Sadie Jones
Arts & Entertainment Editor
At 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, the Cameron University Theatre spotlight shined on the Cameron Civic Symphony and the Lawton High School Orchestra.
The two organizations came together for a concert that showcased their musical talent and greeted the fall season.
The program consisted of mainly stringed instruments. Students performed on the Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Bass and Percussion.
Kathy Liticker – Director of Lawton High School Orchestra – joined CU Professor and Director of the Cameron Civic Symphony Dr. Kirsten Underwood.
Each directed portions of the concert. When Underwood conducted, Liticker joined the students in the program and played the violin.
Before each performance began, the CU and Lawton High musicians introduced the piece to be played to the audience and provided its history, such as the author, date written, and any awards the piece may have received.
CU musicians filled the stage for the beginning of the program with George Frideric Handel’s “The Messiah – Overture.” The piece consisted of two movements, “Grave” and “Allegro moderato.”
The program continued with its second piece, Johann Stamitz’s “Sinfonia No. 3 in B-flat Major.” The movement performed was titled “Allabreve.”
Followed by Stamitz’ piece, Peter Warlock’s “Capriol Suite for String Orchestra” continued the program with its three movements, “Basse-danse,” “Pavane,” and Mattachins. Each movement differed in tempo and melody. Different sections of the orchestra played at different times but all came together and created a strong and powerful ending to the piece.
“Highlights from South Pacific” by Richard Rogers and arranged by B. Chase continued the program. As the performance progressed, it received nods of approval and recognition from the audience.
The final piece presented by the CU Civic Symphony was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Music of the Night,” from the award winning musical “Phantom of the Opera.” Cameron University Senior Music Major, Quinton Williams, joined the Orchestra and added percussion for the particular performance.
After “The Music of the Night” performance ended, CU Civic Symphony exited the stage and Lawton High School Orchestra immediately took their place under the bright lights and began their performance with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Overture to Lucio Silla, Op. 135.” The orchestra’s second performance was Jeffery S. Bishops “Declarations.”
After the LHS Orchestra filed off the stage once more, CU students Natalie Finley and Lauren Williams (violin) joined Spenser Jones and Danny McQuarters (cello) and took to the stage with a modern arrangement of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Jones revised the arrangement to contain more of a harmony for the specific performance.
The CU Civic Symphony and LHS Orchestra shared the stage for the final three performances, “The Pink Panther,” by Henry Mancini, “Rolling in the Deep,” by Adele and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” by Green Day.
Before the musicians performed the final song, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” Lambert expressed her thanks to the student musicians and to their family members and friends in attendance.
“Without the support of family and friends, the students probably would not have this opportunity,” Lambert said. “It’s such a privilege to have such a great amount of string performers here in the Lawton community.”