February is a busy month for the Starkville/MSU Symphony Association. Two banner events are scheduled — “A Jazzy Affair” Feb. 20, and a winter concert Feb. 27.
Saturday’s fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. at the Hunter Henry Center on the Mississippi State University campus. It will feature jazz music by The State Messengers of MSU and a silent auction boasting items that range from paintings by the late Patty Seger to unique pottery from around the South.
“We have a wide variety of auction items,” said Lucy Phillips, who cochairs the event with her husband, Robert. Much of the pottery work is from the well-known Seagrove area of North Carolina, an active potters’ community.
A sampling of other items up for bid includes a jambalaya dinner for eight, a three-quarter size violin, a Japanese tea ceremony meal, original art, a handmade quilt and much more. Lessons in violin with Shandy Phillips, painting and watercolor instruction with Betty Jane Chatham and horseback riding with Beverly Jones are also “on the block,” as are many products and services.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments prepared by Aramark will be served.
“Every penny of the proceeds goes to funding the free concerts that we offer,” said Phillips. The Symphony Association depends on grants and individual donations to fund the musical presentations.
“One of the concerts that we are most proud of is Programs for Children which brings a musical education experience to over 3,000 children K-5,” she continued. Others include a fall concert in Columbus, Jazz on the Plaza in Starkville and three other major concerts.
“Keeping the concerts going is the sole purpose of ‘A Jazzy Affair,'” Phillips said.
Tickets are $70, available from members of the association’s board of directors, at Book Mart & Cafe at 120 E. Main St. in Starkville or visit starkvillesymphony.org.
Feb. 27 concert
A week after “A Jazzy Affair,” the association presents a free concert titled “Faure’s Finest” Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in MSU’s Lee Hall. The performance will feature three of French composer Gabriel Faure’s greatest works.
Under the direction of Music Director Michael Brown, selections will include Faure’s ever-popular “Pavane” (1887), along with “Fantaisie” (1898) for flute and orchestra.
Jessica Banks, MSU flute instructor, will be featured on the “Fantaisie for Flute and Orchestra.”
The second half of the program will feature a significant work for orchestra, chorus and soloists: “Requiem,” often considered one of the great monuments in choral literature. The orchestra will be joined by singers from the MSU Choral Department and the Starkville-MSU Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Doug Browning.
Gary Packwood, director of Choral Activities at MSU, will conduct the mass choir of more than 250 singers and the orchestra, as well as two MSU student soloists, soprano Bailey McKenzie Wright and baritone Michael Becher.
For additional concert information, contact Brown at 662-325-3070 or [email protected].
For more, visit starkvillesymphony.org and facebook.com/StarkvilleSymphony.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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