'May the Fourth be with You' concert Sunday, May 4

The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra will present “May the Fourth be with You” for their first concert of the 2025 season on Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. in the Historic Star Theater in Willow Springs, Mo. Tickets are available at the door for $10 each and children under 5 will be admitted free of charge.

 

In keeping with the concert theme, there will be a medley of the classic John Williams composition, “The Empire Strikes Back”, on to The Planets - “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity”, then “Defying Gravity” through Stephen Schwartz and his “Highlights from Wicked”.

 

The orchestra will then transition to Earth and jump to well-known classic pieces from around the world. Be transported to the Italian Adriatic coast with Gioacchino Rossini’s, “The Barber of Seville”, Germany with Johannes Brahms, “Hungarian Dances No. 5”, and Finland with the classic spiritual hymn of peace, “Finlandia” by Jean Sibelius. “Nights in White Satin” by Justin Hayward and The Moody Blues somehow snuck in featuring a beautiful flute solo with acoustic guitar. Speaking of flutes, the orchestra will introduce their newly formed flute choir, playing a variety of pieces that will melt hearts. This group was organized by Director Jodie Forbes, also a flutist participating. Another tasty treat is “Singin’ in the Rain” from Nacio Herb Brown’s musical, complete with a tap dance rendition by Mrs. Hannah Stapley who teaches dance for the Stars Foundation.

 

The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra has so many gifted musicians from the surrounding cities, including several current and former music teachers from Ava, Cabool, Houston, Mountain Grove, Mountain View, Thayer, and West Plains, bringing their energy and musicianship to the group.

 

Jodie Forbes, the musical director and conductor since 2017, has lived in this area for over 40 years. She has been a music teacher in Cabool, Houston, and Willow Springs. She is currently giving private lessons for the Stars Foundation and playing in several musical groups during her spare time. Forbes graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Music in Education from the Dana School of Music, a part of Youngstown State University in Ohio.

 

The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra is sponsored by the Willow Springs Arts Council and has served the area since 2009. For more information on SOCO and the Arts Council, visit the Arts Council website at www.willowspringsartscouncil.org and Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra on Facebook. Anyone that is interested in joining the group, please reach out to Brandy Taylor at 417-259-7634 or Jodie Forbes at 417-217-0542. The group is currently looking for more string players (violins, violas, and cello).