21st Annual Moore Philharmonic Orchestra Holiday Concert

By: Kaylie Morgan

MPO Essayist/Historian, Flutist & Orchestra Teacher

As the temperatures drop, we seek comfort from the cold in the company of the ones we love. We plan gatherings to eat, drink, and be merry with our dearest friends and family members. We make our homes look inviting for our guests, furnishing them with bright lights and festive trimmings. We find the well-loved recipe books passed down from generation to generation, and thumb through their pages to find that one dish that tastes like holiday cheer. We search every store for the perfect present, or perhaps we take matters into our own hands and create a gift that’s one of a kind. And when all these elements come together, they become the setting for treasured

memories that last a lifetime. 

While the time, money, and work put into making these moments happen can seem daunting in the moment, the reward is always priceless in the end. Someday we’ll forget how tiring it was to slave away for hours over a hot stove, or how we wished presents would wrap themselves while hunched over a pile of paper and ribbons at three in the morning. What we’ll remember once the winter chill thaws into spring is the love we shared in those moments with the ones we treasure most. Those memories will be what warms us from within when our day-to-day lives leave us cold and  bitter. 

So, dear reader, even when your shopping list seems endless and that line of traffic seems to go on forever, I urge you to take the time to make this season special. The love you put in will be returned to you tenfold, and that is a gift in and of itself.

In the spirit of giving, the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra opens its doors to you tonight to share the gift of music. We warmly welcome you to our 21st Annual Holiday Concert, hosted here at Pinecrest High School’s R.E. Lee Auditorium. We’ve prepared a program filled with classic carols, modern melodies, and a song for everyone this holiday season. We hope you sit back, relax, and sing a chorus or two along with our orchestra tonight. 

From our families to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays.

Painted Violins Scholarship Fund Raffle

Moore Philharmonic Orchestra is forever grateful to the talented community members, Ernie Walters, Jill Hartsell, & Jane Mohr for donating their time and talent for such a wonderful cause.

Sound of Symphony

BY: Kaylie Morgan, MPO Historian/Essayist and MPO Flautist

By definition, the word “symphony” is described as “a consonance of sounds.” Each sound within the orchestra bears its own unique tone and timbre. No two instruments are exactly alike, even within a family - the tiny piccolo bears little resemblance to the enormous bassoon, yet they are both classified as woodwinds. Place them alongside the likes of the mighty tuba, mellow violas, and delicate harp, and the differences between these instruments become stark. How could one person lead such an incongruent mix of sounds to perform together as an ensemble? And in a matter of months, no less?

The answer is simple: by listening and leading by example. The conductor sees the musicians before them as essential pieces of a musical puzzle. Each performer within the orchestra has a role to play, and there are no insignificant players. Every note a musician plays has its place within the rich landscape of sound. It is no surprise, then, that it is imperative to correct the mistakes made along the way. It takes a keen ear and patient soul to find the flaws and give constructive corrections. And yet that is exactly what a good conductor does, and their diligence yields magnificent results. 

With every rehearsal, the conductor guides the ensemble towards a rich, refined sound. By the night of the concert, a sonic masterpiece is ready to present to the world. Resonant harmonies fill the concert hall as the ensemble performs with the utmost precision. The audience is struck with a sense of wonder by the performance. It is clear that every detail has been observed with care, from the softest entrance to loudest final chord. Without a doubt, the audience knows they are experiencing a work of fine art.

There is a good reason that one associates the word “symphony” with the highest musical art. Much like Van Gogh and Monet shared their brilliant minds through the mediums of paint and canvas, the masters of the symphonic form crafted peerless works that time has deemed both beautiful and immortal. Not a single note of these pieces can be played without harmony amongst the performers. Thus, the consonance of a symphony is defined not only by the sound produced by the musicians but within the ensemble itself.

The fine musicians of the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra are an example of such harmonious collaboration. As the finale to their 20th season, “Sound of Symphony” is a testament to the musical excellence brought to you by your hometown community orchestra. 

The Moore Philharmonic Orchestra concludes its 20th season with its spring concert, “Sound of Symphony,” on Saturday, May 17th, at 7:00 PM at Pinecrest High School’s R.E. Lee Auditorium, located at 250 Voit Gilmore Road in Pinehurst. Audiences can expect symphonic selections by Beethoven, Mussorgsky, Saint-Saëns, and more. Alongside these masterworks will be the premiere performance of “Fantasia Jubilante,” an original composition by the orchestra’s director, Eric Kopecky.

Select works will feature this season’s guest soloist, Dr. Adam Collins. Dr. Collins is an internationally acclaimed cellist and lecturer of music at the University of Montana’s School of Music. Additionally, Dr. Collins was an original member of the Moore Philharmonic Orchestra during its formative years.

During intermission, the winners of the spring raffle and MPO’s annual scholarship competition will be announced. Admission is a financial donation of your choice; any amount is appreciated. All donations go towards supporting the orchestra’s operating costs and scholarship program. 

The Moore Philharmonic Orchestra warmly welcomes you to enjoy an evening of symphonic brilliance. The harmonious sounds of the ensemble are sure to bring you a sense of awe and inspiration. Bring a friend, and bask in the beauty of fine art. We look forward to seeing you in the audience.