The region’s very own Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra kicks off its 8th season with “Folk & Fashion,” featuring soloists, concertmaster, Heather Austin-Stone and principal violist Dana Rokosny on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 8 p.m. Music director, Jed Gaylin leads the orchestra with Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major, Revuelta’s Colorines, and Dvorak’s Czech Suite in D major.

“Folk and Fashion” celebrates Revueltas’, Dvorak’s, and Mozart’s most elegant music. To be sure, there is great playfulness and powerful expression in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, a double concerto, which features Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra Concert Master, Heather Austin-Stone and Principal Violist, Dana Rokosny.

Friends of Music President, Dr. Jim Walker emphasized the importance of the FOM organization and the mission. “Our organization is one of volunteers who are committed to the musical community. Through FOM’s individual and collective charitable efforts we have been able to provide economic support to the Shepherd University Department of Music, enabling education, instruments, Fellowships for exemplary music students, and travel for both faculty and students. We strive to share our passion for music by offering the 2014-2015 season of first class entertainment at very affordable prices. Our Holiday Gala and Masterworks Choral are traditions bringing us in kinship with music lovers bridging all boundaries. Innovative programming includes world-class musical performances right at our Frank Center stage. But we constantly and consistently focus upon our future. The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, under the masterful baton of Jed Gaylin, increases our pledge to promote musical excellence through superb performances. These offerings also provide a venue for Shepherd faculty, select Shepherd students, and this year joint Preparatory Orchestra performance. The Shepherd University Preparatory Orchestra provides education for our outstanding local high school, University and community artists. We believe that a musical experience cannot be fully appreciated by broadcast media or other depersonalized distributions of sound but rather that one must, Make it Real – Hear it Live!” We, the Board of Friends of Music, welcome and encourage you to “Be a Friend and Bring a Friend.” to enrich your life and support your musical neighborhood.”

The public is cordially invited to “Lunch with Friends,” a pleasant and informative luncheon with the Music Director, Jed Gaylin, sponsored by the Friends of Music Guild, held at the Bavarian Inn, Shepherdstown on Friday, Sept. 12 at noon. Tickets to Lunch with Friends are sold separately from concert tickets and can be obtained by contacting Betty Lou Bryant at 304-876-3897. Reservations should be made by Monday, Sept. 8.