OKANAGAN RECORDER ORCHESTRA CONCERT

The humble recorder, a wind instrument whose heyday was in Renaissance times, has made a comeback over the last century. Forget the shrieking sounds from your Grade 3 class; the recorder is capable of making beautiful music, and several recorder orchestras have evolved across North America in the last twenty years. The Okanagan Recorder Orchestra based in Kelowna is currently the only recorder orchestra in Canada affiliated with the American Recorder Society. It is comprised of 17 players from the area, plus their director Sue MacDonald.Including the soprano instrument commonly used in elementary schools, this musical ensemble uses six sizes of recorder from the tiny sopranino to the five-foot contrabass. Their repertoire ranges from early classical music through to modern blues and jazz.The Okanagan Recorder Orchestra’s upcoming concert will showcase this repertoire and demonstrate just what can be achieved from the modern interpretation of this ancient instrument. Special guests are the acclaimed Celtic band KILT45. This four-piece group of Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band members is well known for its stirring performances of Scottish, Irish and Canadian Celtic folk songs using guitar, accordion, penny whistle, flute and percussion plus their vocal harmony.The Okanagan Recorder Orchestra with guests Kilt45 will perform Sunday, March 1 at 2 pm in St. Andrews Church, 4619 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna. Admission by donation.