Students from the Wiley Middle School, R.J. Reynolds High School, and Winston-Salem Civic Orchestras will present a “Benefit Concert for the Arts,” on Thursday, March 22, at 7:00 p.m. in R. J. Reynolds Auditorium. Tickets are $5. Cash or check accepted at the door Proceeds will benefit the Reynolds High School Orchestra and The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County’s 2018 Community Fund for the Arts.
The intergenerational concert will be conducted by Margaret Rehder, Youth Philharmonic Music Director at the Winston-Salem Symphony and director of the orchestra programs at Reynolds High School and Wiley Middle School. It will feature a variety of works including Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (1st Movement) to be performed by David Green, Reynolds High School Senior. “Having a chance to share the stage with adults who have a lifelong passion for playing is a great opportunity for developing young musicians,” said Rehder. “By coming together to support the arts, these students and their adult counterparts are helping build community and demonstrating that you are never too young or too old to appreciate music,” Rehder said.
Jim Sparrow, President and CEO of The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, expressed appreciation to the musicians for helping focus the community on the 2018 Community Fund for the Arts and the good work of the Reynolds High School Orchestra. “These musicians from ages 11 to 65 are putting their talents to work to help support the diverse arts groups in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Once again, residents of our community are showing their love for the arts and proving that we are truly a city of arts and innovation,” said Sparrow.
About RJ Reynolds High School and Wiley Middle School Orchestra
The Reynolds and Wiley orchestras are the oldest public school orchestras in Winston-Salem. They have a rich tradition of attending orchestra competitions and earning excellent and superior ratings. Reynolds and Wiley students have traveled to orchestra festivals in Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, VA, Atlanta, GA, Carowinds Amusement Park, and in the Bahamas on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Each of these schools has about 100 students in their programs. Wiley is a STEAM magnet school and serves 6th-8th graders. R.J. Reynolds is an “Arts for Academics” performing arts magnet school that offers a wide variety of arts and academics classes, as well as a well-rounded 9th -12th grade experience that includes sports, clubs, and lots of tradition.
About Winston-Salem Civic Orchestra
The mission of the Winston-Salem Civic Orchestra is to provide adult members of the community with an opportunity to enjoy playing in an orchestra, bring orchestral performances out into the community, and help provide funding for High School Orchestra Programs. There is a fall and a spring concert series. There are no formal auditions, and members are accepted into the orchestra after successfully participating in rehearsals with the orchestra. Each member is encouraged to make a contribution to the R.J. Reynolds Orchestra.
About The Arts Council
Winston-Salem, known as “A City of Arts and Innovation,” and Forsyth County have a robust arts community that enriches the lives of area residents every day and accounts in large part for the recognition they continue to receive as a great place to live, learn, work and play. The Arts Council raises funds and advocates for the arts, sponsors events in conjunction with other arts organizations, promotes and funds arts education, creates cultural and learning opportunities, develops social capital and aids economic development. Last year, The Arts Council made 98 awards totaling $1,699,500.
For more information, please contact Dara Silver The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County 336-747-1426 dsilver@intothearts.org
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