Steppin' Out With the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra

Who knew the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra was so much fun? Who knew that the audience would be laughing and clapping in the middle of the music? Who knew the orchestra would be dancing? Well, that's how it happened this New Year's Eve at the annual pops concert. A lot of credit for all the fun has to go to Guest Conductor, Michael Krajewski, of Orlando, Florida. His fun antics and tall tales added to the fun of the evening and kept the audience entertained the whole time. For example, he started off telling how he noticed mistletoe over the check-in counter at the airport. When he asked the girl behind the counter why it was hanging there, she answered, "So you can kiss your luggage good-bye!" And, Krajewski was just getting started. As the evening went on he got hotter and hotter. One of my personal favorites was his rendition of "Great Balls of Fire" on the piano during a medley of rock & roll songs.

Another sensational part of the evening was guest artist and tap dancer, Fred Strickler of Riverton, California. Yes, I said "tap dancer" at the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra concert! The audience was truly amazed as Mr. Strickler used his feet as his instrument of choice and tapped his way around stage as he accompanied the orchestra during the three movements of "Tap Dance Concerto." The audience was so enthralled that they forgot their manners and clapped after each movement to show their appreciation for this talented man. It was a thrill when Mr. Strickler came back during the second half of the evening and did an improvisational tap dance to the orchestra's "Cute."

Conductor Krajewski had more fun planned for the evening. He had the audience clapping (as part of the music) for Johann Strauss, Sr.'s "Radetzky March"--he instructed us to clap when he faced the audience and he was careful to point out to us which was his front and which was his back since they had gotten to look more alike as he got older.

Other fun stuff included a volunteer audience member taking the stage to help out on the glockenspiel in "Pizzicato Polka." It was just too cute and perfect to not have been a "plant!" Was it just a coincidence that the volunteer (Cassius Smith) had on a tuxedo and a red bowtie, played the accordion, and mocked Conductor Krajewski when he wiped his bow by pulling out his own white handkerchief and wiping his own bow, vying for the spotlight? I guess it really wasn't rehearsed, but it was so perfect, it makes one wonder!

Krajewski also had the musicians playing and dancing through some of "I Got Fascinating Rhythm" and brought three percussionists out to showcase their "talent" as they played sandpaper during the "Sandpaper Ballet." It was a rare and informal look at our sophisticated orchestra!

Krajewski also held a "Big Band Contest" giving the audience five points for naming the band leader and another five points for naming the song. Of course it wasn't a real contest, but he pretended it was. We lost all track of points and winning when he pulled out a bottle of children's bubbles to blow as a hint for the Lawrence Welk number. After the song ended, he casually mentioned that he would be finishing the bottle of bubbles later that night with the residents at Carlton Cove Retirement Center, where he was staying.

The evening ended with the finale of 1950's rock & roll songs, everything from "Jailhouse Rock" and "Great Balls of Fire" to "Let's Go to the Hop." The only thing missing was the dance floor!

If you missed out on all the fun that New Year's Eve brings at the Huntsville Symphony, make plans now to attend next year. I suppose they won't have Michael Krajewski there again...but we can always hope!

In the meantime, there are two concerts coming up later this year that you might want to check into. The 50th Anniversary Gala Concert will feature the world's greatest cellist, YoYo Ma on February 26th. Since I have cellists in my family--my great-uncle, Alvin Dreger, helped start the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, and my daughter also plays the cello--I'm excited about YoYo Ma coming to town. I can only imagine the thrill my great-uncle would have had if he were still alive for this 50th Anniversary Concert.

The other concert you won't want to miss is the April 16th pops concert featuring Art Garfunkel. That is going to be just great, I'm sure! You owe it to yourself to make good music and good times a priority in 2005. Check out the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra's website for details on these and other concerts coming up. ~Jean