MONROE, Conn. — Pan American will feature Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, in which the fourth movement inspired composer John Williams’ theme for the movie “Jaws.” The show will be performed in Masuk High School’s auditorium this Sunday by the Monroe Summer Orchestra, whose membership is growing so quickly it will soon need a bigger stage.
Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” was specially chosen for the semiquincentennial. Pan American will also showcase Gabriel Fauré’s Élégie with cellist, Gjiorgi Kroqi, of Fairfield.
“Come to the concert. We know you’ll enjoy the show,” said Avinash “Avi” Veeraraghav, who started the Monroe Summer Orchestra with his brother, Anand, last year.
When the brothers, who are both Masuk alumni, got the word out to local musicians to perform in the orchestra’s first summer concert last year, 41 people responded, and it went so well, everyone decided to do a winter concert, which attracted 53 musicians. On Sunday, 91 musicians will take to the stage.
“I never imagined it would grow so fast,” Anand said of the Monroe Summer Orchestra during an interview at the Starbucks on Route 111 Wednesday evening. “Last year, I hoped to get 10 to 20 people and we doubled it — and now to have almost 100, we didn’t realize there were so many musicians around.”
He said most performers are local, though some are from faraway places, including a father and son from East Haddam and Gabriel Castro, president of UConn’s Chamber Orchestra, who is from New Jersey.”
The Veeraraghavs used to run that orchestra when they attended the University of Connecticut.
Pan American will be performed at Masuk on Sunday, July 26, at 3 p.m. Admission is free, but donations to the Monroe Summer Orchestra, which is a nonprofit, are welcome. Suggested donations are $15 per person, $10 for students, seniors, veterans and service members. Seating begins at 2:30 p.m.
“We have to pay the schools to rent for rehearsals and the concerts,” Avinash said of the cost of running the nonprofit. “We buy the music and then we make copies for our musicians.”
Anand said the organization also prints programs to promote its concerts.
Pan American
Avinash said Anthony Granata, of Monroe, the conductor of the Monroe Summer Orchestra, was so impressed with their Winter Concert, that it made him want to do an even bigger show this summer. Sunday’s show is named Pan American, because of the country’s 250th birthday.
“Dvořák wanted to learn American music, including Native American and Black,” Avinash said of the famous Czech composer, who wrote Symphony No. 9. It’s a four movement symphony. He called it ‘From the New World’ because it was a new world to him as well.”
The concert will also feature composer Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, made famous by the incoming director of the New York Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel. Dudamel led the Philharmonic at halftime of the FIFA World Cup Final last Sunday.
The Monroe Summer Orchestra’s concert will include selections from Lord of the Dance, incorporating famous American and Irish music from a dance production, and Johann Strauss’ “Radetsky March” as the encore piece, each tying in a Pan American theme.
Avinash said having a larger orchestra this summer helps when it comes to performing big pieces. “This symphony is 45 minutes long and it’s easier to do this with more instruments,” he said.
For information about the Monroe Summer Orchestra, to donate or become a member, visit its website, monroectorchestra.org.
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