I attended the Lamont Symphony Orchestra in the Newman Center last week and was thoroughly entertained by the depth and energy of the performance.

The orchestra is entirely student based and performs six symphonic concerts and one opera every year which are open to students, but some require tickets.

Lawrence Golan, a former principle second violinist with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster of the Portland Symphony performed Sibelius Violin concerto in D minor, opus 47 with the orchestra. Golan and the rest of the Orchestra, conducted by guest conductor JosCB) Miramontes Zapata, performed the difficult piece with an amazing show of skill.

Golan, who is the professor of conducting at Lamont, performs only once a year.

The concert also marked the world premiere of David Dunbar’s Der Rhine Deustsche Pastorale. Dunbar is currently the assistant conductor of both the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The work is a vivid portrayal of Dunbar’s voyage down the Rhine river in Germany, and the piece takes the listener floating past the castles perched on cliffs above the river and imagining the scenery.

The music changes in tempo and intensity in each section and as it celebrates the landmark you along the way. By the end of the piece, I felt as if I had experienced this journey myself as the music evoked the legends about and mysterious quality of the Rhine, which had enthralled Dunbar years and many others over time.

In addition to the violin concerto, the orchestra performed Beethoven’s sixth Symphony: “Pastorale” opus 68 in an engaging and unique way.

The uniqueness and maturity of the orchestra was on display and I will be attending the next performance and anticipate the exceptional surprises the musicians have in store.

Please check the Lamont School of Music’s calendar for future shows.