiere of a short piece by New York-based composer Nkeiru Okoye.

Music director Jason Love will not be wielding his baton when the Columbia Orchestra gives a free chamber concert on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7:30 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, in Columbia. The nine orchestra members performing in this concert have picked the repertory on their own and also are making their own interpretive decisions about how to play it. Lest you think there has been a palace revolt, Love is all for it. "There are so many great players in the orchestra and sometimes the individuals are lost in the 90-piece orchestra, so it's great to hear them" in smaller ensembles, Love says.

You don't have to venture farther into the alphabet than the letter "B" to discover the bulk of the Columbia Orchestra's 35th season-opening concert on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School. Symphonic giants from the 19th and 20th centuries are paired in this program anchored by Leonard Bernstein's "Symphony No. 1, Jeremiah" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 8. "Placing Bernstein and Beethoven on the same program relates to something that I'm doing in a lot of concerts this year.

Concerts •The 25th season of the "Sunset Serenades" summer concert series continues with classical music by the Columbia Orchestra at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at Centennial Park, 10000 Route 108, Ellicott City. Free. Information: 410-313-2022. •The Department of Recreation and Parks' "Traveling Bands" concert series continues with the U.S. Navy Country Current band at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at Western Regional Park, Route 97 and Carrs Mill Road. Free. Information: 410-313-2022.

Carl Leo Dietrich, who had been chairman of the music department at what is now McDaniel College and later was a founder of the Columbia Orchestra, died May 24 of a fall at his Naples, Fla., home. The former Columbia resident was 85. "His influence of joyful exuberance is still very much a part of the spirit of music-making here in the department today," said Dr. Margaret Boudreaux, who succeeded Mr. Dietrich as department chair in 1991. "He was my immediate predecessor as chair, and the person that hired me," said Dr. Boudreaux.

The two winners of the Columbia Orchestra's 2006 Young Artist Competition will join the Columbia Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow for a concert loaded with energy. The youthful exuberance of the two soloists will be perfectly matched by the enthusiasm of the musicians of the Columbia Orchestra. The Columbia Orchestra is a volunteer adult community orchestra whose conductor and music director, Jason Love, is an inspiring and a knowledgeable musician. Love was educated at the Peabody Conservatory, studying cello and conducting, and is a member of the faculty at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

It will be a "Mostly Mozart" Saturday night at Smith Theatre, courtesy of the Columbia Orchestra.Conductor Catherine L. Ferguson will take the stage at 8 to conduct Mozart's Overture to "Don Giovanni," the sparkling A-major Piano Concerto, K.414, and the Flute Concerto in G. Rounding out the program will be Felix Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony."

Sunday, May 6 Lecture The Columbia Jewish Congregation Adult Education Committee presents Dr. Carolivia Herron speaking on "Out of Africa: Jewish Stories From Ethiopia And Zimbabwe" at 9:30 a.m. at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road in Columbia. Information: 410-730-6044. Concert The Howard Community College Singers and Howard Community College-Bain Center Senior Choir perform a variety of works from folk to classical at 6 p.m. in Monteabaro Recital Hall, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway in Columbia.

The classical music calendar is covered with notes in Howard County this weekend. That's because there are several local concerts scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18. Much as music lovers might like to be in two places at the same time, they'll have to make some tough choices when it comes to choosing between overlapping events. Columbia Orchestra It's not just any busy weekend, of course, because many people will be celebratingSt. Patrick's Dayon Saturday.