Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2018

COASTNOTES
A Memorial Day Tradition
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photo courtesy of
Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra
The Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra’s Sounds by the Sea concerts are a Memorial Day weekend staple on the Coast. The events take place in both Harrison and Jackson counties during that weekend with the symphony taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. for a free, one-hour performance.
The first concert takes place on Saturday, May 26, at Jones Park in Gulfport with another performance the following day, Sunday, May 27, at Pascagoula’s Beach Park. Pre-concert performances begin at 6 p.m. in Harrison County, and 7 p.m. in Jackson County.
“Sounds by the Sea began as a way to salute the men and women of the Armed Forces who have served and sacrificed
for our country,” said Symphony Executive Director Dhiana Skrmetti. “These concerts are a way for the Symphony to give back to Mississippi Gulf Coast residents and enhance our quality of life through the musical arts.”
The concerts are performed by a group of around 50 musicians and feature patriotic music. Under the direction of Dr. Peter Rubardt, conductor, the orchestra will perform musical selections in honor of the military and their families.
Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra
228.896.4276 www.gulfcoastsymphony.net
A Biloxi tradition returns on May 5 with the 2018 Great Biloxi Schooner Mayors Cup. The race, hosted by
the Seafood Industry and Maritime Museum, will begin at 12 noon from
the Schooner Pier on Point Cadet. The race will have Biloxi Mayor FoFo Gilich racing against D’Iberville Mayor Rusty Quave. The public is invited to view the race and attend a party afterwards at the Pier.
Museum Executive Director Robin Krohn David said, “The schooners will proceed down the Biloxi channel past the Lighthouse, just as Biloxi’s fleet of working schooners did every summer from the late 1800s until the 1930s when the introduction of the marine engines and the changes in oyster harvesting
www.maritimemuseum.org 228.435.6320
laws caused the extinction of these beautiful vessels.”
Jeff Ellis, Museum board member and chair of this year’s race, added, “In
the early 1900s, thousands of tourists and locals would crowd the piers
and seawall in Biloxi to watch this nationally renowned competition of captains and crews who made Biloxi
the Seafood Capital of the World. The Museum is collaborating with the Biloxi Bay Chamber and the City of Biloxi to revive the Mayors Cup style regatta, but instead of using the flying Scots, they will race aboard the Biloxi Schooners.”
The Museum’s schooners are second only to the Biloxi Lighthouse as the most photographed and nationally publicized Coast attraction.
story by Lynn Lofton
18 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2018
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