03-18-2005WINONA LAKE – The last measure of the Grace Community Orchestra will be heard Saturday, when the group presents its final children’s concert.
The GCO will evolve into the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Kavanaugh, this fall.
GCO conductor Ardis Faber said the transition from a community to a symphony orchestra allows the group to grow and increase in stature in the community. As it always has, the newly named orchestra will include students, community and professional musicians.
“Five years ago we developed a five-year plan,” Faber said. “A part of it was the Suzuki string program, Kindermusic, the Academy of Fine Arts, and all of those programs are well under way. The plan also included everything that is going to come to fruition in the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra.”
GCO was founded in 1983. Faber came to Grace College in 1988 and there was a shift of conductors until she permanently took up the baton in 1992. The concerto competitions began 12 years ago, too.
Since its conception, the orchestra has grown. The annual competition has grown, too, drawing musicians from major Midwestern universities.
Music education is now available from birth through adulthood, Faber said. “That was one of our goals and there’s just one place to call – the Grace Academy of Fine Arts.
“It is kind of bittersweet,” Faber said of the prospect of a last GCO concert. “I will miss it. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Her immediate plans are to pursue a doctorate in music education and conducting at Ball State University. She will be on sabbatical this fall. When she returns to Grace, she will head the music education department.
Since the first concert, Dec. 4, 1983, financial support has come from the community. The programs often feature local guest artists.
Saturday, the seventh annual GCO Children’s Concert selections will include “Tiger Rag,” “The Little Engine That Could,” “Suite for Xylophone and Orchestra,” “Concertino da Camera” and “Concerto for Percussion.”
Guest performers include division winners of the orchestra’s annual concerto competition: marimba player Benjamin Meulink of Warsaw; John Leszczynski of Fort Wayne on alto saxophone; multiple percussionist Reiko Koyama of Japan. Community guest players and performers will be Rik Lovelady, Warsaw, on guitar; Jim Baad, Winona Lake, on tuba; and the Warsaw Christian School fourth- and fifth-grade students.
The concert begins at 4 p.m. Saturday in Rodeheaver Auditorium. Admission is free; doors open at 3:30 p.m.
“I am deeply grateful for the community support these many years,” Faber said. “We all have been enriched.”