HOULTON, Maine — A longtime composer of orchestral pieces and the group’s former conductor, will be honored by the Northern Maine Chamber Society Orchestra at their spring concerts.
Harrison Roper of Houlton was selected to be this year’s honoree and four of his “custom created” works will be presented, featuring a concerto for two clarinets and another for violin and cello.
The Northern Maine Chamber Society Orchestra presents its spring program Saturday, April 29, at 7 p.m. in Houlton at the First Baptist Church on Court Street. The following day, Sunday, April 30, a concert will be held at the Campus Center at the University of Maine at Presque Isle at 3 p.m.
Admission is free for both concerts, but donations will be accepted.
Roper, 84, served as the group’s conductor for 20 years and still plays French horn with the orchestra.
“I am just going to be playing the French horn for the concerts,” Roper said. “I very wisely stopped conducting and Kevin Kinsey took over and he does a very good job.”
Playing his own music he created is going to be a special experience for Roper.
“This is the biggest ego trip,” he said. “Can you imagine playing your own pieces? It makes me feel validated.”
According to Rue Geishecker, a spokesperson for the orchestra, the group was formed in 1985 in Fort Fairfield with a few classical musicians getting together for fun. Word spread on both sides of the border and the group grew into into a sizable chamber group.
Soon after joining the group, Roper was asked to be the conductor. Arrangements were made for rehearsals to be held at the UMPI campus and have been there ever since.
The next step was to present two concerts a year and the University agreed to be a sponsor. When more players joined from areas south of Presque Isle, concerts were presented in Houlton. Some members came from Bangor and New Brunswick.
Today, the group has grown to include members from Fort Kent, Limestone, Tobique and Fosterville, New Brunswick, as well as a large contingent from the Presque Isle area and southern Aroostook County.
Roper not only composed music for the ensemble, but also made arrangements of other works, creating missing parts, or new ones as needed for certain players. “Harry would knock out, sometimes on the spot, etudes and very playable fiddle tunes and fun program music for local teachers and friends and many of his own students,” Geishecker said.
After retiring as conductor, he has continued as a member playing French horn and viola. The NMSC Orchestra is currently conducted by Rev. Kevin Kinsey. Membership is comprised of music teachers, advanced students and any county musician who is willing to devote some Sunday afternoons to practice.
For more information contact Geishecker at 532-6840.
