An Invitation from the Artistic Director:  Please join us on Sunday, December 15th when the SOR begins a new tradition of celebrating the season with a Winter Solstice Concert!   Our program has been designed to capture the beauty and awe of the holidays as we approach the longest night of the year.  Each work carries a special significance or reference to the season, from the aural majesty of an ancient cathedral in Polish composer Andrezej Panufnik's Jagiellonian Triptych to John Ireland's The Holy Boy as arranged for strings from an earlier piano work.  The SOR will also present a special gift that evening:  the performance of a rarely heard Irish gem, unpublished and unavailable in the US, by composer Joan Trimble that will have you tapping your toes and humming Celtic melodies long into the night!  We predict it will be an audience favorite - we look forward to sharing it with you!

~ Musically yours, Fern Glass Boyd

SOR Winter Solstice Concert:  Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, 7:30 pm, UM Music Recital Hall

RESPIGHI:  Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
JOSEF SUK:  Meditation on an Old Bohemian Chorale, St. Wenceslas
ANDRZEJ PANUFNIK:  Jagiellonian Triptych
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS:  The Charterhouse Suite
JOHN IRELAND:  The Holy Boy [from Four Preludes for Piano], arranged for strings
JOAN TRIMBLE:  Suite for Strings

Message from Magda Chaney - president of the SOR Board

As the String Orchestra of the Rockies enters into its 29th season and prepares for its 30th anniversary in 2014-2015, I know you will believe me when I say that both will be fantastic. When has SOR ever let us down? With two phenomenal guest artists appearing this season and many as of yet undisclosed attractions for the big 30th, we are all in for an exciting ride.  

Milestones call for a reflection and here is what I have been pondering.  What does SOR mean to me?  SOR, String Orchestra of the Rockies, the only professional string orchestra in Montana, making music of unusual beauty for so many years. SOR, the acronym that in my mind also stands for the following: S for sublime, O for outstanding, R for rare. Sublime as in the quality of the music we hear from the stage four times a year. Outstanding as in the musicians, local, and from around the state who have travelled  thousands of miles over the years to perform for us. Rare as in it is rare than an orchestra has found and secured such a firm place in a community and in people’s hearts. R also stands for razem, a word in my native Polish.   

Razem means together.  As in, we’re in it together. The orchestra, masterfully playing beautiful music. SOR board members, selflessly working in its support.  SOR coordinator, Val Young, without whose devoted and excellent work the orchestra would not be where it is today. Host families, generously extending their hospitality to out-of-town players. Friends of SOR, providing the delicious intermission punch in an elegant setting at the concerts. Florists that make the stage look festive. SOR’s excellent webmaster, Michael Wilder, making sure it is connected to the world. Writers, graphic artists, printers, caterers, ushers, stage managers, whose time and work are invaluable.

But the picture is not complete without the SOR audience and friends, whose generosity and steadfast following sustains and supports the orchestra. Thank you for your love and support throughout the years.  The beauty of the music and the artistic collaboration on stage result in the delight of the audience and that unites us all in an exhilarating musical experience of each concert.  That delight helps our souls SO(a)R - I mean SOR - to extraordinary heights.  Please tell me what SOR means to you: president@sormt.org .  I would love to hear from you and share it with the orchestra.  I hope you enjoy this wonderful season.

My warm regards,  Magda Chaney

String Orchestra of the Rockies Mission Statement

The mission of the String Orchestra of the Rockies is to enhance and enrich the cultural climate of the Montana region by providing classical string music of the highest caliber and to support music education programs for young string players.

The String Orchestra of the Rockies is raising the curtain on its 29th season! It is the only professional ensemble of its kind in Montana and draws upon the talents of the finest string players in the Big Sky Country.  All SOR members are successful string teachers in addition to their professional performance schedule. This unique 15-member orchestra invites audiences to connect emotionally with them as they treat listeners to music as varied as Montana itself. Members rehearse in a collaborative effort that enables each player to have an impact on the artistic process. Performing without a conductor, they rely upon the individual expertise of the players to create a cohesive, dynamic sound. Many varied world-renowned guest artists have shared the stage with the SOR, resulting in a musical collaboration that is absolutely thrilling for the concert audience. In addition to these exceptional performances, SOR continues its commitment of ‘giving back’ to our community by offering master classes and workshops taught by these fine artists.

String Orchestra of the Rockies in collaboration with the Jeni Fleming Trio

We'll Be Together Again

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The String Orchestra of the Rockies

The String Orchestra of the Rockies' all classical CD

Beneath a Northern Sky

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The String Orchestra of the Rockies