Hershey Symphony Orchestra Adds Spice to Central Pennsylvania

HERSHEY, PA - The Hershey Symphony announces its 2007-08 Classical Season: The Spice of Life. Nearing almost four decades of live symphonic music, the Hershey Symphony Orchestra will return for another exciting season. The vitality of this orchestra is ensured by our faithful community of listenersï¿½ says HSO Music Director Dr. Sandra Dackow.

The season debut concert on October 20, 2007, 8:00 p.m., Hershey Theatre, will feature celebrated variations by Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Elgar, launching the theme of "Variety - The Spice of Life.ï¿½ Michal Schmidt will be featured on cello. This opening performance is sponsored by Col. (Ret.) & Mrs. Charles Hoffman and the Hershey Symphony Foundation.

Sponsored by The Hershey Company, the symphony will offer their annual Holiday Spectacular on Friday, December 7, 2007, 8:00 p.m., Hershey Theatre, featuring seasonal favorites such as Handelï¿½s Hallelujah Chorus, Irving Berlinï¿½s White Christmas, Leroy Andersonï¿½s Sleigh Ride. The Symphonyï¿½s 2007 Young Artist Competition Winner, Nicole Sauder, will take the stage to perform Symphony Espagnole by Lalo.

Sponsored by the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, on February 23, 2008, 8:00 p.m., Hershey Theatre, the HSO will present "Russian Romance" featuring an extra-romantic offering of audience favorites, including the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto with Julia I.

The season will conclude on May 2, 2008, 8:00 p.m., Hershey Theatre, with ï¿½Mozart, Mahler and More Trumpetsï¿½ featuring the Hershey Symphonyï¿½s very own trumpeters Shawn Small and Jeremy Walmer. Special guests for the evening will be the Symphonyï¿½s youth orchestra, the Festival Strings. The Hershey Symphony brings Gustav Mahler's massive "Titan" Symphony to our listeners for a thrilling season finale.

All classical series concerts will be held at the Hershey Theatre. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, $5 for students. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free. Please contact the box office at (717) 533-8449 for additional information or visit our website at www.hersheysymphony.org.

On Saturday December 1, 2007 and Sunday December 2, 2007, the Hershey Symphony Orchestra will accompany the Pennsylvania Regional Balletï¿½s performances of the Nutcracker at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. For tickets, please contact the Central Pennsylvania Regional Ballet at (717) 732-2172.

The Symphony will offer its annual benefit Gala ï¿½Shall We Dance?ï¿½ on Saturday, March 29, 2008, 6:30 p.m., at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center. The community is invited to join the symphony for an elegant evening of dinner, waltzes, swing and ballroom dancing. Tickets for this special evening can be ordered through the symphony box office at (717) 533-8449.

For more than 38 years, the Symphony has entertained music lovers throughout Central Pennsylvania with classical, romantic, baroque, contemporary, symphonic and Broadway favorites. Comprised of outstanding local musicians, the Hershey Symphony Orchestra is one of the largest volunteer community orchestras in the nation.