We’re starting to achieve the status of a regional professional orchestra and that’s attracting a different level of players.

We’ll have five Gainesville concerts plus three children’s concerts plus two in Hiawassee. Six years ago I would not have dreamed this day would be possible.

That’s where the expertise of our music director comes into play. He knows so many composers’ works and the instrumentation they require.

We did not ask for it. They knew about us. They were impressed at how an orchestra our size was growing and achieving professional status.

The Fieldstone Inn asked us to do a holiday concert up there last year and it was a sellout. We think the hometown audience deserves to hear it too.

We have a drug collecting tech on call 24 hours a day because big companies work 24 hours a day.