MUKILTEO — Members of the Mukilteo Community Orchestra are eager to perform two free concerts Sunday.
That’s because the opening performance of the orchestra’s 2016-17 season is all about children.
“We are excited to offer this to the community. It’s so much more than a traditional performance,” said musician Louise Stanton-Masten. “A lot of people have been involved in this one.”
The concerts will feature Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s musical story “Peter and the Wolf.” Performances are set for 1 and 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., in Mukilteo.
The program, sponsored by the city of Mukilteo, also will feature artwork by elementary school students, which they submitted as part of a poster art contest that was sponsored by the orchestra as a way to engage young people.
“Maybe some of the children will be inspired to pick up an instrument,” Stanton-Masten said.
Beatrix Jordan, a Mukilteo Elementary fourth-grader, is the contest winner. Beatrix is involved in art, dance and music. She has taken several art classes and works in all media. In addition to spending time drawing, Beatrix plays the cello in her school orchestra and has taken ballet lessons for several years.
Peter and the Wolf tells the story of a young boy staying at his grandfather’s house in the forest and the animals that he encounters as he strikes out to explore the woods. Each character in the story is represented and played by different instruments in the orchestra. The story will be narrated by local actor Ron Johanson, with sign-language interpretation of the story provided by ASL interpreter Mara Rohrenbach.
While the story is introduced, photos of musical instruments and the animals they represent in the music will be displayed on a big screen, followed by illustrations of the story as the piece is played.
Audience members will also have an opportunity for hands-on instrument experiences, with an “Instrument Petting Zoo” offered by Carol Harkins from the Gene Nastri Community School of the Arts and Kennelly Keys. Teen volunteers who want to earn community service credits are needed to help with the zoo. To volunteer, call or text 425-308-5503.
The second half of the concert offers another young audience favorite, the music from the animated Disney movie “Frozen,” which is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow Queen.” The piece includes familiar tunes such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” “Let It Go” and “For The First Time In Forever.”
In keeping with the orchestra’s mission to provide educational opportunities in partnership with other community groups, young ballet dancers from Mari’s Place in Everett will be the featured performers during “Frozen.” Mari’s Place supports primarily low-income Latino families through creative projects such as ballet classes.
“We are sure that this performance, with the range of experiences that it offers, will offer both our young audience members as well as adults a new way to engage with our musical performances,” said Trevor Lutzenhiser, conductor and artistic director.
More information about the concert and images of each Peter and the Wolf poster contest artwork can be found at www.mukilteoorchestra.org.
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