The City of Marietta is the Presenting Sponsor of the GSO’s 75th Anniversary Season.
The Georgia Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and GSO Jazz! invite audiences to an electrifying evening where the worlds of symphonic sound and jazz converge.
Big Band & Beyond brings together the full power of the orchestra with the swing of big band jazz for a high energy concert, celebrating one of America’s most iconic musical traditions.
The program features selections from Charlie Parker with Strings, a groundbreaking album that bridged jazz and orchestral music, with Sam Skelton, Director of GSO Jazz! and featured saxophonist, taking center stage on the iconic repertoire. Skelton shares, “It’s such an honor to get to perform the music from an album that was so important in my development. I am looking forward to joining the GSO with some of my jazz colleagues from GSO Jazz! for a swinging evening!”
The evening continues with the vibrant rhythms of Latin jazz in La Suerte de los Tontos (Fortune of Fools), followed by the smooth, timeless sway of the bossa nova classic Desafinado. Audiences will journey through jazz history with A Salute to Big Bands, revisit the legacy of a jazz legend in A Tribute to Louis Armstrong, and revel in the elegance and innovation of Duke Ellington, a medley honoring one of the genre’s most influential composers.
Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville emphasizes the collaborative spirit of the performance, stating, “This concert is an incredibly fun collaboration that brings the GSO and GSO Jazz! together on the same stage. Hearing Sam Skelton step into the role of jazz giant Charlie Parker, performing music from Charlie Parker with Strings makes this a truly unique and unforgettable experience.”
From smoky ballads to brassy fanfares, Big Band & Beyond is a dynamic celebration of jazz past and present. This collaboration between the GSO and GSO Jazz! brings symphony and swing together in a single unforgettable night.
Join us for an evening of rhythm, and pure musical joy, where jazz takes center stage and the orchestra meets the heartbeat of American sound.
Media Contacts:
Suzanne Tucker Executive Director
770-615-2908 | info@georgiasymphony.org
About the Georgia Symphony Orchestra:
Founded in 1951 in the music room of Arthur F. Moor’s home in Marietta, the Georgia Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 75th season of steady growth, enriching the metro Atlanta community with accessible, critically acclaimed performances and providing educational experiences that instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts. With a large and immensely talented group of professional and volunteer musicians, led by visionary Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville, the GSO offers imaginative programming that includes internationally recognized guest artists and collaborative performances. Bringing stellar orchestral, jazz, and choral music to diverse audiences, the organization is comprised of the orchestra, the GSO Jazz!, the GSO Chorus, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (GYSO) is one of the top 10 largest youth orchestra programs in the nation, reaching more than 127 schools from 17 counties in Georgia.
