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WSO In the News
Featured in the
Intelligencer:
The Warminster Symphony Orchestra will present “War and Peace” — a
concert in celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday — at 8
p.m. May 16 in the auditorium at William Tennent High School in
Warminster. The 65-piece community-based ensemble’s program,
under the musical direction of Joseph Lovecchio, includes
“Gettysburg” (Randy Edelman), “Wellington’s Victory” (Ludwig von
Beethoven), “Lincoln Portrait” (Aaron Copland), “Blades of Grass”
(Romeo Cascarino) and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (Peter
Wilhousky).
Kenneth Kastle, former principal at Tennent, will serve as
guest narrator.
Feature in the
Intelligencer:
Posted in
Arts,
Community,
Life,
Music on Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 7:43 am by Stacy Briggs,
Intelligencer Features Editor
 The
Warminster Symphony Orchestra, under the musical direction of
Joseph Lovecchio, will perform during a concert titled “Beautiful,
Bountiful, Beethoven” — and featuring classical pianist
Suzanne Zak — at 8 p.m. March 14 at William Tennent High
School in Warminster. The program will include “Piano Concerto
No. 1” (which will feature Zak), “Consecration of the House
Overture” and “Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral).”
Says Lovecchio: “The Pastoral Symphony is a joyful celebration
of nature and beauty. Beethoven’s musical creation of a babbling
brook and chirping songbirds is a perfect harbinger of our
approaching spring!”
In addition, the return of Zak, who last appeared with the
symphony in 2004 when she played Prokofiev’s first piano concert,
holds a great deal of promise. Since she last appeared with the
orchestra, she completed her master’s degree at State University
of New York, Purchase College, and became a resident of Upper
Southampton and establishing a piano studio in Warminster.
Lovecchio considers the partnership with Zak a mutually
beneficial one.
“It is especially gratifying to accompany Suzanne,” he says.
“Not only is she a talented musician, but she has had to overcome
adversity to become the concert pianist she is today.
Her commitment to the community in sharing her talents is
extraordinary.”
Zak lost the use of her hands for eight years due to a serious
nerve condition. After enduring two operations and a period of
intense therapy, she has returned to form.
She is looking forward to playing the Beethoven work.
“Not only is he perhaps the greatest of all composers,” she
says, “but his Concerto No. 1 was written to introduce himself as
a pianist and composer to Vienna.”
Featured in the
Bucks County Courier Times:
Orchestra marks
40th anniversary
By FREDA R. SAVANA
Bucks County Courier Times
March 10, 2007
 WARMINSTER
- What began as an impromptu musical group 40 years ago has
blossomed into an acclaimed local orchestra that draws on the area's
finest musicians.
The
Warminster Symphony Orchestra, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is
performing tonight at William Tennent High School under the
direction of Joseph Lovecchio. Several musicians who once played
with the orchestra will return to play some of the group's former
works.
Warminster's own former child
prodigy, Siri Sokol-Milkove, will play Piano Concerto in A Minor,
Op. 54, by Robert Schumann. Sylvan Sokol, Sokol-Milkove's father,
was the orchestra's first general manager.
Lovecchio has been conducting the
65-member orchestra for a dozen years. He believes it remains an
important part of the community.
“There are many, many talented
musicians here,” said Lovecchio, who is also Tennent's head of
instructional music and serves as the Centennial School District's
music coordinator.
The orchestra offers “an
opportunity for these talented people to play their instruments and
for the public to hear high quality concerts at a reasonable price,”
he said.
For a small gathering of musicians
who once practiced in an airport hangar, the past 40 years have
brought a steady rise in membership and audiences.
A typical crowd, without a featured
guest soloist, reaches about 500, Lovecchio said. But a concert that
featured noted Broadway star Ciaran Sheehan of “Phantom of the
Opera” attracted 1,100.
The symphony performs five concerts
a year along with a few outdoor summer shows. A Sunday performance
was introduced for children to encourage them to appreciate music.
“We've really lost that in this
country,” Lovecchio said about exposing children to classical music.
“People once learned it in the home, but that's not so anymore.”
For its May performance, the
orchestra will feature the Philadelphia-based Tenaglia family of
opera singers.
Featured in the
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Warminster's 'best-kept secret'
By Kristin E. Holmes
Inquirer Staff Writer
On Sunday nights, the
township meeting room where residents complain about tax increases,
potholes and storm drainage becomes a rehearsal hall for a symphony.
Musicians warm up, and the airy billow of a flute clashes with the
hollow resonance of an oboe. Soon a cacophony of random sounds
becomes part of a musical whole.
Sunday nights have been this way for musicians with the Warminster
Symphony Orchestra for decades, and Saturday the group - which once
rehearsed in an airplane hangar - will celebrate 40 years in
existence.
"They're Warminster's
best-kept secret," said State Rep. Bernard O'Neill, who was born and
raised in Warminster. "In some ways, that's good, because its
Warminster's own, but on the other hand, not enough people out there
are hearing the beauty and joy of their music."
more...
The Warminster Symphony Society would like to thank everyone who
attended the 40th Anniversary Concerts and we'd like to share with
you:
The
results of the 1966 Trivia Quiz
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The Warminster Symphony Society is continuing its long-established tradition of creating an opportunity for aspiring young musicians to perform a solo with the WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at one of its
scheduled concerts during the 2010-2011 season. The orchestra was founded in 1966. It has provided quality music to the area for 42 years. It presently consists of more than 60 dedicated musicians.
 The WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is under the baton of Music Director/Conductor Joseph Lovecchio. Maestro Lovecchio has been conductor of this fine orchestra since 1995. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Conducting. He has been honored five times by Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and also by Marquis’ Who’s Who in the Arts for his contributions to the Arts.
ELIGIBILITY
The Warminster Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition is currently in its 26th year of spotlighting talented youth performers. This competition is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists who will be no more than 18 years of age on April 1, 2010, and currently reside in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery or Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania or Burlington, Camden, Gloucester or Mercer Counties in New Jersey. Only complete applications will
 be considered. A complete application package consists of:
- A completed application form (download
here).
- One letter of recommendation (from teachers, conductors, etc.)
- A photostatic proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
- Proof of residency
- An artist biography / resumé
- A non-refundable application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to the WARMINSTER SYMPHONY SOCIETY in the amount of $20.00 must accompany the application.
The deadline for submission of the application is
April 1, 2010. All contestants will receive notification of their acceptance and audition information (time, directions, etc.) by
APRIL 5, 2010.
LOCATION:
Auditions will be held at: Bucks County Community College, Rt. 413, Newtown, PA
* * * * SPECIAL TIME REQUESTS * * * *
 must be made when submitting application.
Please clearly attach a note to the application.
While we cannot guarantee your request will be
honored, we will attempt to accommodate you.
Questions should be directed to: 215-355-1987 email: violinkp@aol.com
THE AUDITION:
Qualifications and Guidelines
- Auditions are given to woodwind, brass, string, percussion, piano and vocal performers.
- Auditions are open to students up to and including age eighteen at the time of the audition.
- Youth Division applicants must be capable of performing one complete movement of a concerto by a major composer or an approved equivalent work. Children’s Division applicants must audition on a solo work which has an available orchestral accompaniment.
- The audition piece should be three (3) to ten (10) minutes in length.
- The audition piece must be the same piece expected to be performed at the concert.
- Accompanists are not required for the audition, but are permissible if the applicant desires to bring his/her own accompanist.
- Applicants must complete and return the attached form
before April 1, 2010 to:
Kathy Pincus, 1045 Longfield Road, Southampton, PA 18966
Auditions will take place
Saturday, April 10. 2010. All applicants will be notified of their audition time.
PRIZES
The first place winner of each age category will receive a monetary prize and must be available to rehearse and to perform with the WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA during a regularly scheduled concert in the 2010-2011 season at the discretion of the Music Director. The prizes are:
Youth Division (ages 13-18)
First Prize – $350 *
Children’s Division (ages 12 and under) First Prize –
$200 Savings Bond *
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ALL PRIZES INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE WARMINSTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DURING THE 2010-2011 SEASON
JUDGES
Judges for the audition will be distinguished artists in the orchestra and solo field. If a contestant has studied with, or has personal ties to a judge, the judge will be requested to disqualify himself or herself for that contestant. In such a case, the scores of the other judges will be averaged to provide the additional score. The decision of the judges is final.
The Warminster Symphony Orchestra
- Annual Young Artists Competition
Read about our Past Winners |
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| Contact Us: |
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Contact us for general
information about our orchestra
Support the symphony and cultural
enrichment with a grant,
or advertise your business in our concert programs
while supporting the musical arts in your community
Interested in joining
the Warminster Symphony Society,
or need season tickets? Email for more information!
Information on our Annual Pops Concert
Contact our conductor
Interested in auditioning for the
orchestra? Email for more info
Young Artists Competition - click to email our
liaison for more info
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| Donating: |
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The Warminster Symphony Orchestra, a 65-piece
community based ensemble of talented and dedicated amateurs and
professionals, is sponsored by the Warminster Symphony Society. The
Society is an incorporated, non-profit, cultural organization that
is supported entirely by its membership, private donations, grants
and business and industry sponsorships.
Become a
Member of the Warminster Symphony Society
- Members enjoy all concerts at a fraction of the cost of tickets
purchased at the door and receive an advanced personal invitation to
the January Pops Event.
Link to a
Membership Form
Annual Pops Concert -
Every January the Warminster Symphony Society holds a special Pops
Concert at Spring Mill
Manor in Ivyland. Bring your friends and join us at this
ever-popular annual fundraising event which includes dinner,
concert, door prizes, and more.
Link to a Pops Concert Reservation Form
Annual Advertising Campaign
- Local corporations, organizations and individuals are encouraged
to support the symphony through our Annual Advertising Campaign.
Ads appear in the three (3) subscription concert books of the year.
The deadline for advertising contracts is usually in March.
Link
to an Advertising Contract
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| Links: |
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American Symphony Orchestra
League
33 West 60th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10023-7905
(212)-262-5161Centennial
School District
Home of William Tennent High School, 333 Centennial Road, Warminster, PA
18974 (215)-441-6181
Warminster Township, Pennsylvania
401 Gibson Ave., Warminster, PA 18974 (215) 443-5414
WRTI, Temple University Public Radio
1509 Cecil B. Moore Ave, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19121-3410
(215) 204-8405
Youth Orchestra of Bucks
County
252 Hollow Branch Lane, Yardley, PA 19067
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