Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra to present third annual Family Concert on Saturday

[April 11, 2014]  DECATUR — The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra will present its third annual Family Concert on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Decatur Civic Center Auditorium. The concert is called "The Orchestra's Greatest Hits" and will feature almost a dozen separate short, familiar works, ranging from the "William Tell Overture" to the "Russian Dance" from "The Nutcracker" to Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

One of the works, "Night Soliloquy," will feature a solo performance by the orchestra's principal flutist, Laurie Glencross.

Other works on the program are Bizet's "Farandole," Grieg's "Morning" and "In the Hall of the Mountain King," Copland's "Variations on a Shaker Melody" and "Hoe-Down," Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No. 5," and Offenbach's "Can-Can."

The one-hour concert is free and open to the public; parking is free.

Prior to the concert, there will be an "instrument petting zoo" at 1 p.m., when children can try out the various instruments of the orchestra.

"The concert is designed for families with elementary school-age children, but everyone will love it," says Dr. Michael Luxner, conductor of the MDSO. "These are the classical pieces that everyone has always known and can sing along with, without even knowing that they're classical."

Concerts of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur.

[Text from file received from Millikin University]