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(This article was featured in the Hawkinsville Dispatch and News.)
"The World’s Best Comes To Town"
By: Alan Moore
Few things have been a more pleasant surprise than the events of last Saturday evening. Coming into town for an event at the Old Opera House, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people already gathered at the corner of Broad and Lumpkin Streets an hour before show time.
The special occasion was the inaugural concert of the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra. Ladies and gents, this group brought new meaning to the term, “grand opening.”
Our friends at the Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Arts Council certainly pulled out all the stops to welcome us all to the concert. I’ve seen such a presentation all of twice in the 17 years I have been in Hawkinsville. Only thing missing was the red carpet. For that matter, it may have been rolled out front as well.
I had a wonderful time catching up with old friends, and meeting many of middle Georgia’s dignitaries. Thanks to my less-than-stellar memory, I’ve forgotten the actual phrase Mrs. Julie Stewart used to describe the number of media outlets around Saturday night. I hear the show made Macon television news on Monday.
7:30 PM would eventually come around. HPCAC President Barbara Lawson welcomed the crowd to the orchestra’s inaugural show. Immediately afterwards, the Hawkinsville Old Opera House took its first steps toward becoming a true fine arts center for the state of Georgia.
Once the music began, the evening went from spectacular, to a word that has yet to be invented. If someone had told me I was sitting in Macon’s Grand Opera House or Fickling Hall, Atlanta’s Symphony Center, or Georgia State’s Rialto, I would have believed them in an instant.
Perhaps an appropriate word to describe the orchestra’s sound would be, “heavenly.” The talent of these top-notch musicians, combined with the Old Opera House’s superior acoustics, and the spirit of those in the audience combined to make a truly amazing evening. I’m told that there were roughly 250 in attendance Saturday.
I suppose a true “review” should include something that wasn’t quite right or could be improved on. Oh well-some things just can’t be done in certain situations. My only regret is that the performance did not last longer.
The sounds of Haydn, Mozart, and Bach lofted through downtown Hawkinsville for the better part of two hours, counting an intermission.
Dr. Charles Quinn of Middle Georgia College, the orchestra’s conductor, says that the process of organizing the orchestra began nearly six months ago. Congratulations on all of you hard work Dr. Quinn, it’s certainly paid off.
Lawson stated at the show’s end that the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra was a “dream come true” for the Old Opera House. I couldn’t agree more, and know that it will continue to be a true cultural asset for Hawkinsville and all of middle Georgia. I certainly can’t argue with bringing even more music of this sort into our fair city.
If you missed Saturday evening’s show, please accept my sincerest apologies. Not to worry though-tickets are already available for the December 15 Christmas concert. One thing is for sure-December 15 can’t possibly arrive soon enough.
Before I sign off for the week, I’d like to thank Mrs. Genelle Jennings, Mrs. Julie Stewart, and Mrs. Barbara Lawson of the Arts Council, as well as Dr. Charles Quinn for their hospitality and efforts in establishing the Old Opera House’s cultural standing in its 100th year. Well done!
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