The UMW Philharmonic opens its 44th season on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a tribute to composer Leonard Bernstein.

Jamie Bernstein

The performance, narrated by Bernstein’s daughter Jamie, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in George Washington Hall’s Dodd Auditorium. Tickets for the concert start at $15.

The orchestra, hailed as one of the finest college-community ensembles in the country, is coming off a banner year in which it shared the stage with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman. This year, the Philharmonic will feature four unique and groundbreaking concerts.

Considered one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein wrote music for the concert stage as well as for Broadway.

“We decided to segment the show according to the genres of music Bernstein created during his career,” said Kevin Bartram, the Philharmonic’s music director. “That way, we can offer some of his best-known works alongside some of his lesser-known gems. Jamie will provide details about how her dad wrote the score, and add other personal anecdotes.”

The segment titled “For the Cinema” features Bernstein’s mammoth score to “On the Waterfront.” The 1954 classic, starring Marlon Brando, was ranked No. 8 on the list of all-time great films by the American Film Institute, and became Bernstein’s only film score not adapted from a stage play.

Another segment, “For the Opera,” includes his “Overture to Candide” and the song “Make our Garden Grow.” “Simple Song,” an addition to the “For the Stage” segment, was written for the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971.

While Bernstein’s contributions to music were immense, he is best remembered for his Broadway scores. In the “For Broadway” segment, the Philharmonic will perform the original scores to both “Fancy Free” and “On the Town,” and conclude with the classic “West Side Story.”

To purchase tickets or become a Friend of the Philharmonic, visit philharmonic.umw.edu or call (540)654-1324.

Kevin Bartram, director of the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra, has been voted national vice president of the College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA). CODA is the world’s largest association for college orchestra directors, with more than 200 colleges and universities from the U.S., Canada, Europe and South and Central America.

Kevin Bartram

Bartram will take office in January 2014 at the group’s national conference in Ft. Worth, Texas. He will serve as vice president for one year, and then ascend to president-elect, and finally to president in 2016. As part of his duties, he will be responsible for organizing the group’s national conference.

In his current role as national development chair, Bartram has helped CODA launch its new website and partner with its first major sponsors.

“I know that CODA will be in very good hands, and that our organization will have an even greater profile and relevancy in the world of college and university orchestras,” said Daniel Sommerville, current national president of CODA.

Bartram has led the UMW Philharmonic since 2002 and is responsible for elevating the level of the group through the creation of the William M. Anderson, Jr. Celebrity Series, its touring program, and its July 4th concerts. Each year, more than 17,000 people hear the group perform. This March, the orchestra will perform with legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman.

For more information about the UMW Philharmonic concert season and the Friends of the Philharmonic, visit philharmonic.umw.edu or follow the orchestra on Facebook and Twitter.