“Music in the New World” Presented by the SNSO

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The Southern Nevada Symphony Orchestra entertained its audience with “Music In the New World” on Friday evening, Feb. 17 in the Mesquite Community Theatre. The concert featured the 4th movement from Dvorak’s Symphony No. 5 “The New World” and others.

Established in 2014, the SNSO is conducted by Dr. Selmer Spitzer, also the founder of the group. The 65+-member orchestra is made up of professional and retired musicians from around the region as well as talented school age members; all with a dedication for music.

The orchestra, although fairly new, continues to delight local audiences with each performance. The members seem to have gradually coalesced together and now are playing as one unit. This is a great achievement that shows in their performances.

The packed-house audience was also treated to “Dance Macabre,” music from “My Fair Lady,” “Coriolan Overture op. 62,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and music from “West Side Story.”
The Narrator, Greg Dutkowski plays an important role in the concerts. Dutkowski has a background in radio broadcasting.

“Selmer gives me the selections that will be on the program about two-three weeks ahead of time,” Dutkowski said. “Then I go to work.”

Dutkowski researches each piece of music to find interesting information which he cleverly uses in announcing each piece. He usually adds a bit of humor, that is appreciated by the audience.

Attendees Nancy and John Rosen were enjoying the concert. “The Orchestra continues to get better and better with each performance,” John Rosen said. “They are playing more cohesively all the time.”
“I think it is wonderful that we have such a quality orchestra in our town,” Nancy added.
Dennis De Mille was there to see and hear his girlfriend who plays the trumpet in the orchestra. “I grew up in Mesquite and have stood on that stage and sang as a child, when this was the school auditorium,” Demille said.

Demille said that his girlfriend put a lot of work into her part in the orchestra. “She spends a lot of time practicing with the orchestra over in Bunkerville,” he said.

The next concert by the SNSO will be held on April 22 at the Mesquite Community Theatre.