The Brandon High School Orchestra will celebrate its 45th Anniversary with a special concert featuring the world premiere of a piece of music composed by James Barry on Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
The Brandon High School Orchestra, directed by Donald Langland, is celebrating its 45th anniversary. The Orchestra is holding a concert on Saturday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in the Brandon High School Auditorium to celebrate. The public is invited to attend.
The Brandon High School Orchestra is one of the largest and longest continuously running orchestra programs in the state of Florida. The program was started in 1967 by T. Edison James and has had only four directors in its 45 years.
Langland said, “It is because of the dedication of the Administration of Brandon High School that we still as strong as we are. We have survived budget cuts and could not have done so without their support.”
The 45th Anniversary Concert is a momentous occasion. Not only will the anniversary be celebrated, but the audience will hear a world premiere of a piece of music composed by James Barry specifically for the high school. Langland said,
“It’s not often that you get to be a part of a world premiere of a piece of music in Brandon.”
The piece that the orchestra will perform is movement two of three movements. The first movement was released to the public at the 40th Anniversary Concert of the Brandon High School Orchestra. The third movement will be released at the 50th Anniversary Concert.
The concert will also feature guest soloist, Rebecca Clark, a graduate of Brandon High School and a senior music education major at Florida Southern College. The orchestra will also welcome guest conductors, Linda Groh, Ted Hope and John Acosta.
The Brandon High School Orchestra is renowned both throughout the state and nationally. They have performed all over the country, most recently in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. The orchestra regularly earns superior ratings at District and State Music Performance Assessment (MPA).
Phyllis Kalinowski is a parent of an orchestra member and the Orchestra Booster Treasurer. Kalinowski said, “The orchestra has been the best thing that happened to my son, Josef. It keeps him academically inspired because he is surrounded by Honors or AP students.” Langland added, “The orchestra is made up of a great bunch of students.”
Brandon High School is located at 1101 Victoria St. in Brandon. For more information, contact Langland at 744-8120.
