New events occur in California every day, and they show no sign of stopping anytime soon.
As part of its 2022 Summer Concert Series, the Lake Area Community Orchestra performed June 28 at the United Church of Christ.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused orchestra organizers to postpone everything on its schedule for about two years. And they began looking at filling in open dates on the orchestra schedule this summer. They wanted to add a city with an organized community band. The orchestra had an opening in its scheduled that was intended as a rain date, in case either of its outdoors concerts (in Eldon or Ha Ha Tonka State Park) had been canceled.
As time went on and the group started to seriously evaluate the best place to perform, orchestra director Andrew Drennan said, "Well, why not California?"
"It's a nice little fiefdom that actually has some really cool things and a good following," he said.
Local musicians even reached out to see if the group would be interested in visiting the area, he added.
The city offered two possible locations where the orchestra could perform. Drennan considered the Finke Theatre, but the director found the hall inside of the United Church of Christ to be perfect for the group's shows.
"I had just taken one look in here and now all the possibilities of joint concerts and all this cool stuff started to spring from there," Drennan said. "I just met the chairman of the board...we had a short chat...and I think we're going to have some long-term commitments here. I'm hoping next winter we'll have a concert added to our schedule."
Drennan implied this will most likely occur if joint performances the orchestra has with other groups are successful. He said in the future, he can see even larger concerts take place with a potentially massive combined orchestra.
Although he said he is being ambitious, Drennan explained he's moved by the talent and energy his musicians have put into their performances.
The material orchestra members learned throughout the year can be difficult to play, he said. However, they have been able to pull it off each time. He said its been very pleasant working with orchestra members and it continues encouraging him to keep pushing his musicians.
During last week's concert, the group performed a list of pieces demonstrating the history of American contemporary music. Stretching back to the works of influential 20th century composers Malcolm Arnold and John Philip Sousa, the group capped its performance with a selection from the musical "West Side Story," by Leonard Bernstein.
Drennan said he finds Broadway's evolution over time to be cool. The United Church of Christ audiences can hear musical elements from the late 19th century, all the way up to present time, and see how music was treated first-hand.
"I thought, with (the remake of West Side Story) being still in some theaters and pay per view..., it'd be a great opportunity to reintroduce people to something that I've been exposed to for the last 35 years," Drennan said.
Democrat photo/Kaden Quinn photo: The Lake Area Community Orchestra director Andrew Drennan leads his musicians through their performance of American contemporary music.