A Busy Week for the Erie Chamber Orchestra In the Classroom and On Stage

The  Slippery Rock University Concert Choir, Stephen Barr, director  will join four soloists and the Erie Chamber Orchestra for Friday’s performance of Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass

Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is launching into another busy week of community-minded efforts in order to bring a free musical experience into our neighborhood classrooms and performance spaces. The week will culminate in the performance, at a free concert on Friday evening, of Joseph Haydn’s Mass in D Minor, commonly known as the “Lord Nelson Mass,” and Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C major, K.441, the “Jupiter” with Shannon Kessler Dooley, soprano; Katherine Drago, alto; Robert Frankenberry, tenor; John Dooley, bass and the Slippery Rock University Concert Choir, Stephen Barr, director. The concert, which will be under the direction of Matthew Kraemer, is at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 250 W. Seventh St.

“The mass and the symphony are crowning achievements of the Classical era,” Kraemer said. As always, admission is free of charge.

Other ECO-related musical events this week include:

• Wednesday, November 13 – Music director Matthew Kraemer will conduct an orchestral master class at Fort LeBoeuf High School, 7:50 a.m. -10 a.m.  Matthew Kraemer and Steve Weiser will discuss the upcoming concert live on WQLN-FM 91.3 with Wally Faas at 11 a.m.

• Thursday, November 14 – Instrumental Petting Zoo at McKinley Elementary, presented by Howard Lyon, Louis Nicolia and Ruth Ann Scanzillo, members of the ECO string section.

• Friday, November 15 – Vocal master class will be presented to the Diehl Elementary School choir by ECO soloists Shannon Kessler Dooley, Katherine Drago and Robert Frankenberry. The ECO will also donate a piano to the school at this event.

Auditions for “The Music Man,” which will be presented by the ECO in concert in March. Auditions will be held at the Schuster Theatre, 620 Sassafras St. from

4:30-6 p.m. Interested persons are asked to prepare two short, contrasting vocal selections.  For more information, please call Steve Weiser at (814) 871-7755.