“Great Beginnings” at Birch Creek in Egg Harbor

Opening night of Birch Creek’s 36th concert season will be June 23 with a concert entitled “Great Beginnings” at 8 pm. The program will include Carl Maria von Weber’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in F Major performed by student bassoonist and 2010 Birch Creek Concerto Competition winner Sarah Tako.

Concerts on the evenings of June 24 and June 25 are entitled “Russian Masters.” The 80-member Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in d minor, and Concertmaster Robert Hanford will be featured on Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major.

Symphony Program Director Ricardo Castañeda commented on the 2011 Symphony season and its repertoire. “Every year, we select the same repertoire that is being played by professional orchestras, and this year is no exception,” said Castañeda, adding that this year’s repertoire features “very demanding pieces, both technically and musically.”

Birch Creek Music Performance Center is located at 3821 County E in Egg Harbor. All concerts begin at 8 pm with pre-concert music beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $29 for adults, $10 for students, and $6 for children. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 920.868.3763. For additional information, visit http://www.birchcreek.org.