Salisbury Symphony Orchestra Concert - May 10

SALISBURY, MD -- The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at Salisbury University caps its 2001-02 season with its annual Spring Concert that promises to swing from the serious to the sublime.

The first half of the concert on Friday, May 10, at 8 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium on the SU campus features cerebral works by Haydn and Brahms, while the second half invokes a revival atmosphere with a unique blend of gospel choirs and orchestral sound.

The SSO opens the concert with Joseph Haydn's famed "London Symphony," Symphony No. 104 in D Major. Haydn wrote over 100 symphonies and SSO Conductor Thomas Elliot rates London as one of his finest.

Joining SSO concertmistress Laura Murray Ellison (violin) are Magaly Rojas (viola), Mary Ann Perkel (cello) and Karin Firsow (piano) for the Johannes Brahms chamber music selection Quartet, No. 1 in g minor, Op. 25.

Ellison grew up in Salisbury, was a member of the SSO Youth Orchestra and is currently completing her doctorate at Catholic University. Rojas is the principal violist for the SSO.

The second half of the concert features the combined gospel choirs of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Salisbury University performing "Amazing Grace, "Jesus Rose Again," "Tell 'em When You Saw Me" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic."

"We'll have old traditional gospel," said Dr. Della Dameron-Johnson, who has been advisor/manager of UMES's 86-member Gospel Choir for the last decade, "and contemporary gospel, which has really caught on with young people." She believes part of the popularity of the music is its message of freedom, a very American theme.

"This is the first time the SSO has invited us to collaborate and we're excited about the Symphony and the two choral groups coming together," said Debbie Johnson, director of SU's 18-member Gospel Choir. "We're looking forward to a great evening."

As is Elliot, who added, "We hope we'll reach new audiences with this concert." The SSO's performance will culminate its 16th season.

Tickets, $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors (60 and over) and children (18 and under), are available from any Peninsula Bank or Bank of Delmarva during regular lobby hours or at the door the night of the concert.

For more information, please call the SSO Office at 410-548-5587.