Symphony concerts already a sell out

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Spring is in the air, and so is the sound of music, as the Lake Country Symphonic Band takes to the stage of the Historic Select Theater March 27 and 29.

These two concerts will also be the last with Mike Holbrook as music director, who has led the band for the last 11 years. Taking the reins will be the band’s composer in residence, Kelly Bennette. March 27 will be at 2 p.m., with the March 29 concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. At this time, both concerts are sold out. The band will also be accepting donations to assist with the humanitarian aid effort for the people of Ukraine.

The program will feature a wide array of music, ranging from marches to movies. Leading off will be Ron Goodwin’s “Aces High March,” from the film score to the 1969 movie “The Battle of Britain.” Music from the superhero animated feature “The Incredibles” will follow, as well as “Hill Country Theme,” which has been used by Texas Country Reporter for the last 50 years. “Cinema Paradiso,” composed by Ennio Morricone for the film of the same name, will feature Susie Allen as soloist on soprano saxophone. Closing out the first half will be the world premiere of “Galahad,” one of the movements from Kelly Bennette’s tone poem “Arthur and the Legend of the Holy Grail” and conducted by the composer. This will serve as Bennette’s introduction as the new conductor of the band.

Jennifer Lynn Turner, who was pianist for Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” performed by the band in 2019, returns as soloist on Richard Addinsell’s “Warsaw Concerto.” The piece was composed for the 1941 film “Dangerous Moonlight,” the story of a Polish concert pianist who joins the RAF in World War Two to fight against the Nazis. This will be followed by “March of the Day,” written by David Lovrien in honor of the 100th anniversary of Dallas’s classical station WRR-FM. A piece made popular by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, “Con Ti Partiro,” will then be performed, followed by the concert’s closing selection, Jimmy Webb’s 1968 pop hit, “MacArthur Park.”

Both concerts will be performed at the band’s Mineola home, the Historic Select Theater, 114 N. Johnson St.