Taking from its audience’s suggestions, the Port Angeles Symphony is ready to unofficially open its season this weekend.
Its annual Pops concerts in Sequim on Sept. 26 and Port Angeles on Sept. 27 welcomes guest conductor Ron Jones leading a number of hit numbers such as themes from “West Side Story,” “Star Wars” and “The Pink Panther,” along with tunes like “Moon River.”
Jones also brings with him several elementary students from Port Angeles and Sequim to sing music from the movie “Frozen.”
The concert, called “Pops and Picnic,” is modeled after the Arthur Fiedler/Boston Pops programs of yesteryear.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic food while popcorn and ice cream floats will be available as part of admission. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. first on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St., in Sequim; then on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Conductor search
Jones is the first of several guest conductors the symphony is bringing in to try out for the vacant conductor/music director position.
Mark Wendeborn, executive director of the symphony, said a decision likely won’t be made until all of the candidates have performed by the end of the season in May 2015.
“It’s a hard process, but this seems the way most orchestras can do it,” he said.
There are nine candidates total with Jones, James Ray and Kristin Quigley Brye local to the Olympic Peninsula. Audience members will have the opportunity to complete a written evaluation form after each performance, which Wendeborn said is important in helping the symphony board of directors make a decision.
As for Jones, he’s been leading and teaching music on the Olympic Peninsula in Port Angeles since 1975. He’s worked with numerous orchestras, including the Spokane, Yakima, Mid-Columbia and Port Angeles symphonies and he previously served the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra as its interim conductor and associate conductor.
Jones has received numerous awards for educating, including being named the Washington State Outstanding Public School Music Teacher for 1999-2001 by the Washington chapter of the American String Teachers Association, the state 2002 Music Educator of the Year by Washington Music Educators Association/Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and the Outstanding Music Educator Award by the National Federation Interscholastic Music Association.
Jones is the first candidate to conduct, followed by Quigley Brye leading two chamber orchestra concerts on Oct. 10 and 11, Jonathan Pasternack a symphony concert on Nov. 1, Richard Sparks a symphony concert on Dec. 13, James Ray with two chamber concerts on Jan. 16 and 17, Jooyong Ahn a symphony concert on March 14, Matthew Savery a symphony concert on April 18 and Wesley Schulz leading two chamber concerts on May 8 and 9.
A candidate to be named will lead a symphony concert on Feb. 7.
Pops and Picnic
Port Angeles Symphony
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 26, Sequim Boys & Girls Club, 400 W. Fir St.
7 p.m. Sept. 27, Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles
Tickets: $5 for 16 and under, $10 students and $20 adults; available at The Good Book in Sequim, Sequim Village Glass in Carlsborg, Port Book and News and the symphony office in Port Angeles.
More info: portangelessymphony.org or call 457-5579.
