FORT SILL, Okla. (May 28, 2015) -- During college I was required to take a music history class. I don't remember much from the class but there is one thing that stood out from the rest of the noise -- Antonin Dvorak's New World Symphony, in particular, the fourth movement.
If you're not familiar with the piece, it's quite exciting. It starts off strong, with a sound reminiscent of the theme from the movie "Jaws" which, I think, really draws in new listeners. The whole symphony is fantastic, so much so Neil Armstrong took a recording during the first moon landing in 1969.
Anyway, from the moment I heard it, I fell in love. It's not a heavy dinosaur-old feeling piece. It's cool, like dinosaurs fighting robots. It propels me when I'm working out, it calms me when I'm stressed and I even like to listen to it when I'm trying to speed through traffic (well not "speed" through traffic, because we all know that's not appropriate at all, it's more like "conquer" - I listen to it when I'm conquering traffic).
Because of the Army lifestyle, I've never heard the music live. The last opportunity I had to see it performed live was missed by a few days because I had a business meeting in Afghanistan lasting 12 months.
Imagine my utter joy when I learned first, that Lawton had a philharmonic orchestra and that second, they would be playing my favorite symphony as their last concert of the year, May 30 at McMahon Memorial Auditorium.
As luck would have it, Sgt. Ryan Scott, with the 77th Army Band, and his wife Jenn, are members of the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). Ryan serves as the stage manager while Jenn plays the viola. They were kind enough to sit with me and explain the LPO, which Jenn says is "a hidden gem" within Lawton.
The orchestra is composed of musicians from Lawton, but also from the surrounding areas including Oklahoma City and Dallas. In addition, this concert features Chris Rose, a percussion soloist flying in from Washington, D.C., where he is a member of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band. The stage will be set up differently placing Rose in front of the orchestra to play his many instruments.
His percussion solo will take place in the first half of the concert along with the opening music from Richard Wagner's opera "Die Meistersinger," which is something I know nothing about. I worried that my lack of knowledge would make the whole experience awkward. Jenn assures me it won't.
"This is a great concert to attend to be introduced to (classical music)," said Jenn, who is on her second season with the LPO. "(The percussion solo) has familiar sounds to draw you in, and then there are far away cultural sounds so it stays interesting. If you have any boundaries, they are going to be broken because there are new sounds and it's so hypnotizing."
Well that sounds intriguing, but what about the people around me? Won't they figure out that I don't belong there? Won't they be able to look at me and see I'm just pretending to have a bit of culture in my life?
The Scotts say no.
With the price of tickets being as affordable as $10 (and free to military and their families) patrons of all incomes, backgrounds, and education levels can come and take part in the concert. The concert doesn't require any background knowledge, just simple respect for music. In addition, the entire experience could be elevated should you happen to win the "best seat in the house."
Patrons can purchase a raffle ticket for $25 and if their ticket is called, they win a seat, on stage, in the midst of the orchestra, that should help them to hear all the subtle nuances of the piece.
"You sit encircled in winds, brass, percussion. You hear everything clearly," Ryan said. "That's why it's the best seat in the house. You'll be exposed to new sounds and cultural diversity with very good professional people. They are stellar players."
OK, so I don't need to pay a lot of money for tickets or Google any background information, but what do I wear? I'm from Fort Worth, Texas, home of the Bass Hall and women who love to dress up for no reason except to dress up. Do I need to have a ball gown for this concert? Should I start emailing my fairy godmother now to ensure I have glass slippers to wear?
Again, Jenn assures me I don't.
Attire ranging from dressy-casual to semiformal is typical, but if I wanted to pull out my high school prom dress, that would be fine as well she said. Luckily for everyone, I can't fit in my prom dress, so I'll have to make do with a cocktail dress.
I still was a little nervous about going when the Scotts informed me about a free lecture before the concert. At 7:15 p.m., Rose will give a lecture in the concert hall where I can get up close, hear him speak and also ask questions. So if I wanted to know a little bit about what I was going to hear, I could arrive early and learn something.
"People can be apprehensive to go, but then suddenly you're interested in something that you've never been interested in before," Jenn said. " Still on the fence about going? The Scotts deliver one more important piece of information: Reception. There will be a reception after the concert - with snacks. I love snacks.
So while this column isn't about something I have experienced yet, it is a suggestion for you to go and check out something different in the Lawton-Fort Sill area that perhaps you haven't considered before. After this concert, the next concert season will start again after summer.
Tickets are available online at http://lawtonphil.com or Defense Department ID cardholders can pick up free tickets from Adventure Travel in the Welcome Center, Building 4700 Mow-Way Road here.
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