The Herald Bulletin

Overnight update

Entertainment

Next ASO Concert:

What: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
When: Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Paramount Theatre, 1124 Meridian Plaza, Anderson, Ind.
Contact: 644-2111 or www.andersonsymphony.org

Related Photos

  • The Anderson Symphony Orchestra performs its Valentine's Day concert at the Paramount Theatre in Anderson on Saturday. "Love, Tragedy and Romance" featured Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" ballet. With more than 50 musicians on stage, there was no room for dancers, so the symphony provided subtitles describing the action in each of the seven movements.

    0212 news symphony 2.jpg.JPG

Discussion

February 12, 2012

Getting Together: Anderson Symphony Orchestra seeks musical connections

Two 'Bugs Bunny at the Symphony' performances in April

By Emma Bowen Meyer For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON, Ind. — Getting patrons in the proper mood for Valentine’s Day, the Anderson Symphony Orchestra delighted its audience with both classical and popular melodies of love on Saturday night. From Tchaikovsky to the Beatles, the professional musicians performed tales of love, tragedy and romance.

“Collaborating with highly skilled professional musicians is a wonderful thing,” said Rick Sowers, music director and conductor of ASO for 23 years. “There is so much incredible music – some written 100 years ago and some written recently – that is beautifully expressive. It is a privilege to collaborate and share what we do with the patrons.”

ASO has been sharing orchestra music for 43 years. Originally founded through Anderson University and performing on the stage of Reardon Auditorium, the organization became its own entity in 1978. Once the Paramount restoration was completed, performances were moved to the iconic theater.

“One of the things I have observed is how much this community values the Anderson Symphony Orchestra as an important cultural aspect of this area,” said Dana Stone, executive director, who previously worked at a St. Louis opera company. “Larger cities tend to take their orchestras for granted, but here we are supported greatly.”

Each season includes five subscription concerts, a complimentary concert for area fifth-graders (offered as a field trip through the schools) and a Fourth of July concert. Sowers suggests music and concert themes to a program committee authorized by a board of directors.

The next concert is exciting orchestra members and patrons alike. George Daugherty, a Madison County native who has presented “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” around the world, is bringing his topflight production to ASO on April 21 and 22.

“He is even donating the Warner Brothers performance rights for this special event,” said Stone.

“This will be a very special event,” agreed Sowers, who has been a professor at Anderson University for 28 years. “This is a very famous production and will be a very popular event. We are even adding a second performance and hope to sell out both of them.”

But no matter which music is chosen, the goal of the musicians is to connect with the audience.

“This orchestra is a wonderful opportunity for us to serve the community,” said Sowers who is accomplished at singing and playing the French horn, piano and organ. “We get to provide the community with beautiful music and hope to enrich people’s lives while we are at it.”



Getting Together features clubs, organizations and social groups from the area each Monday in The Herald Bulletin.

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