By Philip Potempa
Even though Troy Webdell, founder of the South Shore Orchestra, is already helping prepare for the musical organization’s 20th anniversary milestone season in 2024, he said he is surprised to still meet new audience members who never knew the orchestra existed, despite a two-decade performing history.
“It does happen that people will say they didn’t know about us, and I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing,” said Webdell, who lives in Fort Wayne and serves as the orchestra’s maestro.
“I just feel fortunate anytime anyone new finds us, and they can appreciate what programming we are providing.”
At 7:30 p.m. Friday June 23, Webdell will conduct the South Shore Orchestra’s summer concert featuring violinist Violetta Todorova at the Ivy Tech College Theatre in Valparaiso.
“We’ve had Violetta play with our orchestra two other times and she’s a favorite,” Webdell said. “This concert has an incredible variety of works that we will be performing.”
Included in the program will be “Ritual Fire Dance,” which is the musical movement of the ballet “El amor brujo,” written in 1915 by the Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. Composer Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla, the Argentine tango composer, will be showcased with his piece “Oblivion,” which he unveiled in 1982, with the added highlight of John Wachala on flute. A blend of varied instruments create the energy of the 1926 classic work “Batik” by Silvestre Revueltas.
The musical magic and moving sounds of the violinist Todorova will be celebrated in not only the concert title work by Brahms, but also during the theme from the 1993 film “Schindler’s List” composed by John Williams.
The concert will be 75 minutes without an intermission.
“We’ve had three rehearsals to prepare, which is about the standard for many orchestras in advance of a concert,” Webdell said.
Founded by Webdell in 2004, he said South Shore Orchestra remains committed “to bridging musicians, audiences and communities to advance enjoyment and appreciation of orchestra music throughout the South Shore region and beyond.”
“I’ve said it so often, that music is a universal language to brings communities together to share thoughts of understanding, equality and tolerance,” Webdell said.
“There are times when a person’s entire perspective on life can changed after hearing a single piece of music. Music is a powerful force, and we as the members of this orchestra are deeply passionate about it,” he said.
Prior to the pandemic, Webdell and the more than 60-member orchestra performed in China in 2018, which was one of the seven international tours Webdell led since 2009.
“While overseas, it moves fast with us scheduled for as many as seven concerts in a span of 12 days,” Webdell said.
In addition to South Shore Orchestra, which is based in Valparaiso, Webdell also serves as the Youth Education and Family Concert Conductor for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the artistic director of American Confucian Arts worldwide.
Beyond conducting orchestral concerts throughout China, Webdell has also joined his musicians in renowned concert halls in more than 40 major cities such as Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Yangzhou, Ningbo, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Cixi, and Zhengzhou.
In 2015, Webdell received the Global Harmony Through Music Award from the Confucius Institute in Beijing for his work and his orchestral concerts have been nationally televised and broadcast on CCTV throughout China and on PBS in the United States.
“Our next big concert event locally in Northwest Indiana will be our Veterans Concert in the fall,” Webdell said. “We are already busy planning the concert and content.”
Brahms Violin Concerto with Violetta Todorova
When: 7:30 p.m. June 23
Where: Ivy Tech College Theater, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso
Cost: $20 and free for ages 18 and younger
Information: southshoreorchestra.org
Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for The Post-Tribune.
