Tuesdays are rehearsal nights for the West Seattle Community Orchestras, and tonight they are continuing to get ready for a very special event that is just two weeks away. If you haven’t seen it on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar yet, here’s the official announcement:

This year marks the 10th Anniversary for the West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO). They will hold a celebration concert on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium, 2600 SW Thistle St.

For the first time all three orchestras will be performing in one program. In addition WSCO reveals a rare and special treat performed by cello players in all three orchestra groups. Guest conductor Rob Duisberg leads this wonderful Cello Choir, performing Also sprach Zarathustra, R. Strauss, arranged by Flaherty and Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye and Halsey.

Concert will begin at 6:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. All proceeds will benefit free membership for student musicians grades K-12.

The orchestra was founded by Dr. Toni Reineke ten years ago with just 16 student musicians, to give them an opportunity to participate in a full symphony orchestra. Adult musicians were invited to mentor and then perform with the students. The popularity of the intergenerational setting has led the growth to orchestras at three levels, as well as the addition of adult beginners’ classes to accommodate all the interested musicians. Dr. Reineke, who now conducts the Intermediate Orchestra and leads the Adult Beginning Winds classes, expresses astonishment at the growth. “When we began ten years ago, we did not dream it would grow this large and successful.”

WSCO is a unique intergenerational group of three orchestras including the Debut Orchestra for beginning players, an Intermediate Orchestra, and a Symphony for community members and more experienced students. In total 190 musicians take part in the making of music, 100 of them from third grade through high school.

Each week, professional coaching is provided for string students by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) through a generous grant from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.WSCOrchestras.org