The Greenspring Valley Orchestra is collaborating with Carolyn Black-Sotir and the Concert Artists of Baltimore to present the show “Richard Rodgers and His Sounds of Music” at the Gordon Center for Performing Arts on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 3-5 p.m.
This season celebrates Richard Rodgers and his various works from “Oklahoma!” “Manhattan,” “South Pacific,” ”My Romance,” “Carousel,” “The King and I,” and “The Sound of Music.”
The Greenspring Valley Orchestra is a community orchestra with experienced and amateur players, and this performance will highlight both. The Concert Artists of Baltimore will feature a 24-voice professional choir. In addition, a few of the artists own musicians will join the orchestra for this performance.
Dr. Robert Suggs, director of the Greenspring Valley Orchestra, described this season’s tribute to Rodgers, by calling him a pathfinder who “defined American musical theater.” This performance is more than just a concert that celebrates Rodgers’ work; it combines narration, projected images and music to create a unique musical experience. This performance is a “complete retrospective look at the work of Richard Rodgers,” said Suggs.
The first half of the program will feature Rodgers’ earlier works with Larry Hart from the 1920s, and the second half will focus on the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein from the 1940s. Suggs will conduct the first half, and Maestro Edward Polochick, director of Concert Artists of Baltimore, will conduct the second half.
AN ACCIDENTAL COLLABORATION
This collaboration occurred, according to Suggs, by coincidence. Both the Concert Artists of Baltimore and the Greenspring Valley Orchestra had the same idea to do a Rodgers-inspired show this season, unbeknownst to each other. Once the two groups realized they wanted to do the same show during the same season, it became clear that the most efficient solution would be to combine efforts. In the long run, said Suggs, this worked out well for all involved. The groups combined ideas to create a unique theatrical and musical experience and predict for another sold out performance.
Carolyn Black-Sotir, the narrator and soprano soloist of the show, has had an impact on the show’s production. She has performed with a smaller group in the past on a version of this concert, so she was prepared with various ideas.
The Gordon Center for Performing Arts is located five minutes from the Owings Mills campus. Tickets are available for purchase on the Gordon Center’s website and will also be sold at the door. All Stevenson students and staff will receive a $5 discount when ordering tickets online and using the promo code “SU Special.”
