Visual Stories

Photos: Anchorage Civic Orchestra rehearsal

Twenty-seven years ago, Anchorage schoolteacher Steve Posegate founded the Anchorage Civic Orchestra with the goal of providing "more opportunities for symphony quality musicians to practice and play with musicians of similar caliber."

"The orchestra exists to share the joy of making music," he said. The joy of listening to music was a different matter. Reviews noted high points and praised the effort, but regularly noted missed entrances, weak strings, bad intonations and other hallmarks of amateurism. Yet over time -- the last 10 or so concerts -- listeners have noticed an increasingly pleasant and polished sound.

"So far this has probably been the ACO's finest season," said current conductor Philip Munger.

The group's Spring Concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Anchorage.

Read more: Anchorage's amateur orchestra showcases local performers, composers and audiences

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