Sunday, May 14, 2017

Spring Concert By The Northshore Community Orchestra

The Northshore Community Orchestra presented its Spring Concert on Mother's Day, May 14, 2017, in the auditorium of Fontainebleau High School in Mandeville. Approximately 200 people attended, hearing a variety of selections from a jazz band, a strings quartet and a full orchestra. The concert was also presented again in Slidell on Sunday, May 21st, 2017, at Slidell High School.

Music ranged from the James Bond theme to Strike Up the Band, with the Florentiner March and the Overture to Die Fidermaus. 

 Click on the images below to see a larger version. 


According to the group's website, The Northshore Community Orchestra (formerly the Slidell Youth & Community Orchestra), is part of the Clearwood Junior High Community Education Program through the St. Tammany Parish school system. It is the only symphony orchestra in St. Tammany Parish where both youths and adults can make learning and performing music a lifelong endeavor. The orchestra was established in 1987, and has operated continuously ever since.

The 50-member orchestra performs several full orchestra concerts as well as some smaller group ensembles throughout the year, with genres including classical, jazz, pop, folk, ethnic, traditional, movie themes, and Broadway hits. In addition to annual Christmas and Spring concerts as well as several small ensemble performances, the orchestra performs a special concert each year for hundreds of fourth-graders from St. Tammany Parish to introduce them to orchestral music, teach them the various categories of musical instruments, and inspire them to participate in their school's music program.

The members of the orchestra come primarily from Slidell and other parts of St. Tammany Parish (such as Lacombe, Covington, Mandeville, and Abita Springs), but some also come from surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans area and even Mississippi. Representing a diverse assortment of backgrounds such as students, professionals, skilled tradesmen, scientists, homemakers, members of the military, educators, and retirees, currently our youngest member is 9 years old and our oldest is in his 80s. Some of the orchestra's musicians are family members – spouses, parents/children, and siblings.

The orchestra's conductor since 2006 has been Mrs. Susan Messina, a Slidell native who has a master's degree in music and over 30 years experience as a music educator and band director.

Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs. Support also comes from the membership as well as generous donations of local businesses and individuals.
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Members include Suzanne van Duym, Chris Goertzen, Lydia Nelson, Kim Roberts, Joanne Sanders, Katrina Sirisaengtaksin, Sophia Yu, Sijun Yang, Robert Owens, Kaley Pichon, James Dykes, Camille Evett, Keith Rawls, Nuwan Wijesekera, and Milton Frank.

Other members are Peg Campos, Shelta Collins, Beth Johnson, Amanda Kahl-McKelroy, Jo Beth Kavanaugh, Andrew McCune, Pattie Paquette, Devon Auxilien, Amiyah Brown, Kathryn Brown, Michael Caswell, Denise Peterson, Madison Prattini, Jeff Rosen, Anna Brannin, Craig Ducote, Dane Sison, Jacqui Baron, and Andrew Monteleone.

Also, Beau Callais, Sherry Coleman, Kelly Davis, Marcy Mayeux, Christine Giovingo, Cecilia Surgi, Melissa Gilbert, John Weidman, AJ McGovern, Amy Sheeder, Bryan Spencer, Valarie Goertzen, Robert Barnes, Ben Clifton, Evan McElveen, and Brooks Trotter. 

For more information about the Northshore Community Orchestra, CLICK HERE.

Below is a video of last year's Satchmo tribute to Louis Armstrong: