Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony and a high school Young Artist will highlight Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s annual Family Concert, at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 23, 2025, in the Morrison High School Auditorium. The location is 643 Genesee Avenue.
Rileigh Wren, a Senior saxophonist at Sterling High School was chosen by audition for the annual Young Artist award. Accompanied by the orchestra, they will perform a Concerto for Alto Saxophone by English composer Ronald Binge. Wren will play two of the three movements of the concerto, including the second movement “Romance” and third movement “Rondo.”
Rileigh participates in Band, Orchestra, and Chorus and has been a member of All-District and All-State bands. They presently study saxophone with Nicole Oberg of Sterling, IL, and plan a Music Education major in college.
The opening of the Beethoven Symphony No. 5 (“da-da-da-DUM”) is arguably the most well known theme in the classical repertoire. The theme repeats itself throughout the four movements of the work, including the melodic second movement, a playful scherzo third movement, and a climatic fourth movement. The work is the first to introduce trombones into an orchestra.
Also on the program is an overture by Anton Bruckner, a shy composer who went on to write some gigantic works for large forces of instruments and voices.
Admission for adults is by season ticket, or a $20 ticket at the door of the concert. Students are always admitted free of charge to Clinton Symphony Orchestra concerts. An adult companion of an attending student is admitted for half-price, a $10 ticket.
Full information for the concert, including program notes for the music to be performed, written by orchestra member Karin Anderson-Sweet, are available on the orchestra’s website at http://www.clintonsymphony.org.
The concert is the fifth performance of Clinton Symphony Orchestra’s 71st concert season. Remaining events include a performance of Mozart’s Requiem with Clinton’s RiverChor in April, and an outdoor Pops concert on Sunday, June 1.