LIFESTYLES

Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Begins

Second Half of its 41st Season and the Hills are Alive with the ‘Sound of Music’

By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles

is month marks the beginning of the second half of Evergreen Chamber Orchestra’s 41st musical season, which runs annually from September through June. Because the month of February is synonymous with love and matters of the heart, it is the perfect time to let your heart fall in love with the melodious sounds of the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra (ECO).

e all-volunteer Evergreen Chamber Orchestra features 40 skilled and impassioned instrumentalists. Formed in 1981 by local musicians who had been playing together informally, a Board of Directors was formed from musicians and local business members, Dr. William Morse of Denver’s Metropolitan State College was selected as the orchestra’s rst music director and

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principal conductor, and the non-pro t Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Society was created. e Evergreen Chamber Orchestra’s Board of Directors is comprised of a group of musicians, attorneys, doctors, MBAs, and teachers with diverse backgrounds and skills.

William (Bill) Hill, critically acclaimed composer, soloist, visual artist, recording artist, and conductor is currently in his eighth season as ECO’s Musical Director.

A Principal Timpanist and Composer with the Colorado Symphony, he retired from Denver University’s Lamont School of Music a few years ago where he taught composition and counterpoint. Likewise, Mr. Hill is an accomplished jazz musician, and his Grammy-nominated band

“Bill Hill and Friends” has been featured at ECO’s annual Jazz Gala for the past several seasons.

Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments. ECO’s Recital Series, which showcases Chamber repertoire performances by individuals and small groups, commences on February 26, 2023 with its “Prelude to Spring Recital.” All Chamber Recital Series performances for the 2022-2023 Season are held on Sundays from 3-5pm at St. Laurence Episcopal Church, 26812 Barkley Road, in Conifer. ese intimate concerts o er music lovers of all genres ample opportunities to see and hear ECO musicians up-close amidst the stellar room acoustics and generous hospitality of St. Laurence Episcopal Church.

ECO’s Masterworks Concert Series, performed in

Orchestra

From Page 1 pairs (Saturday/Sunday) from 3:005:30pm at Denver’s First Universalist Church of Denver/4101 E. Hampden Avenue and at Evergreen Lutheran Church/5980 County Hwy 73, features music from masters like Debussy, Beethoven, Bizet, and others. e orchestra is excited to work with Steinway artist Stephanie Shih-yu Cheng who will be performing Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor during the Spring Concerts on March 18 (Denver) and March 19 (Evergreen). Stephanie’s playing has been described as “eloquent and elegant with a passion, introspection, sensitivity, and a nely honed sense of style.” e Season Finale features the long- principal violist Basil Vendryes performing the Bruch Romanze for Viola and Orchestra and the world premiere of William Hill’s Concerto for Viola, Strings, and Percussion written speci cally for Basil. If you have never seen Basil perform as a soloist, you are in for a special treat as he is a performer who commands your attention and draws you into the music he performs on his 1887 Ceruti viola with spectacular tone.

“Under Bill Hill’s leadership and baton ECO has grown into much more than ‘just a community orchestra,’” said current ECO Operations Director and former ECO Board of Directors Treasurer (2014-16) Chanel Ziegler. Chanel also stated that ECO has performed a number of Bill’s compositions in past seasons, including his “ ree Tangos,” which was performed at the Orchestra’s 2022 Season

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