A Season Finale of Art, Patriotism, and Reflection

The concerts feature Mussorgsky's most famous and recognizable piece.

The Lee County Community Orchestra will close its 2024–2025 season with a program that celebrates inspiring art, honors service and sacrifice, and offers moments of peaceful reflection. Concerts will take place at the Mann Center of North Carolina in Sanford on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 and Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 pm.

“Our season finale weaves together three powerful ideas: creativity, dedication, and renewal,” said Music Director Vincent Povázsay. “Each piece on the program invites the listener into a unique world of emotion and story from walking through an art gallery, to honoring those who serve, to finding hope and healing.”

The concert includes the Armed Forces Medley, a patriotic salute featuring the official songs of each branch of the United States military. This tradition invites veterans and active-duty service members to stand and be recognized when their branch’s song is performed.

Wagner’s Parsifal follows a knight’s journey to the Castle of the Holy Grail.

The program continues with A Good Friday Spell from Richard Wagner’s final opera, Parsifal. This serene orchestral excerpt captures themes of compassion and spiritual renewal, offering audiences one of Wagner’s most heartfelt musical moments.

The centerpiece of the concert is Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally written for solo piano and later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel, the suite was inspired by an art exhibit honoring Mussorgsky’s late friend, architect and painter Viktor Hartmann.

“This program really allows our musicians to explore a wide range of styles and emotions, and I think the audience will be drawn in from the very first notes,” Povázsay said. “It’s a great way to close out the season together, celebrating both our community and the power of music.”

LCCO concerts are FREE and open to the public. Door prizes by Big Bloomers Flower Farm.