Symphony and friends bring Broadway to Uni-Fab

By Mark Ribble

The sold-out performance by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra last April at Uni-Fab in Leamington prompted a promise to return and the orchestra did just that last Friday, March 10, and they brought friends.

The full symphony assembled at the east end of Uni-Fab’s main fabricat- ing department after Abe and Mary Fehr’s crew spent the afternoon clearing out tons of machinery and material to facilitate the concert.

Maestro Robert Franz told The Sun that the WSO is glad to be back at Uni-Fab and the unique acoustics it offers.

In addition to the symphony, the audience of just under 200 welcomed standout Canadian vocalist Charlotte Knight and the St. Clair College Musical Theatre troupe.

The theme of the evening was “Charlotte Knight Sings Broadway” and the symphony opened with the overture from South Pacific after a surprise rendition of Happy Birthday played for symphony music director Maestro Robert Franz.

After the overture, the vocalists jumped on the South Pacific bandwagon with renditions of There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame (St. Clair male singers), Bali Ha’i (St. Clair soloist Sahiba Arora) and headline vocalist Charlotte Knight performing A Cockeyed Optimist.

The evening continued with songs from The Music Man, Company, The Baker’s Wife and more, bringing the audience back to some of those Broadway musicals of yesteryear.

Male singers from St. Clair College’s Musical Theatre troupe perform There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame on Friday, March 10 at Uni-Fab. SUN photos

Maestro Robert Franz bows graciously to thank his orchestra who surprised him with their rendition of Happy Birthday.

Canadian vocalist Charlotte Knight performs A Cockeyed Optimist from South Pacific Friday night at Uni-Fab.

Sahiba Arora performs Bali Ha’i from South Pacific on Friday, March 10 at Uni-Fab.