CONTACT: Susan Stensland
Executive Director
770-429-2390
sstensland@georgiasymphony.org
MARIETTA – The Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO) has reached agreement with a group of friends of music in Macon to present an orchestral concert in Macon, GA. on Sunday, May 13, 2018. The performance, which will occur on Mother’s Day, will be the first in what is anticipated to be a dedicated Macon concert series for the GSO. In celebration of mothers, and symphonic music in Macon, tickets to this concert will be provided at no charge.
After months of working with former members of the Macon Symphony Orchestra board and staff to determine the feasibility, logistics, and the desire for symphonic classical music in Macon, together we are pleased to have found a way forward which is both meaningful and sustainable. The GSO will work with leaders of the arts community in Macon to establish a second performing home in the city of Macon. The GSO’s commitment to the Macon metropolitan area includes working in classrooms with students, assisting with secondary student and youth ensembles, delivering informative talks and presentations about music, and providing new and engaging performances for patrons.
“It is an honor and privilege to build upon the legacy of the Macon Symphony,” said Timothy Verville, Music Director and Conductor of the GSO. “I believe that community involvement is extremely important to the mission and success of an orchestra, and we work diligently to connect with audiences in relevant ways.” Bob Veto, MSO board chair continued, “It was my hope, after the Macon Symphony Orchestra was forced to suspend operations, that some other opportunity would emerge to bring symphonic music back to Macon. I am so grateful that the GSO approached us with this offer: it is a first-class organization and an outstanding orchestra.”
“The Georgia Symphony Orchestra family is thrilled with the possibilities that lie ahead.” said Susan Stensland, GSO Executive Director. “We love that Marietta is our home, and that it will continue to be the base of our organization as it has been for 67 years. We are excited to be able to expand the impact of great live music across the region. This is a major milestone in providing a high quality of life for our extended community, and is cause for celebration.”
The free performance will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, 2018 in the early evening so that patrons have the option of taking their mothers to the concert after lunch or before dinner. Details regarding venue, seating, and performance time will be released in the coming weeks.
About the Georgia Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1951, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra has engaged audiences through imaginative programming, visionary leadership, and critically acclaimed performances, bringing music to over 20,000 people annually. Its mission is to engage and enrich diverse audiences through the presentation of music at the highest artistic level and to provide programs and education that instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts. The GSO organization operates under the artistic leadership of Music Director Timothy Verville, and includes the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, the GSO Chorus, GSO Jazz! the Georgia Symphony Youth Chorus, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.
About Timothy Verville
In his second season as the Robert W. Hagan Foundation Music Director and Conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Timothy Verville continues his commitment towards innovation, outreach, and community building. An award winner in The American Prize for Orchestral Performance, Verville’s enriching and dynamic performances connect with a greater portion of the community. Currently he also serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared internationally at the Kyushu International Festival, and with the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra, Kyushu Philharmonic Orchestra, Chikushi Jogakuen Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Fukuoka University Orchestra. U.S. guest conducting includes the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Signature Symphony, Symphonicity, and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Verville resides in Georgia with his wife and two children.