The Friends of Music announced Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra first concert of 2012 will be led by Guest Conductor Steven Czarkowski.

Czarkowski will take the podium on Saturday, Mar. 10, at the Frank Center of Shepherd University. The concert is sponsored by Helen and Ed Moore of Shepherdstown. The curtain goes up at 8 p.m.

Czarkowski, a teacher at Shepherd University and the long-time principle cellist of the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, is the conductor of the Apollo Chamber Orchestra in Maryland, assistant conductor of the Opera Camerata of Washington, D.C., cover conductor of the Norwalk Symphony (Conn.) and guest conductor of the Frederick. Md. all-county orchestra.

On March 10, Czarkowski will present John Adams: The Chairman Dnces, John Adams: Tromba Lontana, and Dvorak: Symphony no. 8 and George Gershwin’s incomparable Rhapsody in Blue with piano soloist Dr. Scott Beard.

The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, the Eastern Panhandle’s professional chamber orchestra, has received wide critical acclaim since its founding by Friends of Music (FOM) in 2007. Dr. Mark McCoy, former chairman of the Shepherd Department of Music, was the orchestra conductor since its founding. McCoy, now the Dean of the School of Music at DePauw University, passed his baton to three guest conductors. The FOM selection committee of members of the orchestra and board led a national search last year and from the many applicants chose Tara Simoncic of Harrisburg, Pa., who conducted the orchestra in September, 2011; Dr. Jed Gaylin of Baltimore, scheduled for September 2012 and Stephen Czarkowski of Rockville.

The public is cordially invited to “Lunch with Friends” at the Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown on Friday, Mar. 9. This event is hosted by the Friends Guild and special guest is Czarkowski who will be giving a preview of his program. Lunch with Friends is open to the public but reservations are required and can be made by calling Betty Lou Bryant at 304-876-3897. For concert ticket information, and to learn more about the Friends of Music, please call 304.876.5765 or visit www.sufom.org.