Powerful! Vigorous! Dynamic! describes the Summerville Orchestra’s (S.O.) upcoming subscription series concert “Voices of Destiny,” a program that will bring to life the powerful voices of Verdi, Sibelius and includes selections from Disney’s popular Aladdin. The Overture to Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi grows into an intense brass fanfare with stirring […]
Olivia Johnston
26 posts
Twenty years ago, a group of 15 friends with varying degrees of talent came together to play classical music for the pure pleasure of it. Little did they know that their humble group would endure and grow to the vibrant 75-member orchestra it is today, playing world premieres, commissioning new […]
The Summerville Orchestra is a thriving community orchestra in South Carolina, offering diverse musical experiences and educational programs. Wojciech Milewski, Music Director, talks with Fox 24 about upcoming performances.
Earle Folger – Percussionist Hi, my name is Earle Folger. I am a percussionist for the Summerville Orchestra and have been since 2008. I originally picked up the drums because I thought it would make me popular with the girls! I was wrong…again. I started playing in the 7th grade […]
Nikolai Stem – Clarinet Hi, I’m Niko Stem and I’m a clarinetist with the Summerville Orchestra! I’ve been living in or around Charleston for about five years now and work as a software developer in health information technology. From a young age, the jokes about be picking the clarinet because […]
Michelle Buchanan – Violin I started playing violin in 5th grade. I chose the violin because I loved the sounds that were produced from the instrument and my cousin also played violin. Ever since then, music has been my passion and I became a music educator. About 2-3 years ago […]
Erin Yardley – French Horn When I first joined the band in 4th grade I played flute. By 7th I was a horn player (too many flutes). I joined the S.O. 6 years ago as principal horn and more recently joined the Music Selection Committee. I studied music performance in […]
Lillian Garcia – Percussion I started playing drums in the 6th grade when I lived in Virginia Beach. I originally wanted to play saxophone, but I had childhood asthma and thought I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I have a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from James Madison University, and I taught […]
Samantha Clark – Viola I started playing the viola when I was in fourth grade, and I picked it because all my classmates wanted to play the violin, and I knew I needed to be different! I filled in as part of the viola section for several years, and then Wojciech […]
Dean Glace – Trumpet My father bought a used trumpet when I was 7 years old and he and I started learning the trumpet together. I played through middle and high school and college. I was a member of the orchestra, symphonic band, brass choir, brass band, 26-piece big band, and […]
Ethan Pruitt – Trumpet I’m Ethan and I started trumpet my 5th grade year in 2002. I decided to play trumpet because it was either the trumpet or percussion and at the time I already had a brother that played drums on and off so I decided to go with […]
Zachary Bian – Violin I’ve played violin with the orchestra since 2016, when I got a flyer about it in the mail, and I needed something to do outside of work. As for the violin, I’ve been playing for over 25 years. Outside the orchestra, I enjoy learning about and […]
Betty Settle – Violin I began playing violin in the 5th grade. I played 2nd violin all the way through junior high and senior high school. Furman University did not have an orchestra when I was there, so I did not have an opportunity to play again until after I retired. I had […]
Amy Fu – Flute I started playing flute in the 6th-grade Beginning Band. On the first day of school, the band director went around the room, called us out by name, and asked what instrument we wanted to play. I picked the flute because it was the only band instrument […]
Frank Miley – English Horn I am Frank Miley, and I play oboe and English horn with the orchestra. I started playing oboe during my sophomore year at Goose Creek High School – 1970 or so. I like to say that I didn’t pick the oboe; the oboe picked me. Truth […]
The Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) celebrates its 20th season this year with a lineup of both well-loved classics and contemporary works. The concerts’ focus is celebration, in keeping with S.O.’s Platinum Jubilee. “Each concert is completely unique and a celebration of different instruments and musicians,” said Music Director Wojciech Milewski. “I’m […]
It’s not hard to stand in the middle of Summerville and see three churches all within one block of each other. This makes it easy to say that religion has served as inspiration for much of the Summerville community and is playing a big part in this upcoming concert for […]
The Summerville Orchestra Junior Philharmonic and Youth Philharmonic will perform their first concert at Fort Dorchester High School on February 18th at 3 pm. The concert, Sounds of the Seafarers, will include a mariner theme and features “Song of the Sea Mariner” and “Viking” by Soon Hee Newbold, as well as […]
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – Cassie Pilgrim, the principal oboist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, will join the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) on Feb. 10 and 11, playing Oboe Concerto in E-flat Major by 19th-century composer Vincenzo Bellini. Pilgrim, an established oboist, who played with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony […]
Written by Vincent Harris with Charleston City Paper. Dated November 23, 2022 Percussionist Lillian Garcia loves playing some of classical music’s most memorable pieces: Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” Beethoven’s “Ode To Joy” or Bizet’s “Carmen.” These are pieces she’s played for decades, and she still finds new things to enjoy […]
Take a musical journey on the Polar Express with the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) on Saturday, December 10th, as part of their holiday showcase, featuring the full orchestra, a 100-voice choir, handbells, and familiar holiday classics. The matinee performance begins at 3:30 pm with a new twist – the lobby of […]
Published November 19, 2022. Press Release “A Salute to Young Artists,” the second of five subscription series concerts of the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.), debuted the new S.O. Youth Philharmonic as part of two evenings of immersive, interactive experiences last weekend. To the 75-member orchestra under the baton of Music Director […]
Summerville Orchestra collaborates with DD2 and more, Nov. 11 & 12 SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – Music! Dance! Visual art! The Summerville Orchestra will celebrate “A Salute to Young Artists” on Nov. 11 & 12, featuring the winner of the S.O. concerto competition, the Classical Ballet Centre, and artwork by area […]
The Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) has received a two-year, $20,000 award from the South Carolina Arts Commission to launch a youth orchestra and education program in September in collaboration with tri-county schools. The three-part initiative includes a youth orchestra for intermediate students, elementary and middle school outreach and a mentorship program […]
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. – Summerville will be the scene of a birthday celebration for Harry Potter, featuring favorites from the Harry Potter soundtrack played by the Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) String Quartet with readings by the Flowertown Players. To be held on Sun., July 31, at 7 p.m. at the 200-seat James […]