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50 Years of Music

Wilmington Symphony Ochestra Returns To Live Concerts For Anniversary Year

STROY BY JEFFREY STITES PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

There really is nothing quite like sitting in front of a full live orchestra while it performs. You can watch on television, listen in your car or even on headphones at home, but that live experience brings something that simply can’t be replicated or easily explained to one who hasn’t experienced it. Luckily, we have had opportunity to experience live orchestral music for the past 50 years thanks to the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. After a difficult year navigating the restrictions brought on by the pandemic, the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra is performing live again, beginning this month. We spoke to Liz Scanlon, the Orchestra’s Executive Director, about the group’s 50th anniversary, its history and its future.

What did the orchestra look like in 1971? Where did they perform?

The orchestra back in 1971 was a group of musicians that wanted to form an orchestra so they could play. Anyone could join at the time and Nancy McAllister, former concert master and music teacher, had her students join the group. There was a fair amount of high school students in the group. My favorite quote is from an original member, clarinetist John Stike… we were terrible at that first concert…but as the years progressed and the word got out, the orchestra got better and better.

We have donors, subscribers and board members that were in that first concert. We have a very loyal following.

What did the orchestra look like in 1986, when Steven Errante became Conductor? How has his leadership contributed to the orchestra’s changes over the last 35 years?

Steven Errante implemented auditions for the orchestra several years ago which increased the caliber of musicians playing in the orchestra. When he started 35 years ago the orchestra was still made up of local musicians with all levels of playing skill.

The Youth Orchestra was founded 20 years ago, in 2001. How has it grown over the last two decades?

There was a great need for a youth orchestra with arts cuts in the schools. Steven Errante was the original conductor,

The Dust Has Settled

We’re All Moved

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Our new address is 5201 Southport Supply Rd, here in Southport. With more room for our staff, plenty of parking and easy access for all.

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Not far from our old office at ... 5201 Southport-Supply Road

and he was only going to do this for a few years. Twenty years later he is still there! With his retirement from UNCW, he would like to step down as the WSYO conductor and we are actively looking for his replacement.

What other youth programs has the orchestra developed? How many youth participate today?

We have four programs: Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra (WSYO), Junior Strings, Chamber Group ensembles, and our newest, Rockestra. Over 150 students participate in these programs.

We also have a guest artist in residence program. Two of our guest artists will visit local schools and talk about classical music and how they can become musicians. We reach over 2,500 students with this program. We also have a Free Family concert in April and a new Education Concert, Beethoven Lives Upstairs, also in April. We want our concerts to 1) be accessible for all and 2) to reach younger students to create an appreciation for classical music. Student tickets for any of our concerts are always free.

Do you know if any of the original youth orchestra members play with the orchestra today?

Yes! Christine Maynard, our new concert master, was in the inaugural WSYO. Hillary Flowers was also in the first class, and she is still active in the orchestra. Many of our WSYO players have joined the orchestra over the 20 years. It is a wonderful progression and what makes our education programs so valuable.

How many members does the orchestra have today? Where are the musicians drawn from?

Most of our players are local musicians that have studios, are teaching at UNCW or CFCC or at middle and high schools, doctors and other professionals who have a “day job.” We occasionally hire musicians from outside the Cape Fear region if needed.

How would someone interested in joining the orchestra begin that process? in August and January. The audition music and audition form are on our website. We also have tremendous word of mouth from our orchestra members who are continually recruiting for the WSO.

How has the orchestra weathered the last year, with its restrictions on live shows? Did you learn anything from the experience that you think will prove useful as we move past the pandemic?

We got very creative! We were able to create virtual and in-person programs with our students by engaging our WSO players as mentors in our Chamber groups ensembles and virtual masterclasses. With our virtual programming we were able to engage artists outside of the Cape Fear region – we had former guest artist Sterling Elliott lead a cello masterclass, Ara Gregorian and Molly Hines taught a violin masterclass, and experts on everything from vibrato to sightreading teaching the students. If we had not moved to virtual, these offerings would not be possible. We also had small chamber groups that met in person. Each group was mentored by a WSO player. This was so successful that we decided to add it to our repertoire.

What makes the 2021 Anniversary Season program special? What can orchestra goers expect?

The season is special, as is the case with many arts organizations, because we made it through one of the toughest times with a clearer vision of how to engage our audience. It doesn’t matter that it is our 50th… we are just grateful for the loyal supporters of our organization. They want to see us succeed!

What does the future hold for the WSO? What are the orchestra’s goals for the future?

Our main goals are to engage new audiences, create more experiences for students in the schools and on the stage, continue to involve more local musicians in the WSO, build more relationships with music studios to cross promote musical offerings for students, fundraise for scholarships and outreach programs, and continue relationships with other arts organizations.

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Visit and Learn At Cooperative Extension

STORY AND PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Temperatures may be dropping, but there are still plenty of beautiful things growing, and the Brunswick County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association invites the public to see how it’s done. The Master Gardener Association is hosting its 2nd Annual Open House on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 9 am - 12 pm. The Botanical Demonstration Garden is located in the Brunswick County Government Complex at 25 Referendum Drive (next to Building N) in Bolivia. Parking is in the rear of Building N, where access is closest to the gardens.

Within the boundaries of the Brunswick County Botanical Demonstration Garden, visitors will find 15 different outdoor spaces. The Extension Master Gardener Volunteers will be on hand to answer gardening questions and provide helpful information about soil testing, native plants, pollinators and suitable coastal Zone 8 plantings.

Learn about the plants you can add to your own gardens that are deer resistant. Find out which plants entice butterflies and bees to visit along the Pollinator Walk. Check out the display garden of Encore Azaleas, the South’s favorite flowering shrub. The Edible Garden will inspire you to add vegetables to your front yard landscape.

Perhaps you have been told, “Roses can’t grow here.” Come see the success we have had with over 40 varieties growing in this hot and humid climate in our Rose Garden. If your garden has been blessed with shade, our Shady Native Garden has many good ideas for you.

Camellias, hydrangeas and ferns are bountiful in the relaxing Live Oak Garden. The soothing Reflection Garden, with its waterfall, pond and Japanese Maples, suggests a spot for meditation.

Explore the Discovery Garden with its educational twist on bottle trees and a garden tunnel. The Sunny Native Garden demonstrates the benefits of growing natives when irrigation is limited.

The Welcome Garden helps direct visitors from the backside of the Extension office to the front and is full of easy-to-grow and easy-to-find plants -- just what you might want or have at your own backdoor.

Seasonal scents grow around an obelisk in the Fragrance Garden and give support to any ceremony that may be held next door in the green and white Celebration Garden. This garden has hosted many intimate weddings in the past two years and is available for other small gatherings by reservation (and at no cost for rental) through the Extension office.

Thermometers posted in the Micro-Climate Garden show the difference sunlight can make in temperature readings and plant behavior. Container gardening is located throughout the garden to inspire

The newest garden space is the Curb Appeal Garden which was designed and installed by the 2019 Master Gardener Intern class. Its purpose is to demonstrate to Brunswick County newcomers what will grow well here in their newly-acquired landscape. There is a sunny space and a shady space in this garden to give you ideas for both. Incorporated in the sunny area is a Rain Garden that demonstrates how to slow water runoff during our heavy rain showers.

In response to the 2020 Open House cancellation due to Covid-19, the Extension Master Gardeners produced YouTube videos that spotlight each of these gardens. If you are unable to join the Open House on Oct. 23, these videos are available for viewing on the Cooperative Extension YouTube channel.

For more information, call Krystyna Ochota at the Brunswick County Cooperative Extension, 910-253-2610.

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