It’s my town

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: August 5, 2008

Prince William Symphony Orchestra season tickets are now on sale with the Oct. 4 season opener to feature a South African cellist.

The orchestra will present four concerts in its Mainstage Series which will be conducted at Grace E. Metz Middle School in Manassas.

Subscription tickets are $65 for adults, $50 for seniors and free for all students 21 and younger as well as for all teachers and can be purchased by calling 703-659-0103 or by visiting the Web site at http://www.pwso.org.

The Promenade Concert on Oct. 4 will have four masterpieces by composers who contributed enduring musical tributes to their homelands—Elgar's Concerto for Cello with South African cellist Heleen du Plessis; Grieg's "Peer Gynt" Suite; Smetana's "The Moldau;" and Sibelius' "Finlandia."

Du Plessis is regularly heard performing in recitals in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

Other concerts are "A Baroque Holiday' on Dec. 6; "Romantic Strings" on Feb. 7; and "The Magic Flute" on April 25.

The orchestra and Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative are teaming up for the annual Young Artists competition. It will have two divisions: junior, 11- to 15-year-olds and senior, 16 to 21. The application deadline is Oct. 1. For more information, call 703-659-0103.

Borders in Greater Washington, D.C., is working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to give books to area children in need in a month-long book drive.

Customers are encouraged to donate new children and young adult books to benefit the clubs and the children they serve at the books stores around the area and in Manassas.

… At the end of the drive, books will be donated to the clubs.