Nevada Chamber Symphony closes season with special guests

As show biz traditions go, it certainly ranks as one of the nicest in town.

When the Nevada Chamber Symphony concludes its 25th season this weekend, its corps of professional musicians will be joined onstage by amateur, but no less enthusiastic, guest musicians from Swainston Middle School and the Blind Center of Nevada's bell choir.

The concert, titled "Orquesta Futura," begins at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Library Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. The event is free, but reservations are requested to accommodate seating.

Peggy Trasatti, the symphony's chairman and general manager, said the symphony began its tradition of ending each season with talented guest amateurs about 10 years ago.

That pretty much explains why this weekend's concert is called "Orquesta Futura," she said. "These are the musicians of the future."

The objective, Trasatti added, is to highlight "young performers and emerging groups, so that the tradition of fine music goes on."

In the past, guest performers have included choral groups, musicians, dancers and school groups. Typically, the guest performers receive the music about a month before the concert to rehearse, said Rodolfo Fernandez, the symphony's conductor and founder. Then, on the day of the concert, symphony and guest players finally meet to rehearse together.

"I think it's very exciting for them, and also very challenging for our players," Fernandez said.

Fortunately, the symphony's corps includes several local music educators, Fernandez added, "so they are usually very familiar with the kids and with the way they play and so on."

Ronnie Wilson, executive director of the Blind Center of Nevada, said the center's bell choir was created almost a year ago. While the choir has performed around town, this marks the first time members will perform with the Nevada Chamber Symphony.

The bell choir is scheduled to perform three songs with the orchestra: "America," "We Are The World" and "Simple Gifts." Members are excited about their upcoming symphony debut, Wilson said.

The center's music program is "one of the most powerful special programs that we do," Wilson said, helping to, in some cases, restore the self-confidence that can be lost with a loss of vision.

"They just get so excited when they're able to go out and share their talent," Wilson said.

Fernandez said the afternoon's internationally flavored repertoire will include works by Brahms, Haydn, Bach and Bizet, as well as popular works.

Trasatti said the school-orchestra partnership that also will be seen this weekend is particularly important now, "looking at the kind of budget cuts schools are possibly going to have."

The arts, she said, "are something that tend to be considered expendable, and that's unfortunate."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@review journal.com or 702-383-0280.