On April 7 at 3 p.m.  the Warwick Symphony Orchestra will preform a free concert at Warwick City Hall – Council Chambers with optional “pay-what-you-can” (PWYC) donations collected in support of WSO’s outreach performances For Our Community and A Little Live Music as well as the George Low Scholarship program.

 In memory of Warwick Symphony’s founder and Warwick educator George Low, this performance introduces a new effort whereby WSO features an artist-educator annually. This year’s featured artist-educator is Richard Marchetti – clarinetist, seasoned musician and educator with a rich musical background.

The program on April 7th includes a variety of full symphony selections:Jubilee from Symphonic Sketches – George Whitefield Chadwick; Symphony No. 2 “A London Symphony” Movement II – Ralph Vaughn Williams; Concertino for Clarinet, Op.26 – Carl Maria von Weber and Symphony No. 2 “The Romantic” Movement III – Howard Hanson

This program includes performances by the full symphony with works from the Romantic and Modern eras.  With the changing nature of health and welfare guidelines, WSO encourages audiences to wear masks if ill or in the case of possible exposure to viruses including COVID and influenza.

While admission is free, reservations are highly recommended in order to assure capacity is not exceeded.  Please visit https://www.wsori.org/performances to reserve seats.  Optional donations in a pay-what-you-can format will be accepted at the door.

Von Weber’s Concertino for Clarinet was written over three days and premiered 2 days later by German clarinetist Heinrich Barmann in 1811. The early Romantic, single-movement concertino is a theme and variations. This exciting work demonstrates the versatility of the instrument in terms of range, technique, and most certainly color.  The soloist for this event is Richard Marchetti.

He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Rhode Island. He excelled as the principal clarinetist for the URI Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Richard’s musical journey also includes performances with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Community Orchestra.

As the Music Department Coordinator K-12 for West Warwick Public Schools, Marchetti serves as the Concert Chorale director at West Warwick High Sschool. A finalist for the Grammy Foundation’s Music Educator Award in 2013, he received the Rhode Island Department of Education and Hasbro’s Golden Apple Award for teaching excellence. In 2016, Richard was honored as the West Warwick Public Schools Teacher of the Year.

Actively engaged in professional associations such as Phi Kappa Lambda International Honor Society, NAfME, ACDA, and RIMEA, Marchetti extends his impact beyond the classroom. A respected woodwind musician in the region, he has performed with prestigious institutions like Trinity Repertory Company, Theater by the Sea, Ocean State Theatre Company, Brown University, University of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island College among others. Additionally, Richard is a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor, offering a dynamic range of classes.

Established in 1966 by George Low as a continuing education opportunity through the Warwick Public Schools, the WSO is a non-profit regional orchestra with a diverse membership.  Catherine Gagnon is WSO’s fifth Music Director, and under her guidance, the WSO presents about eight concerts annually.  With accessible programs WSO presents music representing the changing interests of our community including pops selections, the music of film and Broadway, popular works, and traditional orchestral repertoire.  WSO strives to balance concerts with pieces that are recognizable along with those that can develop our audience’s understanding of and appreciation for classical and contemporary music.  WSO is also always accepting new members; interested parties can obtain further information by contacting us at WSOri.org.

The WSO brings classical and orchestral pops performances to communities across Rhode Island.  As a regional volunteer symphony, the WSO seeks to deliver high-quality live music and affordable performances to diverse communities.  WSO ensures accessibility and appeals to a wide-ranging audience of varied backgrounds through programming that seamlessly between classical and orchestral pops programs.