Civic orchestra will feature strings

The Columbia County Civic Orchestra soon will debut the sounds of its string players.

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The civic orchestra started meeting in February with 12 players. Three months later, the group has expanded to 18 string players.

Tuesday will mark the group's premiere performance, "String Classics," featuring pieces by Bach, Mozart, and other classical composers, said Rob Nordan, the civic orchestra's musical director and conductor.

"Most of the pieces that we are playing are classical pieces that people would identify," he said.

The free concert, at 7 p.m. at West Acres Baptist Church in Evans, also includes three solo performances by two violinists and one cellist.

"It'll be fun," said cellist Christine Crookall during a rehearsal. Crookall, a faculty member of Augusta State University's Department of Music, will play a solo portion at the concert.

The orchestra has been rehearsing since February. It features four string instruments -- violin, viola, cello and double bass. A piano and keyboard will be added for Tuesday's concert.

Nordan said he also hopes the concert attracts musicians who might want to join the orchestra.

"People that might be thinking about joining us in the summer when we start doing full orchestra stuff will have a chance to come to this concert and hear what the group has been up to," he said.

Full orchestra rehearsals begin June 3, and members will meet from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at West Acres Baptist Church.

The first phase of the Columbia County Civic Orchestra focused on building up the string section, Nordan said, and now he wants to add woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments.

Membership is not limited to county residents.

"We call it the Columbia County Civic Orchestra because that's where we're based and we rehearse and have our concerts," he said, "but it's certainly open to anybody."