Max Levinson
Symphony of the Mountains invites former members, performers and supporters to come home for a landmark celebration as the organization marks its 80th season with a special Homecoming Concert Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center in Kingsport, Tennessee.
The celebration brings together generations of symphony friends who have helped shape the organization’s legacy over eight decades. Alumni of Symphony of the Mountains, the Kingsport Symphony Orchestra, Voices of the Mountains, the Kingsport Symphony Chorus and the Bristol Concert Choir, as well as former board and Women’s Symphony Committee members are encouraged to participate.
The evening begins with a memorable combined performance of the National Anthem, welcoming former orchestra and choir members back to the stage to celebrate the organization’s rich musical history and enduring community connections.
“We want this celebration to bring our symphony family together,” said Cornelia Laemmli Orth, music director. “Whether you performed on stage, sang in one of our choirs, served on the board or supported the organization behind the scenes, you are part of our story. We invite you to return, reconnect with old friends and help us celebrate 80 remarkable seasons of music.”
Following the National Anthem, guests can enjoy an exciting program titled “New World Rhapsody,” featuring three iconic works that celebrate America’s musical spirit and cultural heritage: Charles Ives’ “Variations on ‘America,’” Antonín Dvo?ák’s “Symphony No. 9 From the New World” and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a celebrated American masterpiece that blends classical music with the energy and rhythms of jazz. Max Levinson, acclaimed pianist and Steinway Artist, is the featured soloist in Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” An internationally recognized performer and prizewinner, Levinson serves on the faculty of the New England Conservatory.
The concert also recognizes the 250th anniversary of the United States, bringing together music that reflects the nation’s history, diversity and artistic imagination.
Symphony of the Mountains encourages you to spread the word by sharing the organization’s social media posts and reaching out to fellow alumni by phone, text or email.
Those wishing to participate in the National Anthem performance must contact the Symphony office at (423) 392-8423 by Monday, Nov. 2 and should arrive at the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center by 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.
The Homecoming Concert promises to be an evening of music, memories and renewed connections as Symphony of the Mountains honors its past, celebrates its present and looks toward the future.
