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The Lee University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by music professor Sarah Pearson, will present its fall concert on Monday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall.

The performance will feature a marimba concerto with Dr. Caitlin Jones, percussion professor at Lee. The orchestra will play works from Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 “Reformation” and Roumen Boyadjieff Jr.’s “Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra.”

“We are thrilled to be giving the second American premiere of the Marimba Concerto,” said Pearson. “Dr. Jones first performed it with me and the Cleveland Orchestra two seasons ago, and it is an incredible work with musical elements for every music lover to enjoy. It has been paired with Mendelssohn’s Reformation symphony, another memorable work reminding us during these challenging days that ‘Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott’ — our God is a mighty fortress.”

Pearson’s credentials deliver solid experience in conducting, along with being a multi award-winning conductor and recognized as one of Chattanooga and Cleveland’s most talented young arts leaders.

Pearson graduated from Lee with a Master of Music in conducting. She is the music director and conductor for The Cleveland Orchestra of Tennessee, The Cleveland Pops, and is the assistant conductor for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Pearson is involved in numerous music programs and ensembles in the area and is passionate about the arts in education.

Jones has performed in a variety of musical settings, including recent seasons with the Augusta Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. As a soloist, she has presented recitals across the southeast United States. Jones was noted as an “Emerging Leader” by the Percussive Arts Society in 2016 and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society Health and Wellness Committee. She performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and served as a front ensemble technician for the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in the 2020 season.

The Lee University Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble of select instrumentalists, performs a wide variety of orchestral literature. In addition to performing one major concert each semester, its musicians frequently participate in operatic, choral, and other concerts on the campus.

This concert is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. It is also available for livestream viewing at livestream.com/leeu.

Lee University remains dedicated to the health and safety of both the campus community and guests and will observe COVID-19 protocols based on CDC recommendations at the time of the performance.

For more information about the concert, email [email protected].