Garrison-Pilcher Elementary School students recently experienced the sound of music at the Valdosta Symphony Youth Concert. Students from Lynn Burton’s, Marnee Stone’s, Kathy Swearingen’s, and Vicki Warren’s classes attended the concert accompanied by music teacher Kathy Buechner.

     The Valdosta Symphony promotes this event to provide area students a significant cultural opportunity. After the performance, the conductor, Dr. Howard Hsu, and the tuba soloist came down into the audience to answer questions from very eager and engaged first and second grade students.

     Prior to the field trip, the Symphony Guild sent instructional materials to prepare the students for their concert. Buechner gave a pre-concert lesson in music class, and the students learned about the composers whose compositions they would hear. They also listened to the selections that would be performed. Buechner taught concert etiquette, and the students were encouraged to wear proper dress for this special occasion.

     “The Valdosta Symphony selects music for their youth concerts that is exciting and approachable for young students,” Buechner said. “This year we have heard concertos, symphonies, and overtures by Mozart, Beethoven, Dvorak and Rimsky-Korsakov.  To hear a live symphony orchestra performing in a great concert hall remains a unique and exciting experience and one which I hope our students will remember and be thrilled to return to again and again!”

     Elijah Connell, from Warren’s class added, “The tuba player was the best, and he hit very low notes. I liked the violin player, too, because I play the violin and take violin lessons.”