Speaker: Dr. Charles Evans, Conductor & Music Director, Long Bay Symphony
Michael Moss, Club President-Elect, introduced our speaker Dr. Charles Evans. For more than 26 years, Dr. Evans has established an impressive standard of excellence for both the Long Bay Symphony and the Long Bay Youth Symphony. Bringing a wealth of musical experience to the area, he has held conducting positions with professional orchestras and music festivals across the country and has been featured as a guest conductor with organizations such as the North Carolina, Virginia, and Arkansas symphonies, the Memphis Ballet, and ensembles in Boston, Cleveland, Dallas and throughout the U.S.
This is the Long Bay Symphony’s 34th season. Founded in 1987 by a local music store owner, the symphony’s mission has always been to “enhance the cultural and artistic environment” of the Grand Strand. Think Bach, Handel, Tchaikovsky, and all of the other composers whose work is still being played. Throughout the year, the orchestra performs a Classical Series with full orchestra, a Chamber Music Series with a smaller, 25 – 50 musician lineup, and a Pops Series that covers more familiar genres such as Motown. Last year, total attendance for all performances exceeded 20,000 people.
Long Bay Symphony takes pride in its youth and outreach programs, by helping train young musicians, and exposing thousands of Horry County students to classical music each year.
On March 26, at Myrtle Beach High School, the symphony will honor the music of Queen with a special concert, One Vision: The Music of Queen. On April 20, also at Myrtle Beach High School, the LBS will perform A Melancholy Beauty. This is an oratorio by Georgi Andreev which tells the story of valiant Bulgarians during World War II who defied Nazi deportations and saved their 49,000 Jewish citizens from the Holocaust. String instruments that were played by Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps have been recovered and restored by Violins of Hope. These instruments make a special appearance in this concert, being played by members of the orchestra.
Additional information about the Long Bay Symphony and the remaining scheduled concerts for 2022 can be found at www.longbaysymphony.com. You can also buy tickets and provide donor support on the website.
