Island Sinfonia

Natalie Meenan and Naomi Vliet – Contributed photo

Celebrating the 33rd season of making musical memories for all ages, Island Sinfonia will perform on San Juan Island on Sunday, April 29, at 3:00 at St. David’s Episcopal Church.

The orchestra performs a wide variety of music, ranging from classical favorites to tunes from musicals and operas. Violin, viola, cello, wind, and brass instruments are featured.

Musicians of all ages come from all islands, meeting weekly on Orcas for rehearsals. Public concerts are held on Shaw, Lopez, San Juan, and Orcas islands during the spring.

This year Island Sinfonia features two student musicians. Natalie Meenan, a violinist, is a junior at Friday Harbor High School, and Naomi Vliet, a violist, is a senior at Lopez High School. This is the first time they have played with Island Sinfonia, and both hope to continue to play music in college and beyond.

“We look forward to bringing new musicians into the Island Sinfonia family,” said Jim Shaffer-Bauck, conductor, also serving as timpanist. Concertmaster Noah Atchley agrees, “Sinfonia is a warm, welcoming group of people. It’s a fun way to meet new people and learn new music.”

The free concert is open to all visitors and members of the community. As one recent concert-goer shared with a performer:

The Island Sinfonia concert was a special addition to the islands. The talent and passion for the arts is very evident, and I was delighted to experience what the Sinfonia added to what I’d already experienced during our visit.

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