Richland One School and Former Philharmonic Conductor to Present
Weather or Not Opera

In honor of Earth Day, second-graders at Satchel Ford Elementary, in conjunction with former South Carolina Philharmonic director Nicholas Smith, have written and will perform an original ecology opera entitled "Weather or Not" on Tuesday, April 15.

Performances for students will be at 1 p.m. Parents are invited to attend the 7 p.m. production in the school cafeteria. The theme of the opera is how the actions of humans affect the weather and ultimately the planet.

There are three movements. The first one focuses on the perils of wasting water. Students will perform a rain dance, play instruments (including a rain stick, xylophone, drums and maracas) and recite poems about different types of weather.

The second movement tackles air pollution and includes choral poems and an air pollution dance with a wind-mill theme. The final movement deals with freak weather occurrences, such as tornadoes, and includes a freaky weather dance.

Smith, who just returned from an engagement in England, will be the guest conductor/director for the production. The maestro has revised a score of a Vivaldi's classic Pieces from the Four Seasons that will be performed by the students during the production.

For more information please contact the Richland One Office of Communications at 231-7504 or 231-7510.