Gala Pre-Concert Dinner to Help Support Symphony Students Performing in Italy
04/07/2017

The Annual Gala Pre-Concert Dinner designed to raise significant funds for symphony student scholarships and travel is scheduled for Monday, April 24, in the John and Betty Glenn Convocation Center at the River Campus. This year, the Southeast Missouri Symphony Board is pleased to announce that proceeds from the 2017 Gala Dinner, now in its ninth year, will benefit a special performance opportunity for symphony students.  A group of 12 Southeast Missouri Symphony student musicians have been invited to participate in the prestigious Festival Suoni d’Abbruzzo in Italy in July.  The students will perform in an international orchestra, opera orchestra and chamber music concerts.  Some highlights of the festival are an all-Beethoven orchestral concert; an all-Mozart orchestral concert; and a fully-staged opera performance of Mozart’s 'Cosi fan tutte.' Symphony students performing at the festival have already garnered a number of impressive credentials.  These students include Matt Flanagan, trombonist and winner of this year’s Concerto and Aria Competition, and Allison Movesan, flutist and participant in the 2017 Missouri All-Collegiate Honors Orchestra.  A number of string students will also participate, such as 2017 Missouri All-Collegiate Orchestra members Amanda Nahm, William Reagan, Monet Royal, Abigail Sage and Nicholas Smentkowski.  Many of the students traveling to Italy are current Southeast seniors, and will be pursuing musical careers and/or graduate study in music upon graduation. “International travel and international performance opportunities are truly life-changing events,” said Dr. Sara Edgerton, professor of music and conductor of the Southeast Missouri Symphony. “I am thrilled that these students have this opportunity to travel and to participate in an intense, professional music festival.  Over a period of less than two weeks, the students will rehearse and perform three full orchestral and opera concerts, and will be featured in chamber music concerts throughout the region,' Edgerton said. 'They will also receive lessons from internationally-acclaimed musicians.  Our host city, Guardiagrele, is a beautiful medieval town with a rich history and amazing cultural traditions.  Please join us for the Gala Dinner 'Italiana!' and help support these talented students as they grow and develop in their careers.” There are a limited number of seats available for the Gala Dinner “Italiana”!  The deadline for purchasing tickets to this elegant meal is Wednesday, April 12.  Please contact Mrs. Beverly Delph at (573) 651-2141 for reservations or for more information.