Pops! pays a visit
Matthew Jennings and the crowd surrounding him didn't have to go to Augusta on Saturday to hear the sounds of the Augusta Symphony.
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Eryn Eubanks (left) and her mother, Durand, performed as Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold at Saturday's concert.
Photo by Mike Adams
Instead, the symphony came to Jennings in Columbia County.
"It's something different," he said, nestled on a blanket with his wife, Lisa. "It's nice to do something in Columbia County and not have to go down to Richmond County, like the Riverwalk."
The Augusta Symphony wrapped up its 50th anniversary celebration season finale Saturday with a free outdoor concert on the campus of University Hospital in Evans.
The concert, called Pops! Under The Stars, was sponsored by the ensemble and University Health Care System. Martha Robinson, the director of operations for University, said the concert was to serve as a gift to residents of the Augusta area for their support.
Lakeside High School student Tiffany Chang plays the flute during the Pops! Under The Stars concert. Lakeside's concert band joined the symphony for the performance.
Photo by Mike Adams
The inaugural event featured such musical selections as tributes to Ray Charles and Billy Joel and performances by Lakeside High School's concert band and by Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold.
Judy Miller, of Evans, said the event was long overdue.
"We're so excited," she said, enjoying a picnic dinner with her husband and friends. "This is just the neatest thing."
Four-year-old Dalton Hicks enjoys some bubbles as his great-grandmother Olga Illyn enjoys the Augusta Symphony at the Pops! Under the Stars concert, held Saturday outside at University Health Care System's campus in Evans.
Photo by Mike Adams
Donald Portnoy leads the Augusta Symphony during the Pops! Under the Stars concert held at the hospital campus. The crowd attending the free concert was estimated at 2,000 people. Pops! Under the Stars was the finale of the Augusta Symphony's 50th anniversary celebration.
Photo by Mike Adams
Michelle Peel (left), of Martinez, and her son Ryan, 8 months, watch the Augusta Symphony-University Health Care System concert with friends Amy Judson, of Evans, and her daughter Lilli, 11 months.
Photo by Quandra Collins