Washington Symphony teams up with Steel City Ukuleles for ‘Great Outdoors’
Courtesy of the Washington Symphony Orchestra
About 12 years ago, Amber Rozel had just moved to the area, was a new mom and, in her words, “professionally bored.”
So, the veteran music teacher decided to drop in on a meeting of Steel City Ukuleles. Back in those days, the group’s membership numbered only about 60, with many of the players drawn in by the promise of the ukulele’s sunny sound and the ease of playing it – once you master a handful of simple chords, its fans say, you’re on your way.
In the dozen years since, Steel City Ukuleles’ membership has increased more than tenfold – it now counts about 800 people in its ranks, has branches that cover the northern and southern parts of the Pittsburgh metro area, and hosts meet-ups in Butler County, Dormont, West View and other locations.
And on Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 9, at 3 p.m., the Washington Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is teaming up with Steel City Ukuleles for “The Great Outdoors” at Washington & Jefferson College’s Olin Fine Arts Center. With spring just a few weeks off, classical works that summon up the world outside will be performed, and the orchestra will be joined by about 60 members of Steel City Ukuleles to play the pop classics “Here Comes the Sun,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.”
The seed for the “Great Outdoors” concert was planted about seven years ago. Rozel and WSO conductor Yugo Ikach were talking at a party at a house in East Washington following a concert, and Rozel, who also plays violin and viola with the orchestra and is its librarian, mentioned that she was part of Steel City Ukuleles. From there, the idea for the concert started to develop.
According to Rozel, they were initially considering teaming up with different Pittsburgh-area groups for one concert. Along with Steel City Ukuleles, they were thinking about corralling ensembles that play mandolins, harps, classical guitar and banjo. However, “with COVID, it never came to pass,” Ikach said.
The notion never entirely faded away, though, and when the orchestra was planning its 2024-25 season “we tried to find something different and unusual, and Yugo said, ‘It’s time, let’s do it,'” Rozel said.
Joining forces with a horde of ukulele players might not seem like standard operating procedure for a symphony. But, Ikach explained, it’s one of the “nutty things we do” in the name of accessibility.
“I don’t know of any other orchestra that’s done that,” Ikach said.
Local high school students will perform alongside the WSO through the orchestra’s Side-by-Side Education Program. Cassandra Muhr, the WSO’s general manager, said the program “is not only an invaluable learning experience for the students, but it also deepens the community connection and celebrates the future of music.”
Tickets are available online at washsym.org or by phone at 412-512-1662. Admission is free for children aged 12 or younger and discount tickets are available for seniors and students.