The South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has announced its 61st concert season, presenting professional symphony concerts of the highest quality to audiences throughout the south Arkansas region.
The orchestra is under the direction of Music Director Kermit Poling, who will begin his 22nd year as symphony conductor this season. Tickets and season subscriptions are currently available by calling 870-863-4547.
The symphony will celebrate the music of The Beatles with its season opener Oct. 21. Canadian band, Jeans ’n Classics will return to El Dorado, having previously joined SASO for music of the Eagles, Queen and more. The brainchild of Peter Brennan, Jeans ’n Classics interprets the music legendary rock and pop albums and artists, with their own signature flair. The group has worked with more than 100 orchestras in venues throughout North America, as well as creating almost 1,000 original rock and pop orchestrations that have been presented across 45 productions.
The Beatles tribute concert will feature the entire album of “Abbey Road,” the last record made by the Fab Four before their breakup. The concert will take place in the newly opened Griffin Hall in El Dorado’s up-and-coming Murphy Arts District.
“We’re so excited to bring back one of the world’s top bands committed to presenting the best rock music with the best symphony orchestras,” Poling said. “They sell out virtually every time they come.”
Rounding out the year, SASO will present its annual Holiday Pops concert Dec. 16, being joined by more high school choristers than ever before. Joining the more than 120 singers from high schools across the region will be Monticello-area soprano Haley Greer and bass-baritone Greg Pearson. The performance will take place in the newly renovated El Dorado Municipal Auditorium.
The 61st season will continue in 2018 with the I-49 Brass Quintet, performing music from their latest CD release on March 10 in the Camp Building Recital Hall on the campus of Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Covering a wide-variety of styles from the Italian Renaissance through the 21st Century, I-49 presents a relaxed, tongue-in-cheek performance with humor, audience interaction and great music.
April 14 will feature two gold-medal winners from the Nina Wideman Piano Competition. Tzu-Yin Huang and Aristo Sham won the two most recent competitions and have already gone on to top accolades from performances throughout the world. SASO’s unique connection as one of the prizes of the competition allows the orchestra to bring these top virtuosi to El Dorado.
World-renown violinist Natasha Korsakova will join the Symphony for the May 12, 2018 concert, “Shades of America.” The violin virtuoso will perform the rarely heard violin concerto by Philip Glass. Korsakova, of Russian-Greek descent, is one of the most popular violinists of her generation. The German Süddeutsche Zeitung describes her ability to play the violin as “a sinfully beautiful listening experience.” Speaking five languages, Korsakova is a coveted guest for national and international orchestras, music festivals and concert events. Her repertoire includes around 60 concertos for violin and orchestra, as well as numerous chamber music works.
The award-winning violinist has appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, such as the Wigmore Hall in London, the Auditorium di Milano, the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Martinu Hall in Prague, Tokyo’s Santory Hall, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam and the Alte Oper in Frankfurt.
“Shades of America” will also feature the music of Aaron Copland and the Arkansas premiere of “Symphony No. 1” by Poling.
The season will come to an end May 26 with local El Dorado tradition, “Symphony on the Square.” Sponsored by First Financial Bank, the free, outdoor concert will take place in historic downtown El Dorado on the steps of the Union County Courthouse.
Subscriptions to the full season range from $120 to $150 depending on seating selections. Single tickets will go on sale Sept. 1, with premium seating available for $40 and general admission ranging from $15 to $30. Student, senior and military discounts are available.
For more information, visit www.southarkansassymphony.org or call 870-863-4547. The South Arkansas Symphony shares offices with El Dorado Festival & Events at 100 W. Cedar St., Ste. A in El Dorado.