Sunday, April 28, 2013

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

The symphony.

It had been a LONG while since I had been to the symphony.

And I was very impressed that the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) was going to be making HOPE one of their stops on their  tour.

If you haven't heard, we are proud to have the new Hempstead Hall in our town.

It is on the campus of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, and it is FABULOUS!



State of the art.

Innovative.

Just down-right spectacular!

Not to mention, the concert was FREE to the good folks of Hempstead County.

Hot Coffee and I made a date of it. We got all fancied up and headed out, drove around 2 miles, and made our way for the entertainment of the evening.

Once to our seats, I heard the many sounds that sent me back to junior high and high school days.

You see, I was a band nerd.

A flutist.

I was no James Galway, but I could hold my own.

After a few minutes of introduction, Maestro Philip Mann came bouncing out.

Cool-crazy hair and all.

He is not your typical Maestro.

He's hip, and full of zeal!





Another confession: there was a time in my life when I wanted to be a conductor.

You can ask my mother.

Every week when the theme song from Dallas came on -- I would conduct my heart out. (go on -- take a few minutes to listen to it...it's worth the time) :)

I would bring in the horns, the trumpets, signal the crescendos...well, you get the picture.

It was serious, folks.

Well, let's just say that aspiration faded...

Back to the ASO.

I absolutely LOVED the program.

I loved that when I closed my eyes, it was hard to tell that a group of humans was making such a beautiful sound in unison. Too often, the sounds we hear are synthesized, machine-produced -- "canned" as my daddy will call it.

I loved that Maestro Mann connected with the audience, and made us feel as though he truly came to entertain us.

I REALLY loved it that when the show was over, we got back into our vehicle and drove around 2 miles home.

Thank you, UACCH and Hempstead Hall.

Thank you, ASO and Philip Mann.

I look forward to future productions from you both!

4 comments:

  1. You have the cutest blog. I've enjoyed going back and reading about you and your girls.

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  2. Thanks so much, Leslie! They are my joy and inspiration! :)

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  3. That's awesome! I wish we had something like that here.

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    Replies
    1. It's really nice for us small town folks! :)

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