Symphony Orchestra Plays Mahler's Fifth Tonight

The UGA Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mark Cedel, plays Mahler's Symphony No. 5 tonight at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall at the Performing Arts Center.

Hailed by conductors, musicians and audiences alike as a deeply transformative experience, Mahler’s Fifth is regarded as a rite of passage marking the experience and breadth of an orchestra. The 70-minute performance will feature principal trumpet Phillip Parsons playing the solo that opens the symphony.

“It has taken 16 years to build an orchestra that can play this repertoire,” said Mark Cedel, professor in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music and conductor of the orchestra. “The way that Mahler used every member of the orchestra and the things he has them do with their instruments is something which must be experienced in tandem with enjoying the music itself.”

The concert will begin with the world premiere of a saxophone concerto by Paul Hayden, a visiting artist and faculty member from Louisiana State University. This 20-minute performance will feature Griffin Campbell, also of LSU as soloist, visiting UGA in conjunction with the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference, which will be held on campus March 3-6.

Admission to the concert is free and the public is invited to attend.