(From left) musicians Teri Lazar and Osman Kivrak will perform at Virginia Chamber Orchestra’s “Music at Meadowlark Gardens.” Photo courtesy of Virginia Chamber Orchestra
Through a unique partnership, live music will be heard within the surrounding beauty of the stunning public park, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. With the combined forces of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra and NOVA Parks a series of live concerts will be performed in a socially distancing environment in recognition of COVID-19 health and safety requirements and Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines.
Ending its current pause of live performance, The Virginia Chamber Orchestra (VCO) will have a three-concert series in September, with both its own principal players and special guests to beguile patrons. The concerts will be about one hour in length. Each will be performed at the Korean Bell Pavilion in the NOVA Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
“Our objective is to get as much enchanting music in the air for as many people as we safely can, in an entirely delightful setting,” said Doug Lovejoy, VCO President. The musicians perform widely throughout Northern Virginia and the D.C. metropolitan area and beyond, said Lovejoy.
For the opening concert on Sept, 6, Music of Beethoven, Bartok, Puccini, Piazzolla, and Arlen will be spotlighted. In a special duo, Jennifer Rickard, who has served both as VCO Assistant Concertmaster and as Principal Second Violin, will be joined by her husband, flutist and saxophonist Andrew Axelrad. He recently retired from the Airmen of Note.
Music of Mozart, Beethoven and Osman Kivrak will be spotlighted at the Sept. 13 concert. The duo of VCO Concertmaster Teri Lazar and her husband, Principal VCO Violist, Osman Kivrak, will perform Kivrak’s composition for violin and viola, “Uzun Haza,” which was inspired by Turkish folk music.
Selections from Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, John Clayton and Robert Oppelt will be featured at the Sept. 20 concert. VCO Principal Flute Nicolette Oppelt and her husband bassist Robert Oppelt, will be featured in Oppelt’s “Pas de Deux” for Flute and Double Bass.
For those less familiar with the Korean Bell Garden, it was created via a joint effort between NOVA Parks and the Korean American Cultural Committee (KACC).
Where and When
Virginia Chamber Orchestra presents “Music at Meadowlark Gardens” at the Korean Bell Pavilion, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna. Performances: Sunday afternoons from 3 to 4 p.m: Sept. 6, 13 and 20, 2020. The concert is free. Standard entrance fees for Meadowlark Gardens apply for the free concert. Fees are $6, ages 18-54; $3, ages 55 and over; and $3, ages 6-17. Note: Masks are required. Attendees may bring lawn chairs, blankets, soft drinks and snacks. Free parking is available. Admission fees to the park are not refundable, in the event of inclement weather the VCO intends to schedule a rain date for the free concert. For concert tickets contact info@vco.events.com. Information about NOVA Meadowlark Botanical Gardens can be found at https://www.novaparks.com/parks/meadowlark-botanical-gardens