New Albany students perform with symphony orchestra

More than 720 New Albany School students in second through fifth grades performed Friday afternoon with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

New Albany Schools’ music teacher, Celia House

The performance at the New Albany High School Auditorium was the first time New Albany students had an opportunity to play music with a full symphony orchestra.

Celia House, giving direction to her student performers

The Carnegie Foundations of New York’s “Link  Up” program provides training materials and other assistance to public schools all around the United States to enable school children to have this unique exposure to serious music.

More than 50 individuals and organizations made tax deductible donations to the New Albany Symphony League to underwrite the cost of having the symphony come to New Albany to play with the elementary school students.

Joyce Sumners, long-time supporter of the New Albany Symphony League, enjoys the student performance.

Donors included: Ann Stephens, Mary W. Wynn, Dr. and Mrs. Adam Martin, Jr., Anna Quin, Joyce Sumners, Hudson and Susan Hickman, Jimmie T. Rogers, New Albany Medical Group, Joe Parks, Jr., Union Lumber Company, Susan and Phil Morris, Dr. Sam and Barbara Creekmore, Mr. and Mrs. Joe K, Robbins, Jr., Roy Bright Construction, LLC, Marshall and Sheila Robbins, Julia Parks Barkley, Mr. and Mrs. John David Pennebaker, Beulah Hawthorne, John Ellis, W. C. Smallwood, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Madden, Allen and Margaret Maxwell, Dr. Steve and Anne Shirley, Don Stokes, Vance and Tootsie Witt, and Dr. Johnny Mitias.

Performers and audience: Admission to the performance was limited due to much available seating in the auditorium being reserved for student performers. Video of the performance will be shown at The Movie Reel in coming days: details to be announced.

BNA Bank, Friends of Jennie Stephens Smith Library, Thad Mueller, Don and Dottie Haynie, Rheta West, Dr. H. F. Mason, Dr. Joe Martin, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Skinner, Bruce Bullwinkle, M.D.,  Maxwell and Jolyn Cooke, New Albany Kiwanis Club, Mrs. Mary Sue Tate, Collett Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Cooper, Mrs. Ethel Holland, City of New Albany Tourism, George and Arhonda Coleman, Magnolia Civic Center, Movie Reel 4 – Michael Beam, Edward and Stella Byrd, UNITE, Steve and Patsy Livingston, Mrs. Saul, New Albany Mothers Club, John Stroud Agency and Janis K. Sanders.

More photographs and information about the performance of New Albany Elementary School students with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will be  posted here during the weekend.