Dorchester Symphony Orchestra

Debut Performance of Local Community Group

 Sep 22, 2008 Sarah Canice Funke

 Local community orchestras across the country can welcome a brand new member to the ranks. On Friday, September 20th, 2008 the Dorchester Symphony Orchestra (of Dorchester, MA) gave its debut performance, tucked away in the sanctuary of All Saints Ashmont Episcopal Church.

 Their mission is "to enrich the cultural life of Dorchester and nearby Boston communities by providing orchestral music of the highest quality, and foster the appreciation of classical music among residents and young audiences." And the lucky few who found out about the concert--marketing strategies included some word of mouth canvassing of the local weekend yard sales--were treated to some quality orchestral music, in keeping with that mission.

The Dorchester Symphony Orchestra: New But Promising

 Though the group may still be in its infancy stages, the conductor and music director William Shoucair chose to introduce the Dorchester Symphony Orchestra with an ambitious program that consisted of Beethoven's 8th Symphony and Haydn's 104th Symphony. The musicians gave very strong performances, yet some of the orchestra's newness revealed itself with a false start (one overeager cellist at the beginning of the 3rd movement of Beethoven's 8th) and the occasional lagging section.

 The bumps and hiccups are sure to vanish in subsequent performances, however, and did not diminish enjoyment of the concert. Set against the stone and stained glass backdrop of the acoustically live interior of All-Saints, the orchestra provided an experience that appealed to several senses. Shoucair's matter of fact conducting style avoided frilly gestures and gave minimal but strong cues.

 The final movement of Haydn's 104th Symphony was especially entertaining. The symphony was the last Haydn wrote and the final movement exits with a merry dance based on a folk tune. The cellos provided a drone while the violins capered in the upper registers. Since Haydn was a composer with a healthy sense of humor, the close to his final symphony seems a fitting expression of his outlook on life.