The South Kansas Symphony and the Southwestern College A Cappella Choir will combine to present a program titled “Ode to Joy” on Sunday, April 3, at 3 p.m., in the Winfield High School Auxiliary Gymnasium.  The choir will be enhanced by nearly 30 additional singers from the community.
 
The program features Ludwig van Beethoven’s masterpiece, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, and Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G.”  Both pieces will use orchestra and chorus. Four vocal soloists are also featured in the works.
 
“Almost everyone knows the Ode to Joy theme, even if they don’t know it by name. When that melody is heard, something in the spirit responds,” says executive director and conductor Daniel Stevens. “It is even more profound when we know Beethoven’s story at the point when he was writing this masterpiece. He was completely deaf. You can only imagine what that might mean for anyone, how much more to a composer. That he could write about joy at that time in his life – and show so beautifully the struggle that it takes to get to a place of joy – is inspiring and part of what makes this symphony so enduring.”

“Schubert’s ‘Mass in G’ – his second – shows the promise that this musical prodigy would fulfill,” says director of choirs David Gardner, who will conduct the piece. “Written when he was only 18 years-old, the Mass shows Schubert finding his voice as a composer. The overall mood is devotional as fits a setting of the Mass but its grace and loveliness also make it stand alone as a concert piece.”

Sunday’s performance is underwritten by Family Wealth Management, LLC, Mike Harvey.

Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door and are $5. For more information on this performance, contact Lou Tharp at (620) 229-6272 or visit www.sckans.edu/sks-band.