POCO announces free community concerts

The Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra is hosting a pair of free community classical concerts in mid-June.

The first of the two concerts will be held Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m., and the second will be held Sunday, June 15, at 3 p.m. Both concerts will take place at the First Lutheran Church on Olive and Ontario in Sandpoint. As is tradition, admission is free. However, donations are always gratefully accepted to help continue the groups' mission of uplifting classical music performed for the community by their friends and neighbors. 

“We have been doing this for 32 years,” said orchestra director Mark Reiner. “We sincerely thank everyone for their continued generosity and support to keep us playing and singing.” 

The program will include chorale, orchestra, instrumental solos and ensembles. The chorale, directed by Caren Reiner, will open the concert with “A Gaelic Blessing” by John Rutter with uplifting words adapted from an old Gaelic rune. This is followed by Aaron Copland’s lively “Sing Ye Praises” with soloists Michelle Rohrer and Kay Peterson. The chorale portion will conclude with “The Last Words of David” by Randall Thompson. Powerful words and music start the piece which ends with a slow and reverent "Alleluia" and "Amen." Annie Welle will be the accompanist.

Instrumentalists will occupy the next section beginning with Gayle McCutchan, violinist, playing a lyrical “Romance in G” by Beethoven. Alisha Dawson on flute will follow with “Serenade Aux Etoiles” (Music of the Stars) by Chaminade. Then Keegan Bernardin plays Mozart, the playful first movement of “Sonata 17.” Caren Reiner will be the accompanist for these soloists. A chamber trio of violin-Gayle McCutchan, viola-Marcy Hogan, and flute-Alisha Dawson, will be playing a more contemporary piece “Suite in E” by Quincy Porter. Ending the first half of the concert will be the Selkirk Brass performing a medley. Members of the quintet are Aryan Riener, trumpet; Larry Hanna, French horn; Sandi Wilcox, baritone; Mark Coburn, trombone; and Bob Curran, tuba. 

The second half of the concert will open with orchestra and end with orchestra and chorale combined. The first selection will be the famous “Spring” from “Four Seasons” by Vivaldi featuring violin soloists Keegan Bernardin, Gayle McCutchan, and Sophie Cappadoglio. A big change follows with a “Romanze” for French horn and orchestra by Saint-Saens. Larry Hanna will be the French horn soloist. “Prelude” from Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” for orchestra reflects the emotions of a courtesan from 19th century Europe. Chorale and orchestra together end the concert with three pieces. “Varen” (The Last Spring), by Grieg portrays the sounds of nature with the orchestra’s sweeping melodies augmented with the chorale’s words. Bella Polocz is the soprano soloist. Another Vivaldi follows, this time a quickly moving setting of Psalm 122 sung in Latin, “Laetatus Sum.” Ending the concert is a new piece for chorale and orchestra “Alleluia” by Mark Reiner written in 2024-25. 

“It is an expression of the gratitude for this life’s lessons,” said the composer.

POCO officials and members expressed their sincere gratitude to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for years of providing free rehearsal space and to First Lutheran Church for being able to hosting the concerts. The group also expressed thanks to Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for also letting us rehearse in their facility, and also to the many people acknowledged in the program who have always been there for POCO.