Lakeland Civic Orchestra Community Variations Project
April 17, 2026
RE: Lakeland Civic Orchestra 2026-2027, Community Variations Project
You’re invited!
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Lakeland Community College, the Lakeland Civic Orchestra is going to attempt a project unlike any we’ve tried before: Community Variations, a collaborative set of variations for orchestra. We will program this piece on our April 25, 2027, concert, and will include variations that can be completed by January 1, 2027, and are playable by our musicians. Variations may be composed by an orchestra member, past or present, or by any composer living in Northeast Ohio who feels a connection to Lakeland, to orchestral music, or to community music-making.
There are likely composers or aspiring composers who would like to participate, but would be glad for some assistance in technical matters. We will try to connect those who need help with those willing to help.
We cannot compensate composers for the time spent on this project and hope that you will consider making this “birthday gift” to the college that has been our sponsor and home for the better part of a century.
Specifications:
- The theme for Community Variations will be Lakeland’s alma mater, “The Soul of Lakeland” (vocal score and recording are included in the folder below). Our existing orchestral arrangement of the alma mater will serve as the presentation of the theme and open the variation set.
- How you incorporate the theme is largely up to you. But there should be some audible musical connection to the source material.
- All orchestral styles are welcome. That said, balance your use of non-standard techniques and innovative notation with the understanding that, despite our commitment to contemporary music, we are still an all-volunteer college-community orchestra rehearsing once a week, with the limitations that implies.
- Individual variations should last between 1 and 3 minutes. There will be a slight pause between variations.
- You will need to submit performance-ready full score and parts (transposed, not concert pitch). Once rehearsal begins, it will be extremely difficult to make major changes.
- Limit of one variation per composer. Give us your best one! The composers of all variations performed will be listed in the concert program.
- Instrumentation must not exceed:
- 3 flutes (one doubling piccolo)
- 3 oboes (one doubling English horn)
- 3 Bb clarinets (one doubling Bb bass clarinet)
- 2 bassoons
- 4 horns in F
- 3 trumpets in Bb (flugelhorn available)
- 3 trombones
- 1 tuba
- timpani (four drums)
- 3 additional percussionists (see list of available instruments below)
- Piano or celesta (but not both in the same variation)
- Strings (2 sections of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses; typical size is 8-8-4-4-2, but may be larger; division within sections into no more than 2 parts)
- Available percussion equipment:
- Timpani (23”, 26”, 29”, 32”)
- Snare Drum
- Bass Drum
- Tom-toms
- Timbales
- Cymbals (Crash and Suspended)
- Tam-tam
- Temple Blocks (5)
- Congas
- Bongos
- Chimes
- Glockenspiel
- Crotales (2 octaves)
- Marimba (5 octaves)
- Xylophone
- Vibraphone
- Assorted small percussion
- Use only the instruments you need but also be aware that it’s no fun to rest for long periods while others play.
- Keep in mind that the Lakeland Civic Orchestra consists of mostly volunteer musicians, aged 14 to 85. All are lifelong musicians, some are professional teachers and performers, and some make music in their spare time. While this project will end with a public performance, you should consider the musicians of the orchestra a key component of your audience.
Representative Civic Orchestra Repertoire (Last Five Years)
- Kieffer: The Talking Beasts
- Jolley: Lichtweg/Lightway
- Bernstein: Overture to Candide
- Gould: American Salute
- Williams: Liberty Fanfare
- Turina: La Procession do Rocio
- Ponchielli: “Dance of the Hours” from La Gioconda
- Beethoven: Choral Fantasy
- Delibes: Sylvia Suite
- Mazolli: Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)
- Verdi: Triumphal March and Ballet Music from Aida
- Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite, mvts. 1 & 3
- Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2; Carmen Suite No. 2
- Coleman: Seven O’Clock Shout
- Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite
- Concertos by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Bruch, Elgar, Popper, Vivaldi
- Additional arrangements
Process and Timeline:
By May 15, 2026: If interested, please complete this survey:
- Levels of involvement (you can do one or all or none):
- Perform on the April concert
- Compose a variation (with help available!)
- Compose the “finale” to the variation set—slightly longer, and involving the full orchestra
- Assist less-experienced composers as needed
- Assist in typesetting and preparation of score and parts (software TBD).
October 15, 2026: Second draft of all variations due: only variations with a second draft submitted by this date will be considered for performance.
January 1, 2027: Final draft (in full orchestral score) due. Begin final edits, typesetting and preparation of score and parts.
February 15, 2027: All materials to be ready for duplication and bowing.
March 1, 2027: First rehearsal with Lakeland Civic Orchestra
April 25, 2027: Premiere of Community Variations
Questions? Contact Dr. Matthew C. Saunders, director, Lakeland Civic Orchestra at [email protected]
| the_soul_of_lakeland_satb.pdf |
| Lakeland Alma Mater: Recording |
