A&E

ASO's Friday concert features students

by Dominick Cross

The performance is a mass "play-in" in which Acadiana students will sing and play recorder or violin with the ASO.

That won't be a student flash mob at the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra's Link Up concert Friday night at the Heymann Performance Art Center.

What it will be is the biggest family concert of the year as the ASO's Conservatory of Music, in collaboration with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music, present "The Orchestra Sings," tomorrow at 7 p.m.

The performance is a mass "play-in" and is the culmination of the year-long program involving the ASO and local students.

Violinist and personnel manager for ASO, Joel Martinez, accompanying the kids in song.                                                                             Photo by Danny Izzo

And the result will be - for the first time - some 2,000 Acadiana students will join the orchestra on violin, recorders or vocally from their seats in the audience during the concert.

Originally scheduled as a morning education concert where students actually play with the orchestra, the ASO decided to make it accessible for the general public, according to Taryn Marceaux, conservatory director.

"We've gotten so much interest from the families and parents who want to come and see what we're doing, we decided to offer an evening concert that is open to the public as well," says Marceaux. "The students basically sit with their parents and family members and play along and participate from the audience."

Marceaux says the music will be projected behind the stage so the students can follow along.

The basic idea behind the concept is for students to have "a life-long appreciation for music," says Marceaux. "We want them to learn how exciting it can be and how our community can come together, too, to make music and appreciate the arts together."

The program is part of a three-year series. This first, "The Orchestra Sings," where the concept is melody; it willl be followed by "The Orchestra Rocks" where rhythm is the focus; and finally "The Orchestra Moves" where dynamics and expression are examined.

In order to receive most reasonable ticket price, ACO recommends that parents purchase tickets at the Heymann Box Office. Online purchases will include an additional fee from Tickemaster.

Call 232-4277 for more information.