The Moor, The Merrier: Orchid Isle Orchestra +

Orchid Isle Orchestra (OIO) will perform in collaboration with Hilo High School Orchestra (HHSO) and Young Music Studio (YMS) on Monday, December 15th, at 6:30 PM, at the Hilo High School Auditorium in a concert titled "The Moor, The Merrier." Besides a reference to the featured orchestra work, The Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst, the concert title highlights the large number of performing string players. When Hilo High School's orchestra joins YMS and OIO, Maestro David MacKenzie will conduct 46 players in a Folk Tune Festival, a multi-level piece.

The concert opens with HHSO and YMS players presenting some fiddle tunes and familiar music from the Suzuki repertoire. Side-by-side (with OIO) music opens the second half of the concert. YMS players will join OIO in a fast-paced piece, Coiled!, by Bob Lipton. HHSO and OIO will team up for some holiday music.

OIO's core group of 17 will perform the Menuetto from Dvořák's Serenade for Strings, Walzer from Karłowicz's Serenade for Strings, Falling Water by Yukiko Nishimura, along with the Holst and holiday favorites, both instrumental-only and for a sing-along. The Moorside Suite second movement features orchestra soloists from each section. I'll Be Bach for Christmas weaves holiday carols with famous works by J.S. Bach.

OIO is a community string and percussion orchestra, whose members include students, amateur and professional musicians. The public is invited -- the "moor," the merrier! Concert admission is free. All donations are welcome. Call OIO Artistic Director Cathy Young for more information, at (808) 982-9307.