The Delta Symphony Orchestra Guild is pleased to announce that the following young ladies have been selected to serve as Symphony Debs: Miss Lauren Braden, Miss Maria Bowden, Miss Emma Watkins, Miss Rachel Rogers, and Miss Chandler Yates from Jonesboro High School; Miss Hannah Aldridge, Miss Jessie Van Ausdall, Miss Maggie Benton, Miss Sonali Das, Miss Kathryn King and Miss McKennah Murdock from Valley View High School; Miss Anna Shipman and Miss Tiffany Ward from Brookland High School; Miss Kaitlyn Rickman from Westside High School; Miss Sylvia Hardin, Miss Haven Hogan, Miss Anna Rougeau and Miss Erica Sheets from Nettleton High School; and Miss Catherine Mason from Buffalo Island Central High School. The Symphony Debs are sponsored by Serendipity Lane (Paragould.) Symphony Debs (or debutantes) is now in its fifth year since the organization was re-established in 2007. Many years ago, when the Symphony was known as the Northeast Arkansas Symphony, Symphony Debs volunteered at concerts by passing out programs, greeting and seating patrons. Over the past five years Debs have also attended the Symphony Gala and the Symphony of Style Spring Fashion Show. This year debs will also help with the Holiday Symphony House November 16-18 and with the annual spring fund drive mail out. In August letters were sent to all local high schools and young ladies between grades 10 and 12 turned in applications. These applications were then reviewed by committee and the 19 young ladies listed above were selected. Symphony Debs will not only volunteer at Delta Symphony Orchestra Concerts, but they will also represent their schools and communities at the upcoming Symphony Gala on Friday, September 21st at the Fowler Center on the Arkansas State University Campus in Jonesboro. “This is one of the favorite parts of my job, I love meeting these young ladies who are excited about music and interested in giving back to their community. This is an excellent opportunity for high school girls who are interested in music and community service to get experience with both. I know these young ladies will represent their schools well. I would like to thank Serendipity Lane in Paragould for sponsoring these young ladies; the Symphony Guild members, the high school guidance counselors and music teachers who helped in this process and all the young ladies who applied,” said Christy McKeel, Delta Symphony Orchestra Executive Director. This year’s Symphony Gala will be Friday, September 21st at 6:30 p.m. at the Fowler Center on the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro, and will honor Robin & David Yates of Jonesboro for their generous support of the Delta Symphony Orchestra and the arts in Northeast Arkansas. This year’s theme is “Broadway Lights.” Tickets are on sale now and a limited number of seats are still available. For more information about the Symphony Gala call Christy McKeel at (870)761-2747. Sponsors for the Gala include Sissy’s Log Cabin, KAIT and Jonesboro Radio Group. The Delta Symphony Orchestra is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Our annual gala is a vital fundraiser for the Delta Symphony. It helps insure that the Symphony will continue to provide quality orchestral entertainment to Northeast Arkansas and the Delta region.

Delta Symphony Orchestra Concert October 21, 2012 2 p.m. Fowler Center The Delta Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Neale Bartee, will open its season with the Music for a Lifetime Family Concert on Sunday, October 21, at 2:00 p.m. at the Arkansas State University Fowler Center in Jonesboro. Pre- concert activities will begin at 1:15 p.m. and will include a petting zoo for instruments, conducting lessons and coloring activities. This year the Delta Symphony Orchestra will highlight the poetry of music throughout its season and this first concert will feature the classic story, Casey at the Bat, composed by Frank Proto and narrated by Jonesboro’s own Trey Stafford. The Symphony will open by recapturing the spirit of the London Olympics with the John Williams fanfare, “Olympic Spirit.” Next the DSO will continue its theme of poetry in music with some romantic poetry; “The Young Prince and Princess” from Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The first half of the concert will close with the “Overture” from William Tell by Gioacchino Rossini. After a brief intermission the Symphony will return to perform the featured number, Casey at the Bat by Frank Proto and narrated by Trey Stafford. The concert continues with Paul Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” and will conclude with Themes from harry Potter , composed by John Williams and arranged by Jerry Brubaker. The Delta Symphony Orchestra is committed to educating the community with the performance of live classical music in a format friendly for all generations. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and $10 for students and are available online at www.tickets.astate.edu or by calling the ASU Box Office at (870) 972-ASU1. Group Tickets are also available. They may be reserved by calling the ASU Box Office at (870) 972-2781. This program is sponsored by Simmons First Bank and is supported, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment for the Arts.