Fayetteville Symphony To Open Palustris Festival

Southern Pines, NC (Top40 Charts/ Arts Council of Moore County) - The Arts Council of Moore County is proud to present the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in the opening concert of the first-ever Palustris Festival on Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 8 p.m. at R.E. Lee Auditorium on the campus of Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, NC. Tickets are $15 each and available online at www.PalustrisFestival.com, at the Campbell House (482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines), or by calling 910-692-ARTS (2787).

The debut of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in the 1956 realized the dream of instrumental groups who first gathered to play together in private homes in Fayetteville. The instrumentalists resolved early in 1957, however, to enlarge their circle to that of a symphonic organization. They welcomed volunteers to perform with the group, as well as to assist with producing public performances of the standard classical repertoire.

"With Dr. Fouad Fakhouri's recent assumption of the baton, the 60-member orchestra has evolved from the status of 'community' to 'regional' orchestra. Many of the players, all auditioned, hail from all over North Carolina, some from South Carolina, a few from farther afield," says Chris Dunn, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Moore County.

Maestro Fakhouri, however, has further introduced the group to an international audience. When Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan (the country in which he grew up) graciously accepted the Maestro's invitation to be the honored guest at the orchestra's 50th anniversary concert, she did so on the condition that 15 members of the Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Jordan accompany her to perform also. The bonding among the performers was reaffirmed the next year when 15 members of the Fayetteville Symphony were invited to perform with the Jordanian orchestra in Amman, Jordan, with Maestro Fouad Fakhouri conducting.
For the Palustris Festival's opening concert, the Fayetteville Symphony will perform some symphonic favorites, including Rossini's The Barber of Seville Overture, Haydn's Symphony No. 88 in G major, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 4, Op. 60 in B-flat major. Children, 5 years and up, are welcome.

With over 100 events scheduled for the 4-day event, the Palustris Festival has something for everyone. For additional information on the festival, visit www.PalustrisFestival.com or contact the Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.homeofgolf.com.