Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra’s Spring Concert at Clark Chapel

The concert “Classic to Contemporary” features music ranging from Jean Sibelius’ “Impromptu” and Peter Warlock’s “Capriol Suite” to a medley of favorites from “Mamma Mia” by the Swedish pop group ABBA.  You are sure to enjoy Vanessa Pentz’s soaring oboe solo, floating atop the strings, on Ennio Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe”.  It’s been clear to orchestra members that one of our new conductor Linda Tracy’s favorites on the contemporary side of the program is a string arrangement of Jon Batiste’s Grammy Award winning song “Freedom” as Linda urges on the string orchestra and percussionists in rehearsal to capture the energy and spirit of Batiste’s music: “It’s time to boogie, people! Don’t fight the feeling-get your groove on!”  On the Classic side, a highlight of the program will be the exciting and entertaining “Handel / Halvorsen Passacaglia Duet for Viola and Violin”. Guest violist Dylan Lomangino, who was NCCO conductor until November 2023, when he turned the baton over to Linda, will team up with NCCO violinist Dustin Rood. Dustin is a talented and award winning violinist who is about to graduate from E. O. Smith High School and then he’s off to Ithaca College to major in violin performance.