The Aiken Civic Orchestra will begin its season with “Unfinished Business” Aug. 21.
“This is a rescheduled concert,” said Anastasia Petrunina, the guest violin soloist for the performance at 7:30 p.m. at the University of South Carolina Aiken Etherredge Center. It was originally slated for May 2020.
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Petrunina, who is the concertmaster for the Augusta Symphony and the violinist in the duo ViMaDeAn with her husband, Denis Petrunin, will be featured in the Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1.
Composed in 1866, the piece is considered by many to be the German musician’s greatest work, but Petrunina thinks it’s often overlooked.
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“It’s played early in music education,” said the Ukrainian-born performer. “It’s beautiful and has so much depth to it.”
The concert is set to open the orchestra’s ninth season. In addition to the Bruch piece which will end the concert, the orchestra will play Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture” and Franz Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 ‘Unfinished.’”
Tickets are $20 for adults with students admitted free.
A full slate of concerts is scheduled, but they are subject to change, depending on any future COVID-19 restrictions, according to Adam DePriest, the orchestra’s founder and music director. Also, some of the details are still being finalized.
“A New World of Music: A Special Healing for Aiken, S.C.” is the focus of a Sept. 11 concert at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Aiken.
“Not only are we acknowledging our struggles with the pandemic, but this is the 20th anniversary of 9/11, as well as the 150th birthday of Aiken County. We will be honoring the heroes of our community,” said DePriest in a news release. “The program will include Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Gary’s Song by Richard Maltz, “Morning” from Peer Gynt, and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” in E Minor. Joining the orchestra will be the St. John’s Chancel Choir to sing a patriotic set.”
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Additional details are pending, the news release said.
A spooktacular concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Oct. 23 at the USCA Etherredge Center. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes to this pops concert with the music of John Williams.
Two performances of Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” will be in November with the Columbia Choral Society under the direction of Beth Mears. The first performance will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and the second will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 in Columbia with more details coming, according to the news release.
A holiday concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at St. John’s United Methodist Church. To begin 2022, the orchestra will partner with members of the Aiken Composers’ Guild for “New Year, New Voices” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the USCA Etherredge Center.
The annual Winter Nocturne is scheduled to return at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Etherredge Center.
Another rescheduled concert from 2020 is on the calendar for 7:30 p.m. March 12, 2022 at St. John’s. Night at the Opera will feature music from “Aida,” “Thais” and “Carmen.”
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The season finale is themed “Celebrating Young Artists” and will be at 7:30 p.m. April 30 at St. John’s and will feature students from Augusta’s John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School.
Any updates to the season will be announced at aikencivicorchestra.org or the Aiken Civic Orchestra Facebook page.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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