People occasionally ask us what we do when we’re not playing in Landolfi String Quartet and Ensemble. Each of us has answers that include roles as performers and educators. During the month of July we are members of an orchestra that performs when other orchestras are on break: the Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis.
Each summer the orchestra assembles professional musicians to bring quality symphonic and chamber music to the St. Louis community through free public concerts. The concerts are presented at 7:30 every Sunday evening in July on the Washington University Brookings Quadrangle. In addition, several outreach programs of chamber music are presented to children in disadvantaged areas. For many of these children, this is a first encounter with live string music. All orchestra members are members of local 2-197 of the American Federation of Musicians.
This season, two concerts have already been presented under the baton of Dr. James Richards. The first concert was presented to a very large audience on July 6, accompanied by beautiful weather. “Aire of Romance” was the program’s theme. Our second concert, “Water Music,” was assisted by Mother Nature who added her own water effects with rain early and late.
Come hear the two concerts remaining. This Sunday July 20 is “Music of the Night,” featuring Claire de Lune, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Queen of the Night arias performed by soprano Stella Markou. The final concert is “Bright Lights of Broadway” on July 27, with vocalists Keith Boyer and Jane Jennings joining us for a vast array of familiar show tunes. Don’t forget your lawn chairs or blankets for lawn seating.
For more information, please visit Gateway Festival Orchestra’s website at
http://www.gatewayfestivalorchestra.org.