ecember 21, 2009: Henry Doktorski performed his own Suite on Four Polish Carols for accordion and strings with the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Warren Davidson. Doktorski said, "It was a real treat for me to perform with this fine regional orchestra with my friend and colleague Warren Davidson as conductor. The audience was appreciative and also enjoyed my encores: the Polish carol Infant Holy, Infant Lowly (W zlobie lezy) and my Theme and Variation on Richard Rodgers' 'Edelweiss.'"
The South Hills Almanac reported, "The program will spotlight 'A Polish Christmas' with six Polish carols sung by the Polish Choir of St. Mary of Czestochowa in New Kensington and the accordion virtuoso Henry Doktorski playing a program of traditional Polish Carols. He turns the popular image of the accordion musician as a player of polkas and popular music for music halls on its ear. Under his fingers, the accordion fills the music hall with an unexpected and beautiful voice."
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, now in its 51st season, consists of over 80 volunteer musicians dedicated to providing quality music at a reasonable cost to the people of Southwest Pennsylvania.
The orchestra has had a history of outstanding music directors: young conductors who have gone on to distinguished careers such as Richard Strange, conductor at the University of Arizona; David Stock, Conductor Laureate of The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and one of America’s premier composers; and Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops Symphony. The orchestra's current music director, Warren Davidson, is the conductor of the Slippery Rock Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin, viola, and string classes at Slippery Rock University.
To view the poster for this concert, Click Here.
To read an article by the South Hills Almanac titled Polish Carols Focus of Holiday Concert, Click Here.
Photogrpahs by Evie Barnes.
