It is my great pleasure to invite you to discover and experience the Monroe Symphony Orchestra in its 2009-2010 season. Our goal is to bring the irreplaceable art of live orchestral music to every segment of the community. In these times, when so many of us are overloaded with lots of information, tangled in busy schedules and lacking enough time for ourselves and our families, the experience of a live musical performance can help us to reconnect with what is most important to us and with each other.

This year you can Experience the Music by enjoying the beauty and grandeur of works such as Saint-Saëns's Symphony No. 3 "Organ", Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9. You'll enjoy outstanding soloists including the gifted pianist Ruben Reyes, the wonderful Synergy Brass Quintet, as well as Faustwork Mask Theatre. We will also continue to collaborate with local artists and arts organizations such as organist Jay Pettit, the Louisiana Delta Ballet, the Monroe Symphony Chorus, and the ULM Division of Theatre and Dance.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the generosity of our sponsors, board members, league members, friends of the symphony, and staff for providing such a wonderful season ahead for all of Northeast Louisiana to enjoy!

It is a season that reaches out to everyone with symphonic, holiday, family and children concerts. But most of all, it is a season filled with fantastic music. I hope that you will take just a few minutes to renew or begin a subscription. We wish you another fabulous experience with us this season and hope this year becomes one of your most cherished memories with the MSO.

Cordially,

Clay Couturiaux, Music Director/Conductor