Contact: Margaret Kovar
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Starkville/Mississippi State University Symphony Association will sponsor a series of concerts for children and an evening concert for all music lovers Nov. 1.
School children, kindergarten through fifth grade, are invited to attend "Mississippi Music" performances at Starkville's First Baptist Church at 8:45 a.m., 10:20 a.m. and 1 p.m. A full concert will be performed at 7:30 p.m.
The 60-piece Starkville Symphony Orchestra will play music reflective of famous Mississippi musicians and the state's history, including a suite of Elvis songs as well as a country/bluegrass-style "Orange Blossom Special" in honor of "The Father of Country Music," Jimmie Rodgers.
A rendition of George Gershwin's "Summertime" will pay tribute to Mississippi native Leontyne Price, and the first movement of William Grant Still's Afro-American Symphony also will be played. Born in Woodville, Still is one of the great American composers of the 20th century.
The evening program will include the compositions from the children's programs, but also will feature the "Ballade for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra" by 20th century French composer Henri Tomasi. The piece will be performed by 2013 MSU Concerto/Aria Competition winner Olivia Stolz and will be conducted by her teacher Sheri Falcone, principal clarinetist of the SSO and MSU faculty member.
The highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of Shandy Phillips' Symphony No. 1 "The Toymaker." Phillips, a composer who teaches for MSU and Starkville Public Schools, is the SSO's concert master. Gulfport composer and vocalist Eddie Miller also will join the orchestra singing his original composition "Mississippi."
Michael Brown, MSU music department head and SSO music director will conduct the programs.
For more information, contact Joe Ray Underwood at jru1@colled.msstate.edu.