Page 70 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2016

GIVING BACK music to your ears
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Since 1962, the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra has provided live performances of classical music performed by professional musicians from across the Gulf South region. The Symphony is in its 55th year and under the direction
of Dr. Peter Rubardt, a widely acclaimed conductor who is known for his talent to inspire powerful performances that draws listeners into the music.
“We put on five concerts throughout the year as well as a special holiday concert,” said Dhiana Skremetti, executive director of the Symphony Orchestra. “We also provide two free concerts on Memorial Day known as Sounds by the Sea, with one performance in Pascagoula and one in Gulfport.”
The Symphony is involved in the community through its youth orchestra. “Our youth orchestra is comprised of about 50 members between seventh and twelfth grades,” said Skremetti. “Each year, they perform a fall and spring concert.”
The Link Up program allows youth musicians from schools across the Gulf Coast to perform with the Symphony’s Youth Orchestra. “Through funding from the
photo courtesy of
Gulf Coast Symphony
Mississippi Arts Commission, we are able to participate in this national program,” Skremetti said.
Link Up gives orchestras the opportunity to expand their current education programs and strengthen relationships with surrounding schools and communities. The culmination of the yearlong program is a live performance for the students with the Symphony Youth Orchestra and members of the Gulf Coast Symphony that is broadcast to Carnegie Hall in New York.
“Thanks to our private donors, sponsors, grants and fundraisers, we are able to provide the quality productions that we do,” said Skremetti, “Each concert costs about $25,000 to produce from start to finish.”
Fundraisers for the orchestra include Bachtoberfest in the fall and Barbecue Under the Oaks in the spring. Ticket sales also help support the orchestra’s efforts.
Gulf Coast Symphony
11975 Seaway Road, Suite B233, Gulfport 228.896.4276 • whitney@gulfcoastsymphony.net
70 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • December 2016
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