Riverton orchestra to change its name

The Riverton Metropolitan Orchestra, founded in 1999, will change its name to the Oquirrh Mountain Symphony at a private screening and dinner Friday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m. in the director's suite at the Megaplex Theatres at the District, South Jordan.

Tickets for the event are $35 for an individual, or $260 for a table of eight. Admission includes dinner, private screening and two tickets to the Spotlight Spectacular Encore concert. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and takes place at Elk Ridge Middle School, 3659 W. 9800 South. Call LeAnn Hord at 480-334-9296 to purchase tickets.

The reason for the name change is to reflect the expanding role the orchestra wants to play in Salt Lake County's southwest area. It will become a touring orchestra that will serve not only Riverton, but also South Jordan, Herriman, Bluffdale and Draper, as well as communities in northern Utah County. It will also give concerts in Tooele, and there are plans to extend its musical boundaries to reach outlying rural communities.

The Oquirrh Mountain Symphony is a volunteer ensemble made up of 60 musicians. It has been conducted by Benjamin K. Winkler of Payson since 2004.

e-mail: ereichel@desnews.com