LWS Presents ‘A Night At the Opera’

The Lowcountry Wind Symphony, (LWS) under the direction of Donald F. Jemella, returns for the second program of its 10th Anniversary 2024-2025 season.

Maestro Jemella has chosen several familiar orchestral overtures from operatic traditions, including ‘Light Cavalry,’ ‘Poet and Peasant,’  and ‘Pirates of Penzance.’

LWS will be joined by Soprano Vocalist Paloma Marie, singing some of the best loved arias in all of opera – ‘Nessun Dorma,’ ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and the popular ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’  from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, ‘Carousel.’

Although Paloma Marie’s early interests were flute, drum majorette in the marching band, and modeling, she also sang in her church choir. She has had a long career in opera as a soprano soloist, studying with some of the most prestigious teachers in the field. She has performed in five languages and holds dual citizenship (USA and Italy). Her beautiful interpretations of the arias she has chosen for ‘A Night at the Opera’ will bring joy to the hearts of LWS’s audiences.

Lowcountry Wind Symphony is a concert band, made up of some 60

amateur and professional brass, woodwind, and percussion players from the greater Beaufort area. It continues its longstanding tradition of bringing great music of all genres to its audiences.

The concerts are admission free, but donations are gratefully received.

‘A Night at the Opera’ will be presented at the following venues:

Friday, February 21, 2025

7:00 P. M.

Magnolia Hall, Sun City

Bluffton, SC 29909

(Residents/Guests Only)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

4:00 P. M.

St. John’s Lutheran Church

157 Lady’s Island Drive
Beaufort, SC. 29907

(Open to the Public)

 

Here are some additional highlights of ‘A Night at the Opera’:

‘Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral’ – is from Richard Wagner’s opera, Lohengrin. Elsa agrees to marry the secretive and mysterious Lohengrin, Keeper of the Holy Grail, provided that she never asks for his identity. The music builds from a quiet beginning in one long crescendo, as she reaches the alter to take her vows. Tragically, after the marriage she seeks to find out who he is, and they must part forever. Grief stricken, she dies!  

Matthew Benner, a member of LWS’ percussion section and the Band Director of the Beaufort High School Sea Island Sound, will be the guest conductor for this piece.  He has a particular love for this music, as he and his wife chose it as their own wedding processional!

Overture to Pirates of Penzance – W. S. Gilbert, lyricist, and Arthur Sullivan, composer’s operettas were immensely popular in England in the late 1800’s. A struggle over ‘pirating’ and copyright laws led to this production, which became very popular in America – arriving in the US just after H.M.S. Pinafore. The medley overture stands on its own because of the appealing music it contains. It begins and ends with a tune which would later became famous with a new lyric – ‘Hail, Hail, The Gang’s All Here!’.  

Light Cavalry Overture – this overture, the instrumental introduction to Franz von Suppe’s operetta by the same name, premiered in Vienna in 1866.

A staple piece on many orchestra programs around the world, the main theme of the overture has been frequently used by musicians, cartoons, movie and TV productions, and other media.

You’ll Never Walk Alone – this familiar song, written by Rogers and Hammerstein was originally commissioned by The Western Illinois Wind Ensemble to pay tribute to veterans from their area. In 1945 it achieved greater prominence in the musical, Carousel, and remains a popular solo more than fifty years later.

LWS Music Director Donald F. Jemella is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music. He has a lifelong passion for playing, teaching, and conducting all types of music. In addition to conducting LWS, he is the founding director of the Odyssey Jazz and Swing Band. This group recently re-formed, following a hiatus necessitated by Covid 19 when they presented an evening of listening and dancing for members of the Dataw Island Club.

Lowcountry Wind Symphony welcomes new members at any time. Talented high school youth are also encouraged to join us. Auditions are not required. For more information or to become in involved in band operations support please use this contact:  director@lowcountrywindsymphony.com

We invite you to join us for ‘A Night at the Opera,’ as together we continue ‘Exploring What’s Musically Possible.’ For more information about LWS, please visit our website at www.lowcountrywindsymphony.com.