The Aiken Symphony will perform the music of five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Etherredge Center at USC Aiken.
The performance will feature film music from "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (Indiana Jones franchise), "Schindler’s List," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," "Jurassic Park" and "Catch Me If You Can."
Star Wars Day is an annual celebration held on May 4 of the Star Wars media franchise created by George Lucas. Star Wars selections being played by the Aiken Symphony in this concert include “Main Title,” “Princess Leia’s Theme,” “The Imperial March,” “Yoda’s Theme” and “Throne Room & End Title.”
Associate Concertmaster Holly Workman will be performing the theme from "Schindler’s List," originally written for and performed by virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman, who recently made his way through the Carolinas performing Schindler’s List among other compositions in his recital series. Workman is an active soloist, chamber musician and ensemble player who enjoys collaborating with composers and artists to create new and exciting performances of contemporary works and strives to make classical music more relevant today. This performance will be her solo debut with the Aiken Symphony.
Principal Saxophonist Dr. Clifford Leaman will be performing Escapades for alto saxophone and orchestra, a three-movement suite extracted from the film "Catch Me If You Can." Leaman is the Professor of Saxophone at the University of South Carolina, having performed concerts throughout the world and released four critically acclaimed compact discs of works for saxophone and piano on the Equilibrium label.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in costumes to mark the occasion.
Single tickets are either $40 or $55, depending on seat selection. Active military members are eligible for $10 off each ticket by calling the office at 803-641-3305. Tickets are available online at aikensymphony.com or by contacting the office at 803-295-0313 and can be printed at home, mailed (up to 10 days before the concert date), or picked up at the venue one hour before the start of the concert.
Free parking is available in parking lots C and D adjacent to the Etherredge Center. A pre-concert talk will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the concert.
The Aiken Symphony, led by Music Director and Conductor Scott Weiss, celebrates its ninth season in 2023-24. It endeavors to provide artistic leadership to the greater Aiken community through the presentation of symphonic music that educates, entertains and enriches the human spirit. The ensemble includes some of the best professional classical instrumentalists from South Carolina and Georgia, putting it on par with several regional orchestras from larger towns and cities.
