Concert features Gottschalk symphony, piano concerto movement

By Murray Bishoff Special to the Cassville Democrat

The Ozark Festival Orchestra in Monett opens its 47th season on Sunday as part of its “America 250: Heritage from the Heartland” theme. 

The concert, under music director Carla Wootton, will showcase the first symphony with an American sound: Louis Moreau Gottschalk’s “Symphony No. 1: A Night in the Tropics.” In honor of the nation’s birth, the orchestra will play a movement from Kabalevsky’s “Youth” Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring orchestra member Jessica Hall as soloist. 

The orchestra will also play Aaron Copland’s “Variations on a Shaker Melody” from “Appalachian Spring,” a concert setting of “America the Beautiful,” Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and the lively “Firehouse Jig” for strings and percussion by Kansas City Youth Symphony conductor Kirt Mosier.

Local players include LeAna Colf, of Seligman; Holly Thompson, of Eagle Rock; Sarah Willson, of Purdy; Katie Oliphant, Michelle Oliphant, Moira Oliphant, Trent Oliphant and Christina Oliphant, of Cassville; Deanna Ceseanas, Stefani Stovall, Carol Dahlstrom, Mareena Snarey, Jessica Hall and Gina Milburn, of Monett; Jana Wilson, of Aurora; Julie Waetke-Bishoff and Murray Bishoff, of Pierce City. 

Admission to the concert will be $10 for adults, free to children high school age and younger. Performances will be at the Monett Performing Arts Center, at Monett High School, 1 David Sippy Drive, located off East Cleveland Avenue (Business Hwy. 60) at the east end of the city, next to Price Cutter Supermarket. 

Mike and Marty Scabarozi of Monett are sponsors for this concert. 

The other concerts in the OFO’s 47th season will be on Dec. 13, Feb. 28, and April 18, all at the Monett Performing Arts Center, at 3 p.m. 

The OFO is a community orchestra composed of players from southwest Missouri and nearby towns, focusing primarily on classical music. The orchestra is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization supported by sponsors, memberships, local foundations, ads in the orchestra program book, and funds managed by the Monett Community Foundation. 

Additional information is available at www.ozarkfestivalorchestra.org or www.facebook.com/OzarkFestivalOrchestra.