AACC Orchestra Celebrates Summer

Under the leadership of Anna Binneweg, more than 60 students, faculty, retirees and community members will be performing a “Summer Celebration!” orchestra concert this Thursday evening at .

“We wanted to make this a fun and family-friendly event,” said Binneweg before her rehearsal with the group this week. “We are playing the familiar, beloved music of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story Symphonic Dances,’ as well as the matching ‘Romeo and Juliet’ music from Tchaikovsky.” 

Also on the program is the “Concerto for Two Clarinets” by Franz Vincnez Krommer.

Benefitting from the networking of clarinet player and orchestra member Nancy Breckman, Binneweg was able to secure the participation of clarinet player John Parrette for the concert. Parrette is retiring this week after 24 years with the West Point band.

Also participating as guest artist is clarinetist Erika Block, a Broadneck High School graduate and music performance graduate of Boston University who now lives in Vancouver, Canada, and works for Backun Musical Services. 

“I haven’t played here since 1998,” Block told a friend before the final rehearsal of the piece on Tuesday evening. “My family is coming; they are very excited.”

The finale of the concert will capitalize on the tremendous clarinet talent with Leroy Anderson’s “Clarinet Candy.”

This is the final concert of the season, with the orchestra resuming practice in September. Binneweg welcomes new players and encourages those interested to contact her at ambinneweg@aacc.edu.

This concert will be held on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Pascal Theater for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 general admission; $7 students for AACC faculty and staff, senior citizens and groups; and $5 students with valid AACC student ID. To contact the box office, call 410-777-2457 or e-mail boxoffice@aacc.edu.