The 2025-2026 fine arts season at Pearl River Community College opened Tuesday, Sept. 23, with the highly anticipated performance by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra at the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts.
“We are honored to receive a $4,500 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission, along with support from the Mississippi Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, to help make it possible for the Brownstone Center to host the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra each year,” said Dr. Trevor Hunt, Fine Arts and Communications Chair and Brownstone Center Director. “This funding enriches our students and the communities of Poplarville and Pearl River County by bringing world-class music right to our doorstep.”
The concert showcased an eclectic mix of patriotic selections, timeless classical works, iconic film scores and even themes from popular video games. The wide-ranging repertoire meant nearly every listener found a familiar favorite or discovered a new piece that moved them.
The evening began with Music Director and Conductor Crafton Beck inviting the audience to sing along with the National Anthem. The patriotic piece resonated through the auditorium as voices joined the orchestra and set the tone for the night.
The orchestra then launched into the legendary “Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner, a rousing piece recognizable from its use in popular culture, including Looney Tunes. In a striking change of mood, the musicians followed with Peter Tchaikovsky's “Romeo and Juliet,” a dramatic overture using flowing melodies to tell the tragedy of the star-crossed lovers. The orchestra closed the first half on a more energetic note with Bedrich Smetana’s “Dance of the Comedians.”
After the intermission, the program shifted to more modern selections. Henry Mancini’s “Strings on Fire” began the set. Many in the audience recognized “River Flows in You” by Yurima, which featured a piano solo by Stephen Sachs. Beloved by many, the piece is appreciated for its ability to evoke a feeling of peacefulness.
Beck introduced “Video Games Live” as a selection that would be appreciated by the Gen Z audience. Arranged by Ralph Ford, the medley included music from Halo, Civilization, Bounty Hunter, and Kingdom Hearts. Familiar scores followed, including “One Hand, One Heart” by Leonard Bernstein, the “Star Spangled Spectacular” medley arranged by John Cacavas, and the iconic theme from “Superman” by John Williams.
The orchestra delivered a second opportunity for the audience to participate by singing along with God Bless America, written by Irving Berlin and arranged by Bruce Healey. The night closed triumphantly with John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” a rousing encore that earned the orchestra a standing ovation.
Poplarville resident and PRCC alumna Melinda Bowman attended with her husband. The concert has become an annual tradition for the couple. Her love of music is lifelong, having played flute and piccolo and being the drum major in the band at PRCC.
“I come for the Mississippi Symphony every year, and it never gets old,” said Bowman. “They have a great selection. I’ve never played video games, but I loved the medley. And I’ve always loved “Stars and Stripes Forever” because of the piccolo solo.
“When I sit in a seat here at the Brownstone, I am in awe of the architecture and remarkable acoustics. It’s incredible to have a venue of this caliber right here in Poplarville—giving our community the chance to experience world-class performances so close to home.”
Dozens of students taking music appreciation this semester attended the concert with papers in hand to record their observations. Zayvion Hartzog is a freshman from Hattiesburg who attended the concert as part of his music appreciation class with Hope Bass.
“I love music and feel like it’s one of the greatest gifts from God,” said Hartzog. “I enjoyed how the strings and bass coordinated to have both the calm and the excitement. My favorite piece tonight was ‘One Heart, One Heart’ with “Dance of the Comedians” coming in a close second.”
BROWNSTONE SCHEDULE
Four more events are scheduled for the fall semester.
Mark Lowry & Friends will take place on October 13th at 7 PM. Tickets are $35.
ACA Fest, featuring performances by Mississippi high schools and our talented advanced vocal group, The Voices, will be on November 14th at 6 PM. Tickets are $15.
Holiday Pops, the annual Christmas-themed concert, will take place on November 20th at 7 PM. The student concert will feature The Jazz Cats, The Voices, PRCC Singers, Currents, Rapids, and The String of Pearls. Tickets are $7.
The annual performances of The Nutcracker will be on December 6 at 2 PM and 7 PM and on December 7 at 2 PM. Tickets are $25.
Tickets for each event can be purchased at prcc.edu/brownstone/upcoming-events/ or by calling 601-403-1180.
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