2004 Year in Review

Valentine's Day Concert

Jamie Skinner as the flute soloist at Saturday's concert. Skinner is a high school student at Milledgville.

Clinton Symphony Orchestra drew a large crowd for their Valentine’s Day concert at Morrison High School Auditorium. Patrons from Morrison as well as Clinton and surrounding towns relaxed to the talents of many of the areas best musicians.

A highlight of the evening was the talented Jamie Skinner, a senior at Milledgeville High School. In January, she was selected at their Young Artist Auditions and performed Saturday evening as flute soloist performing Concertino for Flute and Orchestra, Op. 107 by Chaminade. The composer, Chaminade, was “one of the few successful female composers of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries”. Skinner, a very talented flutist, played as though she was a much more experienced performer.

The second Valentine treat came from principal violinist’s Jerry Henry and his solo during three pieces from Schindler’s List. The solo violin, with the orchestra quietly playing behind, was very haunting and moving.

Johann Strauss Jr.’s Blue Danube Waltz concluded the concert on a positive note and to a standing ovation for conductor Robert Whipple and his orchestra. The familiar piece was lively and seemed to dance across the stage.

Clinton Symphony is celebrating their 50th Anniversary Season. The last few years they have brought the symphony to Morrison High School to large crowds of adults and students (students were free in honor of Skinner’s performance). Band teacher Dave Bean is the principal clarinetist and former teacher Larry Olson is principal trumpeter. Carolyn Aiken of Morrison also plays trumpet.

Their Golden Anniversary Concert will be April 24 at Clinton High School. Principal Conductor Steven Zike will conduct music from their first ever concert in 1954. Music includes Russian Sailers’ Dance, L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, Haydn’s Farwell Symphony, Oklahamo!, and Valse Triste. The final piece was not part of the first program but Polovetsian Dances was a favorite of longtime conductor William Hennigbaum.

by Barb Benson, theCity1.com
February 16, 2004