Our program on February 13 included updates on what is changing at Britt, plus an excellent program of music by Teddy Abrams, Conductor of the Britt Orchestra and Nate Farrington, Britt Orchestra bass player.
The program began with remarks from Donna Briggs, Britt CEO, on a successful 2017 season and proposed changes in 2018, which include:
· Revamping the membership program to make ticket ordering much simpler for patrons.
· For the first time, the season announcement of concerts will be made in increments – February 16, March 16 and April 12.
· After 30 years, the old bench seating will be replaced and expanded with a life expectancy of 40+ years with little or no maintenance.
Briggs then turned the program over to Teddy Abrams, who explained that he was in town for a Valentine’s fundraising gala and orchestra season announcement. The 2018 orchestra concerts run from July 25-August 11 and will feature programs from pops to well-known classics to new composers. Since this year marks the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, several of the works will feature Bernstein’s compositions or thematic connections. The season will also feature the 90+ orchestra musicians who come from all across the U.S. and beyond, plus outstanding guest soloists.
Abrams also reported that the orchestra program performed at Crater Lake in 2015 was filmed in its entirety and made into a PBS special, which has been picked up and is now airing by about 90% of the public television stations nationwide.
Abrams and bass player Farrington then presented a delightful program of love songs, classics and even the blues on keyboard, bass, guitar and vocals. As always, Teddy Abrams brings one of the year’s best programs to Rotary.
