Florence Symphony Orchestra conductor Terry Roberts speaks at a recent concert at South Carolina’s Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center. Photo courtesy of Florence Symphony.
In Thursday’s (9/21) Post and Courier (Florence, South Carolina), Chris Day writes, “The Florence Symphony Orchestra … will start its 75th season Oct. 9 with a performance of Camille Saint-Saëns’ ‘Danse Macabre,’ to put everyone in the Halloween spirit. The concert will include guest clarinetist Eric Schultz, who will join the orchestra to perform Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1. The program will wrap up with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 …. The common thread in the Florence Symphony Orchestra is a love of music and community. Way back in December 1948, a dozen musicians gathered in the McKenzie School auditorium in Florence to play music. Soon, other Florence musicians dusted off their instruments and joined the original group. The Florence Civic Orchestra was chartered on May 24, 1949…. Over the years, the orchestra grew, gained community support, and changed its name to the Florence Symphony Orchestra…. Terry Roberts has been conductor for the Florence Symphony Orchestra since 2002…. Community support and concert attendance continue to grow … Roberts said he wants to please patrons who enjoy classical music but incorporate new music to find new audiences.” The article includes profiles of longstanding Florence Symphony musicians.
