Okanagan Symphony to present Oscar-winning performances

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and a pair of guest vocalists will perform the greatest movie songs ever written next weekend.

OSO at the Oscars will be performed March 8 in Kelowna, March 9 in Penticton and March 10 in Vernon.

Soprano Melina Schein and her son, tenor Justin Moore, will join the symphony. Both have performed separately with the OSO in the past.

They’ll sing classics like Moon River and When You Wish Upon a Star to modern-day compositions from La La Land and the Disney film Coco.

In addition, the orchestra will perform some of the most memorable orchestral themes from some of the top-grossing films of all time.

“Imagine your favourite movies without the soundtrack,” said OSO conductor Rosemary Thomson. “The shark becomes less scary, the victory in Star Wars less satisfying. The melodies, rhythms and colours of music are what we associate with our favourite stories.”

Schein, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, grew up in New York City and received her undergraduate training at The Juilliard School in voice and piano accompaniment. Since 1996, she has been the founder and director of the Valley Vocal Arts Studio in Vernon.

Moore’s first performance with the OSO was in 2009, at the age of nine. Since then, he has appeared in full musical productions of Les Miserables, The Producers and Pirates of Penzance, among other performances.

The Kelowna performance on March 8 is at 7:30 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Tickets are available through Kelowna Tickets.

The Penticton show is at 7:30 p.m. on March 9 at the Cleland Theatre. Tickets through Kelowna Tickets.

The Vernon show on March 10 is at 7 p.m. at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Tickets through Ticket Seller.