Advertisement
Mills, conductor and music director of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, gave an hour-long symphony appreciation class to people with disabilities to prepare them for Friday’s 45-minute Symphony for Youth concerts at Viterbo University.
 |
LaCrosse Symphony director Amy Mills shows Riverfront participants how the flute is held during a performance . Dick Riniker photo |
She talked about the instruments and concert repertoire and played bits of recorded music.
The audience listened intently, laughed, clapped their hands to the beat of Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5” and swayed to classical music. When Mills told them it took a year for Beethoven to write his Fifth Symphony, one responded, “Uff da.”
Their reactions to hearing a recording of Mozart’s “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro,” ranged from great to exciting. Thirty-eight people from Riverfront will attend their first symphony concert Friday along with 2,000 school-age children.
“I like the trombone, and Stravinsky, I like that music,” said Terol Shaffer, who will attend the concert.
Mills said she wanted the Riverfront listeners to hear some great orchestral music and learn something about the composers and instruments.
“Then I hope they will remember when they get to the concert,” Mills said.
Marcia Jagodzinske, Riverfront president and CEO, said Riverfront listeners now will better understand what is happening on stage.
“Music and the arts engage them,” Jagodzinske said. “They love music, and this presentation will make the concert more meaningful.”
Mills also reminded them, “Dress up, this is a big event.”
For the first time, the youth concerts at 11 a.m., 12:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. will be open to the public. Second-balcony seats are available at the door for $4.
Conductor Amy Mills shows people with disabilities how to follow her beat to Brahms’ "Hungarian Dances No. 5."
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
