Orchestra in tune with 40th year
Some are welders. Others are lawyers, teachers, janitors. They spend their days in schools, offices, factories. But every Monday night, they become the Peninsula Orchestra.
The region’s largest amateur community orchestra will mark its 40the anniversary with its first show Jan. 28 at the B’Nai Israel synagogue in St. Catharines ( 190 Church St.), to be followed by its annual spring gala concert May 27.
For conductor George Cleland, who joined the organization in 2007, the orchestra is a gathering of music lovers who just happen to be professionals in other fields.
“It has a membership of several levels of playing ability, and it’s a really fun experience,” says Cleland, who is also music coordinator for the Niagara Suzuki Association and viola coach for the Niagara Youth Orchestra.
“It’s a community orchestra. It’s for people that love particularly classical musical, but we ( also) play Broadway- style, we play a wide range of music.”
The group was born as a branch of the Peninsula Music Club in 1978, part of an umbrella organization for music amateurs which included country and western and recorder groups. The other groups eventually disbanded, leaving only the classical component.
The name was changed to the Peninsula Orchestra in 1993.
The current orchestra comprises about 45 people, who rehearse every Monday from 7: 15 p. m. to 9: 30 p. m. at Holy Trinity Church in Fonthill.
“They take it very seriously. You can see that by the fact we rehearse every week, and most of the members are there every week.”
Christmas and spring are the busiest time for shows, but performances are spread throughout the year at churches, seniors residences and parks, including the bandshell at Queenston Heights.
While most members are content singing on the side, Cleland says there have been younger members who use the orchestra as a stepping stone.