An event at Valparaiso’s Memorial Opera House will offer insight on how melodies are made.
The South Shore Orchestra presents “Peter and the Wolf: A Musical Symphony For All Ages” at 12:30 p.m. May 23.
More Top Picks Best Dimmable Desk Lamps For Reading
Shining light on orchestral instruments, the concert is educational for children, while also featuring the classical music of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.
Drawing school groups, the performance also is open to the general public.
“If you enjoy orchestral music, this is very sophisticated orchestral music — very well crafted,” said Troy Webdell, conductor and music director of the South Shore Orchestra.
“Peter and the Wolf” is a fairy tale that was transformed into a Walt Disney production as a 1946 animated short feature.
The South Shore Orchestra also rolled out symphonic strains at last May’s presentation of “Peter and the Wolf” at the Memorial Opera House.
This month, the educational concert has a new focus.
“There’s a difference with what we’re doing with the acting,” Webdell said. “The music is the same, but we’re partnering with the opera house’s youth theater this time.”
The LimeLights is the opera house’s youth theater program.
Camp activities and workshops this year are aimed at students ages 7 to 14. For instance, Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” camp is set for July, according to the venue’s website.
Also among the 2018 offerings is a vocal master class for students who are ages 12-18.
The website also states that the LimeLights “focus on the education, confidence and creative growth of our youth” through hands-on theatrical involvement.
“The kids are going to be acting and using puppets, and things like that,” Webdell said in regard to the LimeLights’ contribution to “Peter and the Wolf.”
The performance, which is scheduled to include narration, will acquaint youngsters with the array of symphonic sounds, as characters in “Peter and the Wolf” are each represented by a musical instrument.
Labeled as a multimedia show by the opera house, the “Peter and the Wolf” engagement of 2018 has a different look from past performances at the facility.
“We’ve tried to evolve this,” said Webdell, orchestra director at Robert A. Taft Middle School in Crown Point. “Even though the music is the same, we’ve tried to evolve the visual aspect of it every year we’ve done this.”
The South Shore Orchestra is supplying the symphonic talent from its ranks.
“It’s the chamber group of 20 musicians,” said Webdell, who will conduct.
Webdell has said “Peter and the Wolf” can basically be described as “one of the icons of educational music,” serving as a vehicle that introduces children to orchestral material.
Its appeal reaches beyond those who are in their teens, or younger.
“All ages would enjoy it, I think,” the maestro said. “We’ve had a lot of, like, grandparents bringing their grandkids.”
LimeLights coordinators Bobbie Sue Kvachkoff and Jen Lundin are directing the Memorial Opera House production.
The theatrical presentation stars Thomas Olsen as the Narrator, Caroline Lundin as Peter and Sara Mitchell as the Puppeteer.
‘Peter and the Wolf: A Musical Symphony For All Ages’
More Top Picks Best Amber Tinted Glasses For Sleep
When: 12:30 p.m. May 23
Where: Memorial Opera House, 104 E. Indiana Ave., Valparaiso
Tickets: $5
Information: 219-548-9137; southshoreorchestra.net