Musical Arts Society kicks off its 45th season

“It’s a great combination for the singers and orchestra to pull off,” said music director Douglas R. Peterson, who explained that he selected the pieces specifically to place the 37-piece Musical Arts Orchestra and 65-voice Musical Arts Chorus on an even par.

“For our situation, the requirement of the singers doesn’t overcome the orchestra,” he said.

Guest soloists are soprano Amy Cofield, mezzo-soprano Juline Barol-Gilmore, tenor Scott Williamson and bassist Neil Wilson.

“These are some of the finest soloists out there,” Peterson said.

The concert kicks off Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society’s 45th season.

“I think we’ve provided a service through the years for the hundreds of the singers that have been through the organization,” Peterson said, “and to the audiences as well.”

Peterson has held the group’s reins since 1968, when it was known as the Las Vegas Musical Arts Workshop.

“We’ve weathered the changing climes of the Las Vegas environment,” he said. “But there is more of a challenge now because it’s quite different. There are more things for people to do with spare time here than in the late ’60s, when we were the main game in town.”

According to Peterson, his group has performed “all of the traditional major choral-orchestra works” other than Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis.”

“That’s too hard,” he said, laughing.

In fact, two-thirds of Sunday’s bill will be a repeat performance. The Haydn and Mozart pieces were presented by the group in 1991.

“It got a good response from the chorus at that time,” Peterson said. “And I was looking for a program that would excite the director. The Mozart piece is so attractive, and I’ve done a lot of the Haydn masses through the years and they work very well.”

What distinguishes the Musical Arts Society is that — while soloists are paid to perform — the orchestra and chorus consist entirely of volunteers.

“They’re lawyers, nurses and doctors,” Peterson said. “These are regular people singing for regular people — mostly in their spare time.”

The nonprofit organization operates on an annual budget of $68,000 — most of which comes from private donors and membership dues.

“I think that community music is the most important avenue for keeping the tradition of classical music alive,” said tenor Scott Williamson. “Sharing your craft with people who are doing it because they want to be there, you retain that quality of being a real lover of what you do.

“And I think the audience gets that sense of joy, enthusiasm and passion.”

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0456.