KEYSER – The University of West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will present a reminder of its season opening performance as the Highland Arts Unlimited season continues at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 24 at the Church-McKee Arts Center on the Potomac State College campus.

The 70-member WVU Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Dr Mitchell Arnold. The next concert will include Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G major, “The Black Bear Awakens” by Matthew Jackfert with WVU violin teacher Mikylah Myers as soloist, and “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richter. .

Jackfert, former WVU and host of WV Public Radio, was inspired by the West Virginia black bear’s hibernation cycle, especially its winter torpor and waking up to the new spring season, when composed this concertino for violin and orchestra. It incorporates the folk song “Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair” in the center section of the room.

Jackfert is from Charleston. He received his undergraduate degree in composition at WVU, as well as his undergraduate degree in Chinese. He also completed a master’s degree in composition at the University of Texas at Austin, while also serving as director of the extracurricular choir, Collegium Musicum.

Jackfert currently works in Charleston as a songwriter and radio host with West Virginia Public Broadcasting in addition to his freelance work, and he plays, writes and arranges for the Appalachian rock band, The Company Stores.

Jackfert has written for concert music, radio, television, film, and video games. He has had his music performed by several ensembles of different sizes and instrumentations, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra and the Montclaire String Quartet.

Jackfert has been featured on NPR’s morning edition as well as the national radio show Performance Today.

Tickets cost $ 20 and can be purchased in advance at the Candlewyck Inn, Ace Hardware, and Reed’s Drug Store (Keyser); Allegany Arts Council, (Cumberland); Anderson’s Corner (Romney) or online at www.eventbrite.com

Admission to the next concert is free for HAU members and students of Potomac State College. Area students under 18 are admitted free and young children are admitted free with a paying adult.

Special requirements can be arranged for people with disabilities with advance notice, by calling 304-788-9465.

For tickets and information, please call 304-788-3066 or 304-788-9465.

Highland Arts is a fully voluntary organization reliant on individual memberships and, if approved, financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with endorsement by the West Virginia Arts Commission; and financial support from the Mineral County Board of Education, with generous in-kind support from WVU-Potomac State.

Masks are mandatory for this service. If the COVID-19 virus and its variants spread or if the Church-McKee auditorium is not available due to COVID-19 protocols or other unforeseen reasons, some of these programs may be postponed. Season pass holders will be reimbursed accordingly.