Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to George Gershwin

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra plans to open its new season with an all-American program in tribute to American composer, George Gershwin.

The concert will be Tuesday at the Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus and will feature one of Gershwin's most well-known works, "Rhapsody in Blue."

Internationally renowned pianist and Gershwin expert Jack Gibbons will be a featured guest in the program.

Sara Edgerton, a professor at Southeast Missouri State University and conductor of the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, said the program should please many different tastes in music.

"It will be a really interesting mix of jazz and popular music in a classical setting," she said.

The concert will include Gershwin's arrangements of "Rhapsody in Blue," Concerto in F, "Crazy for You Overture," "Lullaby" and "Porgy and Bess." Gibbons will accompany the orchestra as the featured piano soloist for "Rhapsody in Blue" and Concerto in F.

"It will be a nice cross-section of music by Gershwin," Edgerton said.

Gershwin was one of the first composers to combine jazz and classical music, making him an important American composer. He is known for his work in Broadway, musical theater and with classical music. Edgerton said he wrote many beautiful tunes and melodies that give him the mark of a really creative musician.

"He gave a voice to America," she said. "His music really captures the American spirit."

Paul Thompson, an instructor in the Department of Music and member of the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, said he is excited to perform the Gershwin tunes.

"I've loved Gershwin since I was a kid," he said. "I think in some ways, he was the best composer to come out of this country."

Thompson said the orchestra, which is largely made up of students, has been holding two-hour rehearsals twice weekly to prepare for the upcoming season opener.

"I think the students feel comfortable with the sound," Thompson said. "They are loving it."

Edgerton said the orchestra is also thrilled to host Gibbons. He is an internationally-renown pianist and has performed in New York's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and London's Queen Elizabeth and Royal Albert halls.

"He is a brilliant pianist," she said. "He will make the music come alive."

Dennis C. Seyer, president of Dennell Services Inc., represents Gibbons in Southeast Missouri and helps book him for concerts here. He said Gibbons is excited to return to Cape Girardeau. Seyer said Gibbons performed in Southeast Missouri in the early 2000s at Old St. Vincent Church and Notre Dame Regional High School as well as shows in Malden, Mo., and Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Seyer said Gibbons learned to play Gershwin's arrangements by listening and transcribing archival films and old records.

"He is a Gershwin pianist," Seyer said.

Thompson is also eager to play alongside Gibbons. He refers to Gibbons as a "Gershwin specialist."

"I doubt there's anything about Gershwin and his music that Jack Gibbons would not know," he said.

Edgerton said she expects a good turnout for the performance.

"People who do come to anything on the River Campus have such a wonderful experience," she said. "The acoustics are so good, and the hall is so beautiful."

The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. following a short, optional preconcert talk at 6:45 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased by contacting the box office at 651-2265 or online at metrotix.com.