Every two years, members of Milton’s Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Singers pack their bags and their instruments for a whirlwind concert tour overseas. In the past, Milton’s musicians have traveled to the many corners of Europe and Asia, performing in some of the world’s most historic venues. On Sunday, March 14, the group departed from Logan Airport to begin their tour of southern Spain.
A tradition that began four years ago, the orchestra and singers kicked off the trip with a pre-tour concert in King Theatre on Thursday, March 11.
At this celebratory send-off event, the Chamber Orchestra performed works of Bizet, Glazunov, and a first performance of a viola concerto written by the ensemble’s conductor, Donald Dregalla, titled Dylan. This work featured violist Dylan Williams (I) and two seniors narrating a poem by Dylan Thomas. The Glazunovwork featured cellist Eric Fishman (I). Following the orchestra, Milton’s Chamber Singers performed five selections including works by Vaughan Williams, Stanford, Applebaum, Faure and Rheinberger. The piece by Sanford featured Arianna Lee (II) as vocal soloist.
The group’s first concert stop in Spain will be Granada. “We will spend most of the tour in southern Spain, in the cities of Granada, Cordoba and Seville,” says music department chair, Donald Dregalla. “The tour opens with a joint concert at the Medina Elvira Cultural Center in the center of Granada on March 17.”
The following day, the orchestra performs at the Iglesia de la Magdalena in Cordoba, and the Chamber Singers take the stage in the Seville Cathedral for another concert on March 20. The final performance of the tour will be a special event hosted by the city of Seville, featuring both the orchestra and singers at City Hall in Seville.
