Mukilteo Community Orchestra hopes to inspire with free concert

MUKILTEO — David Droz wonders about the future of symphony orchestras. So many high schools have dropped their string programs, he said.

The young violinist plans a career split between performing and teaching. If nothing else, he hopes to help grow the next generation’s audiences.

Droz is set to play the third movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor as part of Mukilteo Community Orchestra’s free “Local Heroes” concert at 2 p.m. March 1 at Rosehill Community Center.

In his final year at Central Washington University, Droz is a 2011 graduate of Kamiak High School. To be able to return to his hometown to solo with the community orchestra is a thrill, he said.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Droz said. “And the Mendelssohn is one of director Trevor Lutzenhiser’s favorites.”

Growing up, Droz studied violin with Joyce Bovey, Kee Soon Namkung and Larry Fisher, all of Snohomish County. He was principal second violinist in Kamiak’s orchestra in his senior year.

“Mendelssohn’s third movement is energetic and playful,” he said. “I can’t help but play it with a smile on my face.”

One of the most famous of violin concertos, the Mendelssohn has been used to by many to propel their careers, Droz said.

“The first movement has become almost cliche because it is so well known. But as a whole the piece is fantastic,” he said. “Despite it being written in the key of E minor, not usually the friendliest to violinists, Mendelssohn, a violinist himself, knew that it would land nicely in the ear.”

Droz’s hope as a future public or private school music teacher is to “share my love of music.”

“People need to realize that music is just as academic as math and that it benefits students greatly,” he said.

The fact that the members of the Mukilteo Community Orchestra are able “pay to play” and thus offer their concerts free of charge is beneficial to the community, Droz said.

“It opens doors for people who might not otherwise attend,” he said.

The Seattle Pacific University Brass Quintet will perform at 1:30 p.m. Sunday as a prelude to the concert.

George Steward, trumpet, will perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Steward, who earned performance degrees at Wheaton Conservatory and Yale School of Music, lives in Lynnwood. He is a teacher and the principal trumpet with the Everett Philharmonic, Cascade Symphony and Octava Chamber Orchestra.

Soprano Sarah Richard, a vocal teacher in south Snohomish County, will perform music written by Canadian lyric composer and musician Brent Straughan.

Baritone Charles Crowley will provide the vocal interpretation of lyrics from the words of Chief Seattle (See-ahth ) in “You Are Not Alone” by local composer Richard Vitzhum.

Also on the program are works by local composers William Maxwell and Kevin Riley.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to bring these very special performances to the Mukilteo community,” said director Lutzenhiser in a statement from the orchestra. “The works were specifically chosen to showcase the amazing talent that we have available to us locally in our community.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.

If you go

Mukilteo Community Orchestra, 2 p.m. March 1, Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo. Free. More at www.mukilteoorchestra.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.