Tara Simoncic (submitted)

The Friends of Music Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra will begin the fall season on Sept. 17 with guest conductor guest conductor, Tara Simoncic.

Since its founding by Friends of Music in 2007, the orchestra has been led by former chairman of the Shepherd University Department of Music Mark McCoy. McCoy, now the Dean of the School of Music at DePauw University, has passed his baton to three guest conductors. The FOM selection committee of members of the orchestra and board led a national search for three guest conductors and from the many applicants chose Simoncic of Harrisburg, Pa., Stephen Czarkowski of Rockville, Md., and Jed Gaylin of Baltimore, Md.

The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra concerts through 2012 are official events of the upcoming Shepherdstown 250 celebration. Simoncic will take the podium on Saturday, Sept. 17. The curtain goes up in the Frank Arts Center at 8 p.m.

Friends of Music president, Neal Barkus said The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra is committed to changing the way people think about “classical” music. FOM invited applications from talented conductors around the country to serve as our guest conductors. FOM?was immediately attracted to Simoncic. We are gratified that she will bring her energy and style to the Frank Center stage. You will not want to miss this concert.

Simoncic is well known for her eclectic orchestration of accessible contemporary music, lesser known music of the famous composers and standard repertoire. As music director of the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra in New Jersey her exciting programming and style attracted a whole new audience to chamber music. Simoncic has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe and today is conductor of the Flexible Orchestra of New York City, the assistant conductor of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra of Greenwich, Conn., the music director of the Harrisburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and the assistant conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

Simoncic’s program includes the Holberg Suite – Op. 40 – Edvard Grieg, Eventide (solo for English horn and Orchestra) by Kenneth Fuchs and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral.”

Included in the Friends of Music 2011-2012 concert season through April 2012 are: Glenn Miller Orchestra, Masterworks (November and April), Piffaro (sponsored by Scott Beard and Alan Gibson), The Holiday Gala (sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson), The Eaken Trio (sponsored by Jefferson Security Bank), PROJECT, Eastern Regional Jazz Festival with Gary Hobbs and The King’s Singers.

The public is cordially invited to “Lunch with Friends” at the Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown on Friday, Sept. 16. For ticket and lunch information and to learn more about the Friends of Music, please call 304-876-5765 or visit www.sufom.org.