The mission of the Southern Delaware Orchestra, founded three short years ago, is to foster a love of orchestral music in Southern Delaware. This summer, SODELO’s mission is embodied by its July and August “A Summer Celebration of America’s Music” concerts and the orchestra’s musical outreach at the Children’s Beach House.
CONCERTS:
Two concerts are scheduled for July. The 3 PM concert on July 19th marks SODELO’s debut at the first public high school in Sussex to offer string education – Milford High School. The July 20th at 3 PM at Cape Henlopen High School continues the orchestra’s tradition of performing at Cape, a location they frequently sell out. The performances will be under the baton of guest conductor Stephen Czarkowski, an internationally recognized conductor and cellist, and will also feature soprano Dr. Makeda Hampton, a renowned soloist who has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. The program includes works by some of America’s greatest composers, including Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, John Williams, Richard Rodgers,, and Irving Berlin.
“We are truly excited about a program that raises the bar high for the orchestra and features the talents of these amazing guest artists,” said SODELO Co-Founder and Board President Stephen Greifer. “We promise an evening of favorites, plus exploration and discovery, as we stroll through some of the greatest music from some of the most iconic composers this nation has ever produced.”
For Cape Henlopen, tickets are $25 Adults; $10 Students; and children ages 10 and under admitted free. And as a special welcome to our new friends in the Milford community, veterans, students, faculty, and staff can attend the Milford concert for free!
SODELO is also honored to make its debut appearance at the prestigious Freeman Stage on August 12 at 7 PM. General Admission tickets are $19; children 12 and under are free and do not need tickets. The orchestra will perform the “America’s Music” program from the July 19th weekend, with some special surprises in store.
Tickets for all of our summer performances are now available at www.sodelomuic.org.
GRADUATING MUSICIANS
These concerts also present a bittersweet moment as violinists Sigrid Evers and Olivia Passwaters will perform with us for the last time before they head off to college.
Sigrid, who joined us at our first rehearsal in May 2022 when she was a freshman at Milford High School, will attend Haverford College, where she will major in urban planning and minor in music. Sigrid will play with us for our summer programs while she is in college.
Olivia.Passwater just graduated from Cape Henlopen High School, and will enter Salisbury University in the fall. She says that “playing with SODELO has been an amazing experience. . . I will miss the community of SODELO players and the experience of playing with an orchestra.” SODELO will miss Olivia, too!
Shelby Troyer, another violinist, recently graduated as Salutatorian from Greenwood Mennonite School. She will attend classes at University of Delaware in Georgetown and will then study nursing at the Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing. Because she will still be living nearby, she will continue to play with us throughout our season!
It is the nature of a community orchestra to include performers of all ages and backgrounds,” said Greifer, “and it is a special moment for us to wish Sigrid, Olivia and Shelby great success in the next steps in their lives, education and musical careers.”
OUTREACH
Beyond performances, SODELO is committed to community engagement. This summer, its outreach efforts take a significant step forward through a partnership with the Children’s Beach House, a well-established educational institution founded in 1936 “to promote activities that help improve educational performance, build character and encourage positive development” for underserved children and youth from Delaware, ages 7 to 17. SODELO musicians will offer 25 half-hour sessions teaching percussion, soprano recorder, dancing, and singing, and will introduce instruments of the orchestra in a hands-on setting.
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SODELO is Sussex County’s own volunteer symphony orchestra, dedicated to enriching the community’s quality of life and cultural landscape through orchestral music. Since its founding in 2022 as a string ensemble of 32 players, the orchestra has grown to a full orchestra of 75 musicians, including winds, brass, and percussion. Its diverse membership includes students, professionals, music teachers, retirees, veterans, and more.