Symphony Sampler to give taste of orchestral music

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Symphony Sampler concerts Sunday as lighthearted previews for the upcoming 2014-2015 symphony season.

The symphony will perform two short concerts, at 2 and 3 p.m., in the Shuck Music Recital Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

The concerts will introduce the music the orchestra will perform this year. These short concerts also will provide a brief introduction to the orchestra's instruments.

Drawings for free tickets to the upcoming concerts will be held, and patrons can purchase individual or season tickets to the symphony series.

The Symphony Sampler concerts are free to the public.

"This program should be a fun and informative introduction to the Southeast Missouri Symphony," said Sara Edgerton, conductor of the symphony.

"We will perform short excerpts of music from our concert season, including Beethoven's famous 'Ode to Joy' from the Ninth Symphony and an excerpt from 'Star Wars' by John Williams," she said.

The program will also include a brief demonstration of the sections of the orchestra, to show how various instruments create the range of sounds found in a symphony orchestra.

"This will be a great opportunity for families to introduce their children to the wonderful sounds of the symphony orchestra," she said. "We certainly welcome everyone to join us for these fun, informative and short concerts to start off our new concert season."

More information is available by contacting the Southeast music department at 651-2141.