Odd Combination

 This was homecoming weekend for Grace College. As part of the program, they incorporated a concert by Symphony of the Lakes.

It was in the Winona Heritage Room (formerly known as Rodeheaver Auditorium). We learned about it through the Grace promotional email for homecoming. It was open to the public, however, and advertised in the local newspaper. You had to buy tickets from Wagon Wheel which oversees the orchestra. 

The program was titled Goin' Home. I really enjoyed Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95. The second movement is known as Going Home.

 After intermission, the 2023 winner of the Young Artists Competition played with the orchestra the 3rd movement of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Minor, Op. 21. Chloe Park's age was not given, but she must be in high school as the competition is open to middle school and high school students. She played a difficult piece very well. 

The Symphony decided to end with the No Name Quartet, a gospel quartet from the area. Several of its members were graduates of Grace College. Before they sang, they mentioned this was the first time in 20 years of singing that they had sung with an orchestra. I would say that they should have stuck with their recorded backgrounds. It was a very odd combination of gospel quartet and symphonic orchestra. Several of the songs the quartet did were with recorded background. That sounded normal. The orchestra background seemed very strange, especially the last song Packin' Up. It was a cacophony of hurried mushy sound and you could not make out the words of the song. 

Still, it was a nice evening out.

Amazing Grace

Tonight’s concert at MasterWorks had an unusual element. Anne Martindale Williams was to play Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. It was announced that she had injured herself, not seriously, but enough that she would not be able to perform. 2 or 3 days ago, Alan Harrell, one of the faculty, was asked if he would fill in. He agreed and did an excellent job. I am sure his efforts were undergirded by much prayer by himself and others in the MasterWorks program. He did use a score for some of it which is certainly understandable.

The program notes mentioned that this was a technically difficult piece of music. It has intricate fingering and fast movement up and down the strings. In gratitude for not being disappointed by a canceled performance, the audience and orchestra gave several rounds of applause. On the third time back to the stage, Mr. Harrell announced he would play Amazing Grace through once, then invited the orchestra to join in and the audience to sing. This was not planned ahead, but I believe spontaneous prompting by the Holy Spirit. As the instruments and voices blended together, you could sense God’s presence among us. Yes, amazing grace for Alan Harrell to use his gift of music to glorify God. It was a touching moment to the end of an excellent concert.