By Allison Flynn • allison@rutherfordweekly.com
Thursday, January 22, 2015 8:30 am

Symphony members are volunteer performers and range in age from teens through seniors.

When the Rutherford County Symphony takes the stage with Carolina Brass on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m., it will be the culmination of a year filled with rehearsals and changes for the Symphony. 

“The concert came about because Russell Wicker, director of The Foundation Performing Arts Center, has been kind enough to get the Symphony involved with a headliner group each year,” said Joe Goodwin, president of the Symphony. “A few of the members of Carolina Brass are teachers at Gardner-Webb University, and our conductor, Patricia Sparti, is director of music at Gardner-Webb. The whole thing was a natural fit.” 

A year ago the Symphony members discussed what kinds of music they’d like to play, and the consensus was something modern, Goodwin continued. 

“We commissioned a piece of music to be written for us to play together that is a compilation of Earth, Wind and Fire. We have been rehearsing our parts, and they’ve got theirs to work on,” Goodwin said. 

The music was particularly of interest to cellist Theressa Calhoun, Goodwin said. Calhoun passed away recently from cancer, and the performance will be a tribute to her. 

“This was something she really wanted to hear,” he said. 

The Symphony, which offers two public performances each year, will perform five to six selections at the beginning of the program, followed by Carolina Brass. 

Now in its 27th year, the all volunteer Symphony is unique, Goodwin said, because there is no formal string program in the county. 

“There are a few private string teachers, and I think that Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy has a string program, but the public school system does not.” 

While the Symphony is named the Rutherford County Symphony, players come from as far away as Shelby, Hendersonville, Asheville and Spartanburg, S.C., to perform. 

The Rutherford County Symphony is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; donations made to the group are tax-deductible. Typically, there is no charge for performances; however, tickets for the performance with Carolina Brass are $14 and $17. 

Tickets can be purchased by calling The Foundation box office Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 828-286-9990