With the recent tragedy in Japan and the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the WCO spreads a worldwide message of hope and recovery. To accurately reflect the sentiments of our world today, the programming for the concert was specifically chosen. Each piece, as Music Director & Conductor Vincent Koh describes “truly epitomizes our goals at the WCO.”  The first piece “A Lincoln Portrait” composed by Aaron Copland symbolizes the much-needed American patriotism of the 1940s while being applicable to the much-needed patriotism of today.  The second piece, Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy for Violin & Orchestra” triumphantly recalls Scottish tradition while reminding everyone to call back on imagination and a looser interpretation of things.  “The Moon Over the Ruined Castle,” a Japanese folk song, sheds light on the land and honors it after the devastation.  And finally, no other piece symbolizes the hope of freedom from misery and suffering than Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.  The WCO was joined by WQXR radio host Jeff Spurgeon and violin soloists Antonio Pontarelli and Pei-Wen Liao.