The Toccoa Symphony Orchestra (TSO) performed their Late Winter Concert, “Made In America”, on Sunday, March 8, at the Garrison Auditorium on the Georgia Baptist Conference Center campus in Toccoa. The concert featured musical arrangements from American composers including Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein and Leroy Anderson, among others. Conductor Wm. David Stufft gave a short biography of each composer before each selection, giving some insight on why each piece of music was truly American. One of the classic pieces, Tall Cedars, was composed by O. Castellucci. Two of Castellucci’s granddaughters were in attendance to hear the Toccoa Symphony perform their grandfather’s music.
The selections included every type of American musical arrangement from spirituals to jazz. Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 “New World” Movement IV was introduced by Maestro Stufft as having been written while Dvorak was visiting the Mid-West United States and was amazed by all the open spaces. Listening to this movement reminds one of an old, classic western movie.
Maestro Stufft and the talented musicians of the TSO wrapped up the concert with a rousing rendition of Georgia On My Mind, led by Saxophone soloist David Fry.
The event was presented by the George Mitchell Allen Foundation.
To become a supporting member of the TSO, visit their website www.toccoasymphony.org and mark your calander for the next TSO performance. The Spring concert titled “Name That Tune” will be held in the same venue at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center on Sunday, May 3, at 4pm. The annual Summer concert, “Patriotic Pops” will be held on the grounds of the Currahee Club on Sunday, June 28.
