Linda Jones

Director, Salisbury Symphony

The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra has themed its final concert of this season “English Elation!” with a nod to an upcoming milestone in British history: Queen Elizabeth will be the longest-reigning monarch in British history as of this coming fall!

What more appropriate music, then, than William Walton’s “Orb and Sceptre March,” composed especially for her coronation in 1953? That will be on the program, scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Keppel Auditorium, Catawba College.

Also on the program of light classical music, “Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion” by William Alwyn (sounds like a great way to begin anything!).

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, Handel’s “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,” from Solomon, and Gustav Holst’s Invocation fill out the first half of the concert.

Music Director David Hagy has programmed Edward Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations for the second half of the concert.

“This piece is the impetus for the whole season!” explains Hagy. “I’ve been wanting to share this music with our community for a long time. And it paved the way for the ‘puzzles’ theme of the whole season.”

Program Notes, penned by Dr. Renee McCachren, can be read in advance on the Symphony’s website, salisburysymphony.org

Two lead musicians in the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra shine in this concert: Principal Cello Anne Sellitti is the soloist in Holst’s Invocation, and Concertmaster Daniel Skidmore is the solo violinist in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. Both musicians perform with other area orchestras in addition to Salisbury, and they are both excellent teachers, each maintaining his/her own studio.

Though they both need to commute — Sellitti from Winston-Salem and Skidmore from Greensboro — they have continued to include the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra in their professional careers for many years.

This concert is made possible by a multitude of sponsors, including Mary Messinger as the Concert Sponsor, the English Speaking Union sponsoring Ms. Sellitti, Burl and Alice Brady sponsoring Mr. Skidmore, and Ed and Susan Norvell sponsoring David Hagy. Salisbury’s newest coffee shop, the Mean Mug, has offered to serve coffee at the end of the concert in Keppel’s lobby as audience members linger to greet the musicians and each other.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in Keppel Auditorium on the Catawba College campus.

Tickets are $22 for adults (ages 19 and older), $6 for students (ages 9-18 and any college student with an ID), and $4 for children ages 8 and younger.

Tickets are available at Rowan County Visitors Center and Sidewalk Deli in Salisbury, Pinocchio’s in Spencer, Crescent Pharmacy in Rockwell, and Corriher Springs Florist in China Grove.

You may also order tickets at the Symphony’s website — salisburysymphony.org — or by calling the Symphony office at 704-637-4314.

For more information, call 704-637-4314, or visit www.salisburysymphony.org

 

Tea, Anyone?

Queen Elizabeth just celebrated her 89th birthday on April 21, and this September she – and all of Great Britain (well, maybe “all”) — will celebrate her achievement of becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra celebrates, too, with their “English Elation” concert on Saturday evening, May 9.

Prior to the concert,  a High Tea will be offered in the Crystal Lounge at Catawba College at, yes, 4 p.m. Catered by Buttercup Catering with delicacies, tea and trimmings, it promises to be authentic!

Music students at Catawba will provide a musical ambiance, and Across The Pond will give away a one-night’s stay for two at their bed-&-breakfast to a lucky participant. Tickets are $15 each and seating is limited.

Deadline for tickets to the Salisbury Symphony’s High Tea on May 9 is May 5. Call 704-637-4314 or email ljones@catawba.edu to reserve a seat.