To continue their support of music in the area, Women in Music-Columbus (WMC) will kick off their 119th season tomorrow night.
The concert titled “A Night at the Opera” will be held at Capital University’s Mees Hall starting at 8:00 p.m. The concert is dedicated to Mary Ellen Huff, who is the former principle violinist in the Columbus Woman’s Orchestra, audition coordinator and the violinist in the Divertimanti Chamber Group.
“We started off dedicating it to Mary Ellen, but in the light of last week’s events we are also dedicating it to the victims,” said Gerrie Cribb, who helped start the Divertimanti Chamber Group with Mary Ellen.
According to WMC’s web site, www.womeninmusic.columbus.oh.us, four singers from WMC will perform in duets and quartets. The concert will also feature the Columbus Women’s Orchestra, which is celebrating their 24th year of performing.
The orchestra, which is one of only five women orchestras in the country, will perform a suite from Bizet’s “Carmen, Overture to Der Frieschutz” by Andrew Lloyd Weber and a suite from Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas.”
According to the WMC’s president, Sarah Wurdlow, the WMC was founded as the Women’s Music Club by Isabelle Chandler. Since the WMC began in 1882, the organization has continually paved the way for women of all ages to become composers, performers, conductors and scholars. Although it is the oldest musical organization in the area, WMC has grown and adapted to the changing arts community over the years.
WMC has brought more than 500 concert artists, orchestras and operas to Columbus since 1895. According to the web site, the organization is continually trying to expand the knowledge of its concertgoers by exploring new and unfamiliar compositions, emphasizing women composers.
However, WMC goes beyond concerts to reach youth. According to the web site, the organization also offers mentoring programs, young artist and composer competitions and an annual scholarship competition for college music majors. Also, through their outreach program, WMC sends soloists and ensemble groups to perform at schools, retirement homes and nursing homes.
The 2001-2002 season will include a total of nine concerts. The web site shows that the concerts will include the Columbus Women’s Orchestra, the Columbus Cellos, the String Sinfonia, and a variety of vocalists. The season ends with the May 4th concert “Tradition with a Twist.”
Adult admission prices range up to $10, but at all concerts, anyone under 17 is admitted free. Tickets for Saturday’s concert will cost $10 with student and group discounts available.
