Black Swamp Symphony Orchestra to present “Portraits of the Mind, Body, and Soul” Nov. 15

November 9, 2015

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College Black Swamp Symphony Orchestra will be performing its first concert of the 2015-2016 season on Sunday, Nov. 15. The orchestra consists of more than 60 Defiance College students, community members of all ages, and professional musicians to perform quality orchestral repertoire for the greater Defiance area.

This masterworks concert titled “Portraits of the Mind, Body, and Soul” tells the stories of beautiful landscapes, breathtaking seasons, and a tragic love story. Instead of performing one larger work, the concert selects one movement from multiple great orchestra masterpieces.

“This is a concert full of orchestral greats,” says conductor Bridget Olenik. “We utilize the full force of brass and the haunting beauty of strings to put together a program that’s enjoyable for all ages.”

The audience will be taken through the story of Carmen, a French gypsy with a tragic end, with memorable themes from the famous opera by Bizet. The BSSO will also march through the pines of the Appian Way with the finale of Respighi’s “Pines of Rome,” a piece with an exciting and full-force ending. Other works featured on this concert are Antonin Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” Eric Whitacre’s “October,” and Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.”

Additional concert information may be found on the Defiance College music programs website at www.defiance.edu/music, and also by visiting the Defiance College music programs page on Facebook.

Doors will open at 4 pm for the 4:30 pm performance at St. John United Church of Christ in Defiance. Admission is free and open to the public with a freewill donation.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.