The Civic Orchestra of Tucson, the oldest community orchestra in the region, will begin its 2014-2015 season with a free concert at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The concert, on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m., also marks the orchestra’s participation in Daniel Pearl World Music Days to honor the memory of the Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002.
The Daniel Pearl Foundation was created in memory of Pearl, “a talented musician who joined musical groups in every community in which he lived, leaving behind a long trail of musician-friends spanning the entire world,” according to the Foundation’s website.
The COT performance will be one of nearly 12,000 to be performed in 132 countries in October.
The Foundation encourages these global events as part of World Music Days to use “the universal language of music to encourage fellowship across cultures and build a platform for ‘Harmony for Humanity.’”
“We are proud to be a part of this international movement,” says COT General Manager Bob Kovitz. “At a time when there is so much disharmony in the world, it is a good time for us to get together to create something positive and uplifting.”
Led by Conductor and Music Director Herschel Kreloff, the COT will perform works by Verdi and Brahms as well as Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 7.
The COT rehearses Tuesday evenings at the JCC from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Rehearsals are open to the public.
The concert will be repeated on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m. at the Community Performance and Art Center at 1250 W. Continental Road, Green Valley. The concert is free but reservations are required by calling 399-1750.
For more information about the orchestra, call 730-3371 or visit www.cotmusic.org.
