The classical music gods are smiling down on Whidbey Island.

Not one, not two, but three orchestras will be filled with classical musicians of all ages for an up-and-coming season of performances.

One intent of orchestra organizers is to create a multi-generational experience where an 82-year-old grandmother can play alongside a 7-year-old aspiring prodigy.

Kat Fritz, a violist and one of the organizers of the Whidbey Island Youth Orchestra and the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra, said the opportunity for musical families on the island is unique.

“Musicians who are parents of young musicians will be able to rehearse and perform on the same schedule as their children, taking turns performing in the same evenings, having the advantage of seeing one and other perform,” Fritz said.

Carpooling and keeping extracurricular activities to the same evening for parents and children will make it a lot easier on everyone’s schedules, she said.

The Youth Orchestra and the Community Orchestra will rehearse concurrently from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings, starting Sept. 27, at Whidbey Evangelical Free Church. The church is located at 874 Plantation Drive in Greenbank, just off Highway 525.

The annual performance schedule includes four concerts; one each in November, December, February and May. Every performance will be preceded by eight rehearsals/coaching sessions.

In addition to these two orchestras is the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, another just-starting effort that has openings for musicians for its inaugural season.

The Saratoga Chamber Orchestra will perform concerts in October, January, March and May.

Legh Burns, previously a professor emeritus of the University of Oklahoma where his duties included conducting the University Symphony Orchestra, will conduct both the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra and the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra.

Burns noted the blessings of living on the island where classical musicians abound.

“Whidbey Island is so arts-oriented and has so many world class artists of all disciplines, it’s only natural that we have an orchestra as well,” Burns said.

He added that the orchestras have members from virtually all the larger communities on the island.

“We have players from Clinton to Oak Harbor and everywhere in-between,” Burns said.

“People will recognize many of the players of the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra as participants in The Saratoga Chamber Players,” said Burns.

“We’ve added woodwinds, brass and percussion to expand the size and scope of the orchestra and increase the range of repertoire we’re able to perform.”

The Saratoga Chamber Players was founded in 1995 by island resident Michael Nutt, a former member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

The first concerts of the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra will feature the music of Igor Stravinsky, whose 125th birthday is being celebrated in 2007. These first two performances will be held on Oct. 6 in Coupeville and on Oct. 7 at South Whidbey High School auditorium in Langley.

Conducting the Youth Orchestra will be Jessica Marshall, who holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Seattle Pacific University.

Supported by the Island Arts Council, the mission of the Whidbey Island Youth and Whidbey Island Community Orchestras is to provide a quality musical experience for the musicians of Whidbey, one that fosters the joy of music-making while giving players the chance to apply skills acquired in private and personal study. It also aims to build self confidence in young musicians and to serve audiences island-wide through performances and other outreach efforts.

Whidbey Island Youth Orchestra will hold auditions for string musicians (violin, viola, cello and bass) up to 18 years of age at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at Whidbey Free Evangelical Church in Greenbank.

Auditioners are asked to perform a scale and short piece of their choice.

Tuition for the season is $280. Family rates are offered for multiple family members and scholarships are available by request.

The Whidbey Island Community Orchestra is for musicians of all ages. The orchestra includes all orchestral instruments for the strings, woodwind, brass and percussion families. No audition is required to participate in the group.

For more info on either of theses orchestras, and to arrange an audition time, contact Roxallanne Medley at 678-3720 or Fritz at 321-4311.

For information regarding the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, including openings for musicians, call Burns at 221-2353.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or at pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.