WSO to ‘Rock You’ with contest winner
Washington Symphony Orchestra recently named Cal U.-based rock band The Vics winner of its Battle of the Bands Contest. The Vics bested seven other bands to take home the grand prize: $500 and the opportunity to perform with WSO at its May 7 “We Will Rock You” concert (7:30 p.m.) at Trinity High School.
“The Vics’ music was melodic, bluesy and accessible,” said Yugo Ikach, WSO artistic director and one of the contest judges. “What rock band would not want a symphony orchestra to back them up?”
The Vics have been working with composer Ralph Guzzi to adapt their music for the orchestra.
“Guzzi utilized two of (The Vics’) compositions, ‘Not Your Man’ and ‘Sinners and Saints,'” said Ikach. “He masterfully wove the WSO orchestral sound palette throughout the arrangement.”
All four members of The Vics’ – Cody House of Blossburg, Bobby Dugan of Erie, Henri Seabright of West Mifflin and Ben Auer of Mt. Pleasant – are commercial music technology majors at Cal U.
Preceding The Vics’ set with the WSO will be a short film by Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Ron Hankison featuring The Vics and other contestants from WSO Battle of the Bands.
We Will Rock You is the final concert of WSO’s 2015-16 season. Tickets start at $17 and can be purchased at washsym.org, by calling 1-888-71-TICKETS, or at the following locations: Citizens Library in Washington, Peters Township Public Library, and the WSO Office at 11 South College St. in Washington.