What is the story of LCCO?
Lee County Community Orchestra Association was incorporated in 1988 to provide this central area of North Carolina with a "hometown" performing orchestra to present public concerts of classical, semi-classical, and popular music. Originally sponsored by the Lee County Parks & Recreation Department, the Lee County Community Orchestra has grown to include a fairly full complement of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion sections.
Association members are people who provide financial assistance at four levels: donor, patron, sponsor or benefactor. The Lee County Arts Council has also provided support for LCCO through annual grass roots grants.
For the first six years the Association's Board of Directors was composed chiefly of community people. Two conductors from Fayetteville directed LCCO for three seasons each. Since then orchestra musicians have provided the primary leadership for the Association. After two transition years, one with guest conductors and one with a single-season director, the Association and LCCO enjoyed the stability of leadership brought by Dr. David Oertel, who led the orchestra for thirteen seasons, ending with 2008-2009.
During Dr. Oertel's tenure, both the number of concerts and their quality increased. The Lee County Arts & Community Center became the main performance site. For nine years LCCO played each May at the Ole Mill Crank-up and also performed at Kiwanis Park, but now the outdoor performances take place at Depot Park. A set of Christmas concerts became a tradition, and guest soloists often added an extra dimension to the programs.
What is LCCO doing now?
We are beginning our twenty-third full season. The process involves assembling volunteer amateur musicians, led by a professional concertmaster and the conductor, for eight weekly rehearsals, a dress rehearsal, and a two-performance concert. This cycle is repeated four times: October, December, March and May. The objective is to prepare well privately and to perform well publicly so that both musicians and audience are stimulated and satisfied.
For 2010-2011, the orchestra will be led for a second season by music director Tara Towson Villa. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, she begins her eigth season as music director of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina. Dr. Villa holds degrees from Franklin & Marshall College, the Pennsylvania State University, and the University of South Carolina.
Who benefits from LCCO?
Audience members benefit because the free concerts satisfy their thirst for live performance. The musicians profit because the fervor of Dr. Villa's purpose and the quality of her musicianship provide inspiration and instruction. Rehearsing regularly, they are practiced and ready to perform not just for LCCO concerts, but also anywhere, anytime. Individuals and small ensembles participate in church services, weddings, high school productions, as well as in other civic and community events. When asked to visit elementary schools to demonstrate their instruments, orchestra members increase student awareness of the art of making music and encourage children to pursue musical interests and inclinations.
Actually, everyone in Sanford, Lee County and the surrounding area benefits from the LCCO. The Chamber of Commerce can claim that in this community exists a dynamic association of music makers and music lovers. The willingness of local musicians to play and local citizens to listen is a precious commodity that is well worth preserving and fully supporting.
Who serves the orchestra?
LCCO ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
(as of August 2010)
President, Reinette Seaman
Vice President, Elisabeth Crandall
Treasurer, Joe Cavalluzzi
Secretary/Manager, Karen Huey
DIRECTORS
Brian Caldwell
Mark Lane
Jean McSwain
Jessica Traversino
Theresa Whitley
Dwayne Williams
Lee County Community Orchestra Association was incorporated in 1988 to provide this central area of North Carolina with a "hometown" performing orchestra to present public concerts of classical, semi-classical, and popular music. Originally sponsored by the Lee County Parks & Recreation Department, the Lee County Community Orchestra has grown to include a fairly full complement of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion sections.
Association members are people who provide financial assistance at four levels: donor, patron, sponsor or benefactor. The Lee County Arts Council has also provided support for LCCO through annual grass roots grants.
For the first six years the Association's Board of Directors was composed chiefly of community people. Two conductors from Fayetteville directed LCCO for three seasons each. Since then orchestra musicians have provided the primary leadership for the Association. After two transition years, one with guest conductors and one with a single-season director, the Association and LCCO enjoyed the stability of leadership brought by Dr. David Oertel, who led the orchestra for thirteen seasons, ending with 2008-2009.
During Dr. Oertel's tenure, both the number of concerts and their quality increased. The Lee County Arts & Community Center became the main performance site. For nine years LCCO played each May at the Ole Mill Crank-up and also performed at Kiwanis Park, but now the outdoor performances take place at Depot Park. A set of Christmas concerts became a tradition, and guest soloists often added an extra dimension to the programs.
What is LCCO doing now?
We are beginning our twenty-third full season. The process involves assembling volunteer amateur musicians, led by a professional concertmaster and the conductor, for eight weekly rehearsals, a dress rehearsal, and a two-performance concert. This cycle is repeated four times: October, December, March and May. The objective is to prepare well privately and to perform well publicly so that both musicians and audience are stimulated and satisfied.
For 2010-2011, the orchestra will be led for a second season by music director Tara Towson Villa. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, she begins her eigth season as music director of the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina. Dr. Villa holds degrees from Franklin & Marshall College, the Pennsylvania State University, and the University of South Carolina.
Who benefits from LCCO?
Audience members benefit because the free concerts satisfy their thirst for live performance. The musicians profit because the fervor of Dr. Villa's purpose and the quality of her musicianship provide inspiration and instruction. Rehearsing regularly, they are practiced and ready to perform not just for LCCO concerts, but also anywhere, anytime. Individuals and small ensembles participate in church services, weddings, high school productions, as well as in other civic and community events. When asked to visit elementary schools to demonstrate their instruments, orchestra members increase student awareness of the art of making music and encourage children to pursue musical interests and inclinations.
Actually, everyone in Sanford, Lee County and the surrounding area benefits from the LCCO. The Chamber of Commerce can claim that in this community exists a dynamic association of music makers and music lovers. The willingness of local musicians to play and local citizens to listen is a precious commodity that is well worth preserving and fully supporting.
Who serves the orchestra?
LCCO ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
(as of August 2010)
President, Reinette Seaman
Vice President, Elisabeth Crandall
Treasurer, Joe Cavalluzzi
Secretary/Manager, Karen Huey
DIRECTORS
Brian Caldwell
Mark Lane
Jean McSwain
Jessica Traversino
Theresa Whitley
Dwayne Williams
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