By Beth Christian
Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – Nearly 1,500 folks gathered at Canaan Valley State Park last Sunday to share the 25th Annual Celebration of the Arts with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. The event was made possible with the Tucker County Alpine Festival
Association, the Canaan
Valley Resort State Park,
and Mountain Top Realty & Rentals in conjunction with the WV Arts Festivals. Support was given by the Gaston Caperton Music for the Mountain State Endowment Fund.
The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Andre Raphel, performed “Star Spangled Banner,” “Liberty Fanfare,” “Washington Post March,” “God Bless America,” “Victory at Sea,” “Country Roads from Celebration Overture,” “America the Beautiful,” “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
Rosena Hill Jackson was the guest vocalist, performing on tunes such as “Getting to Know You,” “Summertime,” “I Got Rhythm/I Feel Pretty,” “Tenderly” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” She has performed at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops and on Broadway, she performed with Patti LaBelle, Tony Braxton, Baby Face, K.D. Lang, Vanessa Williams and Gladys Night.
Guest trombone player was Jason Jackson, who performed “Brazilian Bop,” “Spring is Here,” “Victory at Sea,” “I Got Rhythm/I Feel Pretty” and “Tenderly.” He has performed with Ray Charles and Dizzy Gillespie All Star Big Band.