With 15 different concerts over the span of five weeks, the Missouri Symphony Society will hold its annual “Hot Summer Nights” festival in Columbia this summer.
The theme of the series is “Sizzlin’ Sounds of Summer” and will feature songs ranging from classical compositions to rock songs like The Beatles, according to the release.
MOSS Co-president Carol Sue DeLaite said the series will have different elements to interest individual sets of audiences.
“We have a host of things, we have kinds of music for everyone,” Delaite said. “For all age groups, for all musical interest we have a classical series that of course is our centerpiece. Symphonic music has always been a centerpiece of the Missouri Symphony Society.”
The symphony was formed in 1970, and has conducted summer concerts for the past 43 years. DeLaite said the professional orchestra comes to town in June and resides in Columbia for six weeks.
“It’s a resident orchestra,” DeLaite said. “The members come from literally all over the country and sometimes from several other countries around the world. They come from conservatories and universities where they teach during the academic year or from orchestras where they play and they come here for the summer season.”
The concert season will start June 7 and run until July 14, according to a news release from MOSS. Individual tickets for the series go on sale May 14, however some concerts are free of charge. Tickets for the entire series cost between $25 to a $195 and will be sold up until the start of the summer concerts. Locations range from indoor venues like the Columbia Public Library and Broadway Christian Church to outdoor venues such as Douglas Park and Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater.
“The Missouri Symphony Society has dedicated itself to providing high-caliber musical performances, chamber music outreach and youth music education programs,” according to the release. “The society founded the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, which is composed of musicians from throughout the United States and around the world and currently exists as mid-Missouri’s only professional resident symphony orchestra.”
Kirk Trevor will serve as conductor for the series this summer. Since 2000, Trevor has worked as the musical director of the Missouri Symphony while also working with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.
Trevor will be conducting alongside assistant conductor Frederik Olsen, whom Trevor personally picked to work with. Olsen is a 2007 graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen, according to the MOSS website. Olsen will make his U.S. debut in the series this summer.
DeLaite said Trevor will produce music ranging from pop, classical and Broadway. The summer series will also feature a family series to appeal to the entire family and peak the interest of young people and children.
“We hope to bring (the community) beautiful music,” DeLaite said. “Which we’ve been doing for many, many years. The idea is to make live symphonic music available to the community.”
