HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE TO HOST SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIRGROUNDS

PERRY, GEORGIA - May 13, 2002 - The Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) is planning an unparalleled musical experience for Middle Georgia residents when it sponsors the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in Perry on June 28, 2002. The performance will be held in the McGill Exhibition Hall at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m.. Houston County Honor Band, composed of outstanding band students from the county's four high schools, will perform as a warm up for the ASO's performance. This program is sponsored in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.

"We are pleased and excited to be hosting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Families in Middle Georgia will have an opportunity to experience this world renowned orchestra here at home, and that is a great source of pride for us," says HAA President Lora Arledge.

Prices for tickets vary. Tickets for an unreserved community table are $25 per person; unreserved seats without tables are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Tables of eight for patrons and sponsors may be reserved at the $300, $500, and $1000 levels. Tickets can be purchased at the HAA's office (478-329-0299), the Perry Chamber of Commerce, several downtown stores, or from any HAA board member. Guests are invited to bring picnics and table décor as elaborate or simple as they choose. No food is included in the ticket price. No alcohol may be consumed on the premises.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is the largest arts organization in the Southeast and one of the youngest American orchestras to achieve prominence on the global stage. Robert Spano is Music Director and Donald Runnicles is Principal Guest Conductor. The Orchestra's recordings, some featuring the globally renowned ASO Chorus, have earned 18 Grammys. Now in its 57th season, the ASO performs a year-round slate of more than 250 concerts. The Orchestra supports 200 young musicians annually in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and Talent Development programs.

The Houston Arts Alliance was established to enhance the contribution that the arts can make in the Middle Georgia area. The mission of the Arts Alliance is to encourage excellence in all disciplines of the arts through partnering with arts and cultural organizations as well as business, education and government institutions to establish venues for local artists, to conduct outreach programs for traditionally underserved populations, to provide interactive creative arts opportunities for all people, and to host quality professional appearances.

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