This summer’s Music at McClellan event may be expanded, with added activities for the enjoyment of participants.Ideas discussed Thursday during Music at McClellan’s first committee meeting of the year include dinner at McClellan’s Terra Café while a featured artist performs, a gospel series on Sundays, and an activity area designated just for kids.
The committee hopes added features will draw larger crowds to the event, said committee chairman Pete Conroy.
“I’d say after eight shows with every unexpected variable, we have perfected our ability to make it work,” Conroy said. “But the thing we want to do most is make it easy, fun and entertaining for our participants.”
The committee also discussed adding two free ticket vouchers to an Alabama Symphony Orchestra performance for early birds who purchase tickets in advance, said Paul Ferrone, executive director of ASO.
The concert series will begin on Saturday, May 27 and will continue through four consecutive Saturdays, June 3, June 10 and June 18.
The concert grounds will open at 6 p.m. for families to have picnics. The concerts start at 8 p.m.
On May 27, ASO will present, “Salute to America” in honor of Memorial Day. The orchestra will perform popular patriotic music by American composers.
On June 3, The Coasters, an upbeat 50s Motown group, will perform some of their greatest hits, including “Yakety Yak,” “Young Blood,” “Loop de Loop Mambo” and “Charlie Brown.”
On June 10, ASO will present “Bravo Broadway,” performing songs from Broadway favorites, including Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Cats, and selections from a new Broadway show, Wicked.
On June 18, Justin Brown, ASO’s new music director, will conduct the final concert, “Classics Under the Stars.” Brown, established as one of Britain’s leading young conductors, has worked with most of that country’s top orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony and the London Symphony Orchestra.
“I’m delighted that Justin is going to be conducting the last concert, because you’re really in for a treat,” Ferrone said.
The concert also will feature music from Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances and Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo. Piotr Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture will be the highlight of the series, with blasts from firing cannons. This will be the third time the orchestral work will be performed during Music at McClellan.
“We did it the first year and it was so well received, we decided to do it every year,” Ferrone said of 1812 Overture. “It’s a tradition.”
Conroy said the Music at McClellan season adds a rich sense of culture to the county and is helping break negative stereotypes about the community.
“In recovering from a perception of an environmentally contaminated community, there’s nothing better than to break that stereotype,” Conroy said. “With the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, we are raising the bar.”
Conroy said he is happy to see the series prospering and giving area residents options during the summer.
“We’re putting together an entire season, so when you go online there’s always something to do,” Conroy said. “We’re starting to fill this calendar up. Calhoun County is starting to be the place to go.”
