NCCO concert is May 15 and 17 
POMFRET — The Northeast Connecticut Community Orchestra presents our spring 2026 concerts of American music for strings ranging from late 18th century fiddle tunes to 20th century works by American composers Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and John Williams. The concerts will be held at 7 p.m. May 15 at 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. May 17 at Clark Memorial Chapel on the campus of Pomfret School, routes. 44 and 169. Admission is free. Donations are welcome.
The program opens with “American Landscape” by Soon Hee Newbold and “Souvenir De Porto Rico” by Louis Gottschalk. A medley of familiar fiddle tunes dating from the late 18th century will be played, featuring the orchestra’s concertmaster, Brieanna Toedt.

American composer Jay Ungar wrote “Ashokan Farewell” as the final song for sessions at his music camp in New York state. The sweet, mournful tune was popularized by Ken Burns when he used it throughout his televised series on the Civil War.
In this concert, “Ashokan Farewell” will open with Melissa Joyal of Pomfret playing the melody as a violin solo introducing the full-bodied arrangement of the tune performed by all orchestra sections: violin, viola, cello and string bass.
Our principal violist, Monica VanderBaan of Thompson, will introduce George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” by playing the first notes as a trill and glissando on her viola. This distinctive and dramatic opening is usually played by a clarinet.
Other popular 20th century compositions on our program include  Moon River by Henry Mancini and Jurassic Park by John Williams.
The fast pace of “Hoe Down” from “Rodeo” by Aaron Copland will have audience members tapping their toes in contrast to Scott Joplin’s contemplative piece titled “Solace” which is familiar as a theme in the 1973 movie “The Sting.”
Two compositions by American women composers are included: “Summer Dreams” by Amy Beach, a prolific composer and pianist from New England (1867 to 1944) and “Allegro Moderato” by Florence Price (1887 to 1953), the first African American woman to compose a symphonic work performed by a major orchestra.
Violinists Jan Zacharski of Brooklyn and Brieanna Toedt of Columbia are featured in Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from “West Side Story,” which will be presented along with a medley of familiar tunes from the 1960’s Broadway musical.

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