The event began with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Rhosymedre and was followed by Simon Mayr’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a rarely-performed concerto from the period of Mozart and Beethoven. The concerto was performed by guest artist Dr. Henry P. Sheng. The third piece featured the renowned flute virtuoso Raimond Malolli, who joined the orchestra in the famous Poem for Flute and Orchestra by American composer Charles Tomlinson Griffes. The next piece was the lyrical Serenade for String Orchestra by Czech composer Josef Suk, an ambitious undertaking for the accomplished string players of the Chamber Orchestra. The program ended with Felix Mendelssohn’s musical prayer for peace entitled Verleih uns Frieden (“Grant us peace”), performed by both the Chamber Orchestra and UCR Chamber Singers.

Ruth Charloff, conductor of the Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Singers said, “This year’s concert was unique because the Chamber Singers have never before sung with the Chamber Orchestra.” The music had a nice variety of styles which involved a several different combinations of instruments and students. The audience consisting of students, faculty, family and friends of participants, and interested members of the community who regularly attend events of the UCR Orchestra and UCR Chamber Singers.