The Heart Strings of Mother-Daughter Orchestra Team

It's said the family that plays together, stays together, and according to one mother-daughter team, the benefits of this old adage ring true.

Horsham resident, Diane Saturno and her daughter, Dominique are members of the Warminster Symphony Orchestra. The WSO has been a cultural gift to Bucks and Montgomery counties since 1966 and the Saturnos have been an integral part of its richness. Diane has been playing cello with the WSO for 36 years, and Dominique joined in 2010. Diane remembers watching her mother play the cello and began taking lessons when she was about 15 years old.

High school student Dominique also has a passion for string instruments but chose to embrace the sounds of the violin instead of the cello. “I wanted a violin for my birthday,” said Dominique, and she received one at four and-a-half years old. Her mother describes her as a "natural."

Dominique continued playing the violin all through elementary school, but because there was no orchestra in her school, her band teacher incorporated her into that program. Mom came to the rescue and became the catalyst for implementing a string program in the Hatboro-Horsham school district. To date, there are more than 300 students in this very successful program, according to Diane.

Dominique currently takes violin lessons from Robert DePasquale, a retired member of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

 So why does a high school student decide to join a symphony orchestra?

“I wanted to challenge myself because the music in high school wasn't hard enough," said Dominique, "and I wanted to have the experience of playing in a real orchestra – to be playing with older people and contribute to the orchestra as a whole."

But there was one other indispensable reason. Dominique wanted to have the experience of playing together with her mother. “I enjoy playing with my mom – our personal connection," she said. "We have something in common and it's neat to be together.”

And how does mom feel about this? “It's a real honor,” stated Diane. “I'm glad my daughter is playing with me.”

Dominique’s plans for her future include being an anesthesiologist and working for the Navy. She does plan to continue playing the violin.

Diane said she will continue playing with the Warminster Symphony Orchestra as long as they want her. She dedicates every concert she plays to her deceased father.

Diane humorously recalls her parents coming to every concert she played in. “They were so overwhelmed with all my concerts. I would sit there and play my instrument and look out and see them sleeping and I would laugh,” she said.

More information about the Warminster Symphony Orchestra and their 2011 concert schedule can be found on their website.