ORCMA honors Oak Ridge's rich history with Transformation and Triumph concert this Sunday

Highlighting the program is the performance of “Overture for the Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor,” composed by Arthur Roberts in 1951. This masterpiece, meticulously crafted to symbolize the scientific and societal advancements of its time, captures the anticipation and grandeur of the dedication ceremony.

Joy Bonamarte, the new executive director of ORCMA, expressed her excitement, stating, “This concert is a celebration of Oak Ridge’s rich history and its ongoing transformation. We are honored to showcase this uniquely ‘Oak Ridge’ story and share it with our community.”

The composition holds a special significance for Oak Ridge, as it was written by Roberts, a physicist at The University of Rochester, for Waldo Cohn, a biochemist with the Manhattan Project and the founder of the Oak Ridge Symphony. Cohn’s legacy extends beyond his contributions to science; as chairman of the Oak Ridge town advisory council in 1953, he played a pivotal role in promoting desegregation efforts, setting the stage for social change in the community.

In addition to “Overture for the Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor,” the concert will feature compositions by Joel Thompson and Dmitri Shostakovich. Thompson’s “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” addresses themes of racial injustice, while Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47, reflects on resilience in the face of oppression.

Rose Weaver, poet laureate for the City of Oak Ridge, will also share one of her poems as a prelude to the performance of ‘Seven Last Words of the Unarmed.’ This in tandem with ORCMA’s collaboration with Weaver to commission the creation of a new orchestral/choral piece honoring the Scarboro 85, based on Weaver’s poems.

Tickets for the April 28th concert at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center can be purchased through the ORCMA website or at the door. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, history, and community spirit.