This is the last of our Anniversary Storytelling Series, Church Street Chronicles, written by Paige Perkins. Told through the voice of our fictional friend, Pert- the GSO’s most enthusiastic (and possibly longest-serving) supporter, Pert has guided readers through the GSO’s early days and its evolution into the vibrant organization it is today.
We hope you’ve enjoyed following along this season-and as Pert would say, “Stay out of treble!”
Time flies doesn’t it? It didn’t use to, or at least it didn’t seem to. I can remember when I was a child it seemed like summer would never come. The months between January and June were like years. When Memorial Day arrived we couldn’t wait to run out of those schoolhouse doors and finally start summer.
But, it seems like the last months I’ve spent with you have just gone by in a wink of an eye! I know it’s been almost a year since you let me start going on about all I remember about the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. And, now here we are at the biggest celebration we’ve ever had, the 75th Anniversary Concert at THE Atlanta Symphony Hall!
On May 23rd everyone and every part, and I mean EVERY part, of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra family will be on that stage. There’s going to be over 300 people performing! Why, it’s going to be like nothing we’ve ever seen before!
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be joined by the Uzee Brown Society of Choraliers, the Wendell P. Whalum Community Chorus, the Georgia Spiritual Ensemble, and the amazingly talented members of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. Can you imagine all of that talent right in front of you? I’m still amazed at how they’ve pulled all of this together.
The program starts at 7:30 and it will be two hours of bliss. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’ve been told it ends with some of my favorite parts of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Oh, just thinking about it makes me get teary, not with sadness but with excitement! Don’t worry. I’ll have plenty of tissue in my purse for that night!
I hope you’ve already purchased your tickets and made plans on how you’re going to get down there. For all who’ve offered me a ride, bless you, but I’ll be driving myself. Ha! Ha! Just joking! The roads will be safe because I’m being chauffeured down by friends.
You’ve all been so patient with my ramblings on, but I’m going to ask for one more favor. When you’re sitting in that big beautiful concert hall, right before the lights go down and the maestro comes to the stage, would you look around? Take a really good look at all the people around you. Just like every person on stage, everyone in the audience is also the GSO. This is who the music is for and why it’s lasted 75 years.
When those first glorious notes come from the stage, I hope you’ll remember all of us who started this journey so long ago. As the crow flies it’s not that far from Church Street to Peachtree Street, but it’s a winding path paved with glorious music, the commitment of talented musicians, and the good work of many. Oh, how fortunate I’ve been to be on that path!
Here’s to another 75 years of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, its beautiful music, and the community it brings together.
Until we see each other again, stay out of treble!
Pert
