South Shore Orchestra and its music director and founder Troy Webdell will present a pre-China tour concert, “Dreams and Visions,” on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Ivy Tech College Auditorium Theater in Valparaiso.

The South Shore Orchestra has been chosen as the first American orchestra invited by the Confucius Institute of International Knowledge to perform a series of seven New Year’s concerts throughout Eastern China, including performances in Shanghai and Beijing from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

Among the 72 musicians traveling to China will be Josh DeVries, a Chesterton Middle School student who is the youngest member of the group.

DeVries’ selection came about after the orchestra, in need of one more cellist, heard from a few other members that the 14-year-old son of Jane DeVries, an oboe player, was an outstanding musician.　Josh is already an active participant in the three-year-old South Shore Youth Orchestra, which enables children to learn and perform in three separate groups from beginning to advanced.

Josh chose the cello as a 4th grader because of its incredible sound. He also enjoys math, is an avid swimmer and is working on his Eagle Scout project.

The orchestra has seven cellists traveling with it. The Chinese organization that developed the concert itinerary was able to procure the cellos, a harp and all percussion instruments for SSO to use while there, which was an advantage to the SSO since the travel cost for some of the instruments exceeds $500. The cellists and percussionists will bring their bows and sticks, something that Josh said is a special attachment for a musician (he’s taking two). The one large-scale equipment exception for SSO is the tuba, which must travel at a price. All other members will bring their own instruments.

The SSO’s music director and founder, Webdell, is a 1989 Chesterton High School graduate who teaches in Crown Point.　

Also touring with SSO in China will be WFMT Radio's Peter Van De Graaff and his wife Kathleen as guest vocalists.

Professor Jianyun Meng, the director of the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University, and his wife, Ruiling, will be guides for the SSO, which will depart Valparaiso on Dec. 26, landing in Shanghai on the 27th. SSO will perform seven concerts before returning on Jan. 5.

As a prelude to the China trip, the SSO will present a Friday concert at Ivy Tech featuring works including He Zhanhao and Chen Gang's “The Butterfly Lovers,” a violin concerto performed by artist-in-residence Gregory Maytan, and Michael Schelle’s piano concerto “Wright Flight” performed by Japanese pianist Miho Sasaki. Also featured in the program will be music by Johann Strauss Jr. along with some holiday surprises.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be available at the door. Ivy Tech College Auditorium Theater is located at 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. For more information visit, www.southshoreorchestra.com

The SSO, now in its fifth year, is a community-based orchestra where membership is by audition or invitation and whose primary goal is to “orchestrate a musical community” through concerts and musical partnerships across the region.

Posted 12/3/2009