VCNB's Own Mitchell McCrady Joins The Lancaster Festival Orchestra
When the Lancaster Festival opens later this month, the Lancaster Festival Orchestra will celebrate its 37th season and will include a local man who is making his festival debut. VCNB banker Mitchell McCrady is an accomplished classically trained musician who has played the French horn since the age of ten.
As Assistant Branch Manager at our Canal Banking Center, Mitchell is an important part of the team that takes care of our Canal Winchester customers. He has been with VCNB for nine years and, while he enjoy his day job, his passion lies in music and the French Horn.
“I liked it because it’s a unique looking instrument. It looks a little like a steering wheel,” he laughed when asked why he chose that instrument. “If you listen to music in the movies, you’ll notice there’s a lot of French Horn.” He mentioned prolific film composer John Williams who wrote a lot of heroic music for this horn. He also talked about how it becomes easier to hear once a listener notices the versatile sounds that a French Horn can produce.
Mitchell has a Masters Degree in French Horn performance and puts that education to work every chance he gets. He performs with the Central Ohio Symphony, New Albany Symphony Orchestra, Newark-Granville Symphony, and Worthington Chamber Orchestra. He also doe-s freelance work throughout central Ohio.
The mission of the Lancaster Festival is to celebrate and support the arts through a variety of activities and live performances over a ten-day period every July. The Festival Orchestra draws experienced musicians from all over the country and across the globe. Mitchell explained that orchestra season runs from Fall through mid-Spring so festivals are a great way for musicians to play throughout the year. Many Lancaster area residents open their homes each summer to host out-of-town musicians and give them a taste of local life.
Performing with this Orchestra has been a lifelong dream for Mitchell. The Sugar Grove native says that he grew up attending the festival with his family and that it gave him access to culture and the arts in ways that otherwise weren’t easily accessible when he was young. “This festival is something the city can be proud of and it gives local people opportunity to experience classical music right here at home. Being a part of the orchestra is a dream come true for this kid from Sugar Grove,” he said. “Playing for all those people is really special. Creating moments through music for others to enjoy and remember is a moving experience for the musicians.”
The Orchestra opens the festival with a performance at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption. Mitchell said this concert will feature highlights from opening nights past as chosen by Maestro Gary Sheldon who will end his 37-year career with the Orchestra at the close of this festival.
The Orchestra also plays for the headline acts which will be Lee Brice and Wilson Phillips this year.
As Mitchell reviewed the song list for the opening concert at St. Mary’s, he recalled hearing some of them performed over the history of the festival. “The acoustics at St Mary’s are quite nice and it will be truly special to perform some of these,” he said. “It’s interesting to think about who might be in the audience and how our music may make a difference to them like it did me, a kid from Sugar Grove who just loved the music.”
Learn more about the Lancaster Festival and find the complete 2024 schedule at their website.