Save the date for the Bedford Orchestra Program’s Vertical Concert: Music from the Eastern Hemisphere! The concert will feature 2 world premieres by the BPS Orchestras: The BHS Chamber Orchestra will perform a commissioned piece by Jason Coleman for solo oud and orchestra, and all 5-12 strings students another commissioned piece arranged by Jason Coleman.

The concert takes place Wednesday, March 20th at 7:30 PM in the JGMS Gymnasium and is free and open to the public. Mr. Coleman will be in attendance, and the concert will also feature pieces from Hannah Yang, Soon Hee Newbold, Jiyoung Um, and Leanne Darling – as well as music from Angola and Jordan. 

Mr. Coleman’s piece, Rhapsodies Concertantes: Sevan Fishermen’s Dance, was commissioned by BHS Orchestra Director, Brianna Creamer, and funded in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council (a division of the Mass Cultural Council) and the Bedford POMS (Patrons of Music Students). The piece is a collaboration between Mr. Coleman and the solo oudist–BHS graduate, Datev Gevorkian ’20. Rhapsodies Concertantes incorporates an Armenian folk tune with Baroque counterpoint and traditionally classical instrumentation. 

Mr. Coleman’s multi-level arrangement of Persian March, Op. 289 by Johann Strauss (son) features folk tunes from modern day Iran and is also funded in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council (a division of the Mass Cultural Council) and the Bedford POMS (Patrons of Music Students). This multi-level arrangement fills a gap in repertoire for school aged students that features music from the Middle East.