MUKILTEO — David Droz wonders about the future of symphony orchestras. So many high schools have dropped their string programs, he said.
The young violinist plans a career split between performing and teaching. If nothing else, he hopes to help grow the next generation’s audiences.
Droz is set to play the third movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor as part of Mukilteo Community Orchestra’s free “Local Heroes” concert at 2 p.m. March 1 at Rosehill Community Center.
In his final year at Central Washington University, Droz is a 2011 graduate of Kamiak High School. To be able to return to his hometown to solo with the community orchestra is a thrill, he said.
“It’s definitely an honor,” Droz said. “And the Mendelssohn is one of director Trevor Lutzenhiser’s favorites.”
Growing up, Droz studied violin with Joyce Bovey, Kee Soon Namkung and Larry Fisher, all of Snohomish County. He was principal second violinist in Kamiak’s orchestra in his senior year.
“Mendelssohn’s third movement is energetic and playful,” he said. “I can’t help but play it with a smile on my face.”
One of the most famous of violin concertos, the Mendelssohn has been used to by many to propel their careers, Droz said.
“The first movement has become almost cliche because it is so well known. But as a whole the piece is fantastic,” he said. “Despite it being written in the key of E minor, not usually the friendliest to violinists, Mendelssohn, a violinist himself, knew that it would land nicely in the ear.”
Droz’s hope as a future public or private school music teacher is to “share my love of music.”
“People need to realize that music is just as academic as math and that it benefits students greatly,” he said.
The fact that the members of the Mukilteo Community Orchestra are able “pay to play” and thus offer their concerts free of charge is beneficial to the community, Droz said.
“It opens doors for people who might not otherwise attend,” he said.
The Seattle Pacific University Brass Quintet will perform at 1:30 p.m. Sunday as a prelude to the concert.
George Steward, trumpet, will perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Steward, who earned performance degrees at Wheaton Conservatory and Yale School of Music, lives in Lynnwood. He is a teacher and the principal trumpet with the Everett Philharmonic, Cascade Symphony and Octava Chamber Orchestra.
Soprano Sarah Richard, a vocal teacher in south Snohomish County, will perform music written by Canadian lyric composer and musician Brent Straughan.
Baritone Charles Crowley will provide the vocal interpretation of lyrics from the words of Chief Seattle (See-ahth ) in “You Are Not Alone” by local composer Richard Vitzhum.
Also on the program are works by local composers William Maxwell and Kevin Riley.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to bring these very special performances to the Mukilteo community,” said director Lutzenhiser in a statement from the orchestra. “The works were specifically chosen to showcase the amazing talent that we have available to us locally in our community.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
If you go
Mukilteo Community Orchestra, 2 p.m. March 1, Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo. Free. More at www.mukilteoorchestra.org.
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