CHIMACUM – The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of the year will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission to the concert at Chimacum High School Auditorium, 91 West Valley Road, is free and donations are accepted at the door.

“This concert features beautiful music inspired by literature and a talented young clarinet soloist from Port Townsend, Kincaid Gould,” said Tigran Arakelyan, conductor and artistic director.

“Musicians from the Port Townsend High School Orchestra also join the orchestra as guest performers. “

Gould won first prize in the 2019 Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, which included the option of being a soloist for this concert.

He is a student at Port Townsend High School and principal clarinetist of the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra (PTSO).

Born in Port Townsend, he began playing piano in third grade and clarinet in fifth grade. His clarinet teacher is Miles Vokurka.

Gould’s accomplishments include qualifying and scoring in the Washington Music Educators Association State Solo Competition, as well as being accepted into honor groups in all states and throughout the Northwest during the five last years.

This year he was accepted into the All-State Chamber Orchestra of the Washington Music Educators Association, with which he will play solo clarinet.

At Port Townsend High School, Gould was a member of a concert band, marching band, support group, and jazz group.

He also plays the clarinet with community ensembles. He has been a member of the Port Townsend Summer Band for five years, as well as the Port Townsend High School Cross Country Team.

Gould applied to several colleges; After graduation, he plans to continue his musical studies while pursuing a degree in a field yet to be determined.

On Sunday, he will perform the Concertino for clarinet in E flat major written by the German composer Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826).

The concertino was written in just three days in 1811. It remains a Romantic period fixture in the clarinet repertoire to this day, Arakeylan said.

“The program also features music inspired by literature, telling the stories in another language,” said the conductor.

“Tragedy, love and faith are expressed as vividly in music as in literature. In my experience, there have been many times when music was more powerful than words. It is a magical experience to hear these musical works and imagine the literary stories.

The pieces based on literature are:

• “Merry Wives of Windsor Overture”, written by Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai (1810–1849), based on the comedy by William Shakespeare.

In this opera, an impoverished Falstaff attempts to seduce the wives of two wealthy merchants from Windsor. His plan is quickly exposed and he is manipulated by women, their husbands and other characters.

• “Pelléas et Mélisande”, written by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924), based on a French play from 1893 set in medieval times.

It tells of a love triangle between the young girl Mélisande, Golaud who marries her, and her young brother Pelléas, who falls in love with her.

Mélisande’s tragic death is reflected in the final lamentation which hints at Mélisande’s theme.

• “Romeo and Juliet, fantastic overture”, written by Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

Tchaikovsky designed this play after Shakespeare’s play of the same name.

It is a symphonic work in one movement that sums up the love story between Romeo and Juliet.

“The last section is the most famous because it has the wonderful and passionate romantic theme, which represents the idea that love conquers all,” said Arakeylan.

“We are delighted to take you on another journey, exploring the intertwined vision and passion of music and literature. These pieces are a great example of the powerful statement the arts and artists can make when they come together, ”he added.

For more details and updates, check the orchestra’s website at www.PTSymphony.org.