EVERETT — The newly formed Everett Philharmonic is letting the music begin.
The philharmonic is launching its debut performance with conductor Paul-Elliott Cobbs at an event they are calling the Spring Fling.
The fling is set for April 18 and is billed as a mini-concert and dinner-dance to kick off the philharmonic’s new season with a sneak preview of their concert program.
These philharmonic members vowed in February to keep classical music alive in Snohomish County after the Everett Symphony Orchestra went idle and canceled the remainder of their season.
Those idle symphony musicians decided to found the new organization, the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra.
And though it has no money and no place to play, this new philharmonic has the powerhouse team of conductor Cobbs, who will lead the group as maestro and music director, and his wife, Loma Cobbs, who will become the new organization’s executive director and who brings 17 years experience as executive director for the Tacoma Youth Symphony.
“Determined to advance symphonic performances in the greater Everett area and under the direction of 26-year veteran conductor Cobbs, this newly formed orchestra has set a new agenda and is prepared to fulfill Everett’s musical legacy and climb to greater heights,” according to a press release sent out by the philharmonic.
The Everett Symphony board blamed the stagnant economy coupled with years of poor financial planning as the reason for aborting its season and terminating the contracts of all the musicians, along with Cobbs’ contract.
Forming the new Everett Philharmonic was the answer for many orchestra members who wanted to continue to play music under Cobbs and to not let classical music go idle in the county.
Spring Fling is the philharmonic’s first public appearance to, in part, help get the word out about the new organization and their new concert program and to help raise money for the group.
Emcee for the evening will be versatile vocalist Nadine Shanti, who is a composer, performer and educator and has often been a crowd favorite in Snohomish County.
The evening also includes gourmet dinner choices of smoked pork tenderloin, Tuscan chicken or Mediterranean vegetable manicotti. A champagne welcome reception will begin the evening, and a no-host bar will be provided.
The nearly 80 member philharmonic will perform a preview selection of music from the upcoming concert season. The philharmonic’s combo The Curators will provide soft dinner music and the jazz group The Philly’s will play old standards.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Spring Fling
Everett Philharmonic’s Spring Fling starts at 5:30 p.m. April 18 in the Edward D. Hansen Ballroom at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett.
Cost is $50 person before Friday and includes a gourmet dinner, a sneak preview of the concert season and dancing with live music.
For more information on the Everett Philharmonic or to buy tickets to the Spring Fling, go to www.everettphil.org.
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