The Natchez Festival of Music will kick off its 26th season with a symphony concert titled “New Acquaintances and Old Friends” featuring the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

The University of Southern Mississippi, in conjunction with the Natchez Festival of Music, presents the University Symphony Orchestra in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin School.

The concert, called “New Acquaintances and Old Friends,” features three works. The two “new acquaintances” are two world premieres. The Natchez audience will be the first in the world to hear Nostalgic Dances by Mississippi award-winning composer Luigi Zaninelli, who studied at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia with internationally known composers such as Samuel Barber and Gian Carlo Menotti. This work also features Mississippi pianist, Theresa Sanchez.

The second world premiere on the program, Radiant Dances for Horn and Strings, is by Iowa composer James Naigus who is internationally known particularly for works for French horn. The soloist for this work is Dr. Jacquelyn Adams who was recently appointed as a full-time faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi. She also commissioned this work.

Ivan del Prado, assistant conductor of the USM Symphony Orchestra, will conduct both premieres.

On the second half of the program, the “old friend” is Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 — one of the most well known works in the orchestral repertoire. It is an elegant symphonic piece and a “tour de force” for the orchestra.

There will be a cash bar beginning at 6 p.m. in the Grape Escape Club Room. Admission is $20 ($10 for Student K-12, Adult with K-12 student, College and Active Military with current ID), purchase your tickets online at natchezpilgrimagetours.com  or by phone at 800-647-6742 or 601-446-6631, at the Natchez Visitor’s and Convention Center (640 S. Canal St.), or at the door.  Please visitnatchezfestivalofmusic.com for more information.

The Natchez Festival of Music is celebrating its 26th season with a line-up of musical entertainment that will encompass multiple styles and genres. Upcoming events include A Christmas Cabaret Friday, Dec. 4 at the Natchez Community Center, Alcorn State University Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 6 at St. Mary Basilica, and Ronnie McDowell and Friends Classic Country Christmas featuring Billy Joe Royal, Ken Mellons, Deborah Allen, and Amber Hayes with special guest Blend on Friday, Dec. 11 at the Natchez Performing Arts Center at Margaret Martin. Please visit us online for further announcements and our complete season.

 

Jay Dean is the artistic director for the Natchez Festival of Music and the music director of The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.