WSO taking audience to ‘Far Away Places’
Washington Symphony Orchestra will take the audience to “Far Away Places” through a variety of musical selections, including some featuring the Washington High School steel drum band with its specialized pan music from the Caribbean, at 8 p.m. Feb. 9 at Trinity High School.
The concert will feature “April in Paris,” “Himalayan Adventure,” overture from “Barber of Seville,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Margaritaville” and “Eternal Vow” from “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.”
David Dayton, band director at Washington High School, will be guest conductor. Before joining the Washington School District more than nine years ago, Dayton was the director of bands and brass instructor for eight years at West Liberty State College, now West Liberty University. Before teaching at West Liberty, he served as assistant band director and choral director at his alma mater, John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, W.Va. Under his direction, the marching, concert and jazz bands, brass ensemble, concert choir and select ensemble consistently received superior ratings, numerous awards and high honors.
As a trumpet soloist and professional musician, Dayton has performed with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and with such noted artists as The Temptations, the Four Aces, Jim Nabors, Engelbert Humperdinck, Johnny Mathis, Lorrie Morgan, Bobby Vinton, Pat Boone, Donna Theodore, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Rogers, Joe Piscapo and Wayne Newton.
Deirdre Skiffington, a senior at Trinity High School, will be the featured oboe soloist on her selection of Jean Francaix’s “L’Horloge de Flore (Flower Clock).” Skiffington, who has played oboe for six years, won the 2012 Young Artist Competition auditions in December.
Skiffington is president of Trinity’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, and she performs in the school’s wind ensemble, woodwind quintet and marching band. She also has performed with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony for the past year.
Concert tickets are available online at www.washsym.org or by calling 724-223-9796. Tickets also will be available at the door.