Two free concerts provide chances to hear orchestra

The Columbia County Orchestra Association will spread the joy of music with two concerts in May.

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The Columbia Winds will perform first with a Saturday recital. The woodwind instrumentalists will play a variety of selections, including American folk music and classical pieces, association Music Director Rob Nordan said.

"They're going to be doing ... dances from all over the world," he said.

The group consists of director and clarinetist Alan Drake, flutist June Newton, oboist Sumner Fishbein, bassoonist Laura Ramsey and French horn player Charles Lawrence.

This concert is the second of the orchestra association's recital series, which started in February.

"This one will be probably a little more serious," he said. "It'll definitely be something that everyone would have an appreciation for."

Two concerts will be held in the fall featuring the professional string group and a professional chamber orchestra.

Saturday's free recital starts at 4 p.m. at West Acres Baptist Church, 555 Gibbs Road, Evans.

Another free performance May 8 will bring together Georgia opera vocalists and the Columbia County Civic Orchestra.

Each of the six singers performing at An Afternoon at the Opera either grew up in the state or lives here now, Nordan said.

"Not only are there some fine vocalists in the state of Georgia, but many grew up in this area," he said. "I wanted to showcase the fact that there's some really fine musicians in our area."

Nordan will conduct the program, and Drake, who is also a emeritus professor of music at Augusta State University, is the featured soloist.

The music will range from pieces heard on cartoon classics Tom and Jerry and Looney Tunes to selections by classical composers, Nordan said.

The concert will start at 3 p.m. at West Acres. In case of rain, the opera concert will be moved to The Sanctuary, 4584 Cox Road, Evans. For details, visit www.columbiacco.org.