Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra was formed in August of 2009 as the Southern Ozarks Chamber Orchestra. This group was formerly the West Plains Regional Orchestra and in 2009 voted to change its name and move to Willow Springs for practices. It was decided Willow Springs was a central location to gather for practice, as orchestra members are from West Plains, Mt. View, Houston, Cabool, Ava, Mtn. Grove, Willow Springs, VanZant, and Mtn. Home, Arkansas. The group operates through the Willow Springs Arts Council and performs regularly at the Star Theater.
The orchestra is currently practicing every Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Ferguson Building.
This is a volunteer group of musicians with the mission to –
- Provide performance experiences for local students and musicians.
- Provide local live orchestra music to the residents of the Southern Ozarks area.
Anyone interested in joining the group can contact Ginny VanOskeuls at 417-855-0152 or email at vanogo@yahoo.com., or Rebecca Cash at 417-962-0979 or email at beckycash@yahoo.com.
If you are interested in booking the orchestra for a performance, please contact one of the above individuals.
We are very excited to have several members of SOCO join the Mountain Home Symphony. This group rehearses at the Vada Sheid Auditorium on the campus of Arkansas State University in Mountain Home. For more information on this group go to www.mountainhomesymphony.com.
Meet our Conductors/Directors
Jodie Forbes is the Conductor/Director of the Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra. Jodie has been a member of SOCO for many years, performing as a flute and piccolo player. She has also served as Conductor. Jodie is a retired elementary music teacher who taught in public schools for over 30 years. She graduated with honors and a bachelor’s of music in education from the Dana School of Music, part of the Youngstown State University in Ohio. She was the principal flute with the University Wind Ensemble. She traveled with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra for one year and was the principal flute in the Venice Suncoast Symphony Orchestra. Jodie has worked with many musical groups including “The Shortleaf Band”, handbell choirs, and various vocal and instrumental ensembles.
Sam Van Dielen is the new Associate Conductor/Director of the Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra. Sam has been a member of SOCO for the last several years, performing as a tuba player. Sam is also the director of bands for the Houston R-1 School District. He is a graduate of Missouri State University, where he was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Concert Schedule:
SOCO will be in concert on Saturday, March 23 at the Star Theater in Willow Springs presenting a FREE concert entitled “A Musical Buffet”, featuring Dani Sallee. The concert begins at 7 PM. Selections to be played are as follows, in order:
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791)
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750)
- Cumberland Cross (Carl Strommen, 1939-)
- Ashoken Farewell (Jay Ungar, 1946-, and Molly Mason)
- Forrest Gump Suite (Alan Silvestri, 1950-, arr. by Calvin Custer)
- Irish Suite (Leroy Anderson, 1908-1975)
Intermission
- Pirates of the Carribean (Hans Zimmer, 1957-, and Klaus Badelt, 1967-)
- Song Without Words, from the Second Suite (Gustav Holst, 1874-1934)
- James Bond Medley (Monty Norman, 1928-2022, arr. by Victor López)
- Moon River (Henry Mancini, 1924-1994, and Johnny Mercer, 1909-1976)
- The Empire Strikes Back Medley (John Williams, 1932-, arr. by John C. Whitney)
- Capriccio Espagnol (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, 1844-1908)
Orchestra Members
Music Directors
Conductor
- Sam Van Dielen
Violin
- Rebecca Cash
- Amanda Kargel
Cello
- Brandy Taylor
Bass
- Fred McKinney
Flute
- Sarah Heselton
Clarinet
- Kristi Ryan
- Zane Johnson
Oboe
- Ginny VanOskeuls
Trumpet
- Rich Tompson
- George Beaver
- Trevor Turner
Trombone
- Steven Sellers
- Kim Darrah
- Drayton Wells
- Tate Cochran
Percussion
- Andrew Stockard
- Cason Woolsey
- Brandon Course
- Denise Faulkner
- Katherine Markee
ORCHESTRA MEMBERS WHO TEACH:
Beginning Violin
Rebecca Cash – phone: 417-962-0979 – email: bbcash@hughes.net
Flute and Other Instruments
Jodie Forbes – phone: 417-217-0542 – email: jforbes@houston.k12.mo.us
Drums and Other Instruments
Fred McKinney – phone: 573-776-5253 – email:fredmck@gmail.com
Oboe
Ginny Van Os Keuls – phone: 417-855-0152 – email: ginnyvanoskeuls@gmail.com
Drum Set
Andrew Stockard – phone: 417-967-4089 – email: andrew_s92@rocketmail.com
Cello
Brandy Taylor – phone 417-259-7634 – email: cello@indigoskies.com