The Sutter Buttes Family Orchestra musicians reflect all ages. From left are Janae Hill, Alice Baucher and Steve Shepard.

 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Sutter Buttes Family Orchestra devoted its May concert to iconic and beloved classical works by Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Brahms, Handel and Beethoven.

The orchestra performed Vivaldi’s “L’Inverno (Winter),” part of “Four Seasons.” The piece is easily recognizable because it has been used in many movies and commercials.

Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasia” was also performed. It was Beethoven’s precursor to “Ode to Joy” and similarities were easy to hear.

The orchestra shared classical pieces reflecting the gypsy music and dances of Eastern Europe and the magical tales from “Arabian Nights.” Jonathan Quine masterfully played the trumpet for one of Haydn’s trumpet concertos.

Joanie Grover directed “The Magic Flute,” a piece from Mozart’s final opera, which premiered two months before he died in 1791.

John Paul Bowers plays the viola in the orchestra and directs pieces. For this concert, he directed “What’s Up at the Symphony,” a whimsical mash-up of classical tunes recognizable from well-known cartoons. Bowers graduates from high school this year and heads to college.

Carol Brown, who conducted the orchestra for 10 years, is serving with her husband, Jim, as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ethan Jacobsen and Joanie Grover have assumed the orchestra’s leadership duties. Jacobsen, the Gridley High School band director, does most of the conducting and Grover works behind the scenes to organize rehearsals and performances.

The orchestra will present its next concert in December. Concerts are free and family-friendly.