JC Symphony Announces Season 5

The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra (JCSO) announces Season Five, a four-concert event that runs Oct. 29 through April 14, 2012. Sue Haggerty, executive director of the JCSO, says of the fifth season, “We've got some very exciting collaborations happening, some other musical firsts and other milestones.”

Season Five premieres with “Masterworks!” on Oct. 29, featuring Principal Cellist Meghan McGuire performing Haydn’s Concerto in C Major. According to Haggerty, this is the JCSO’s first ever cello concerto. She says it’s a “pretty big step (for the JCSO), because when you are featuring or highlighting a special performer and breaking her out of the orchestra, it is a delicate conducting balance between the conductor, orchestra and cellist.”

Dec. 3 is the Annual Christmas Gala & Holiday Pops Concert, featuring guest soloists, choirs and a few surprises. “The holiday concert will include secular and sacred familiar, popular music that people will know,” says Haggerty.

Last year’s holiday concert sold out completely, so Haggerty anticipates a sold-out crowd for this year, as well. In fact, she reports that ticket sales for the holiday concert already began to spike right after the July 4th weekend.

“All Beethoven!”, on Feb. 25, highlights an exciting collaboration with the 130-voice Michael O’Neal Singers performing Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. Haggerty points out that this is the first time JCSO is collaborating with the well-established, Roswell-based, volunteer vocal ensemble and notes “how wonderful it is to have an outstanding choir backed by a full orchestra.”

According to Haggerty, this concert will also be the first time JCSO performs at Johns Creek Baptist Church. She feels that holding concerts in varying venues allows JCSO to expand its reach in the community and helps to showcase musicians in different acoustic environments.

The season finale, on April 14, is “An Evening with Oscar & Tony,” which performs music from some of Broadway and Hollywood’s greatest. Haggerty says that the last show of the season is always light classical and popular music — music that is accessible, familiar and laid-back. She believes the music is great for casual classical listeners and even kids (who are welcome at all JCSO concerts).

The JCSO is a part-time orchestra comprised of paid, professional, contract musicians who do double-duty (or more) with other renowned orchestras across the Southeast. JCSO musicians are among the finest orchestral instrumentalists in America with an average of 15 years experience in professional orchestras.

Most of the JCSO members have graduate-level degrees or artist diplomas in performing arts from the leading institutions of higher learning in the United States, and many have received additional training in Berlin, London, Rome, Salzburg, Vienna and other leading European music centers. The members of the JCSO are committed to providing its audiences with the highest caliber of symphonic music possible.

Tickets cost $30/adults, $23.50/seniors (55+) and $16.50/students (through college). Season tickets and group discounts are available; credit cards are accepted. All performances start at 8 p.m. Venues vary.

To purchase tickets, visit www.johnscreeksymphony.org. For venue locations and more information, call 678-748-5802 or email info@johnscreeksymphony.org. serves as the season’s presenting sponsor, and Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth, the Fulton County Arts Council, Misenheimer Creative Inc. and Life Multimedia are featured sponsors.