Editor,

As the Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island commences its 10th anniversary season this month, we want to thank the community for its support over the past nine seasons.

It is indeed impressive that a community our size can count a hometown professional orchestra among its cultural jewels.

This season is dedicated to Whidbey’s greatest asset — its youth.

One program in particular we are excited to offer is “Link Up,” a music curriculum developed by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. It will be offered free-of-charge to over 1,500 Whidbey Island students in third through fifth grades.

Saratoga Orchestra is honored to be one of only 90 national and international partners presenting this program where each child will learn to sing, play recorder and study musical concepts about the orchestra, composers and instruments.

A concert for the students in May 2017 will feature our new student musicians playing alongside the Saratoga Orchestra. Participating Whidbey Island schools include Broad View Elementary, South Whidbey Elementary, Oak Harbor Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, South Whidbey Academy and the Waldorf School.

Thank you to the teachers and administrators of these schools for their support. We invite the community to help make this program a success by sponsoring a recorder for each participating student. Information can be found at www.sowhidbey.com

Please join us for “Out of This World — A Cosmic Concert” on Oct. 29 in Oak Harbor and Oct. 30 in Langley.

Anita Whitney, president

board of directors

Saratoga Orchestra of Whidbey Island