Tuba soloist and music professor, Dr. Yutaka Kono. The Kingsville Symphony Orchestra’s third concert of the season highlighted a variety of musical styles and periods as it dedicated its Sunday, April 11, program to the health care professionals of Kingsville and the surrounding area.

Dr. Rex Gandy, provost of Texas A&M University- Kingsville, gave the opening remarks and introduced guest conductor Dr. Gary Garner, the award-winning, retired Director of Bands and Symphony Orchestra at West Texas A&M University. Dr. Garner then led the orchestra and audience in John Stafford Smith’s setting of The Star Spangled Banner, arranged by A&M-Kingsville music professor Greg Sanders.

The full orchestra opened with Guiseppe Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino (1862), a beautifully executed piece alternating full brass with soft, melodious strings and full, somber woodwind tones.

Dr. Rex Gandy, provost of Texas A&M-Kingsville Photos by Jose Lupito Mendez. The strings left the stage as the brass and woodwinds formed the background for Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Tuba and Wind Ensemble (1996), featuring tuba soloist and A&M-Kingsville music professor Yutaka Kono. Dr. Kono’s exquisite rendition of the opening deep, mellow tones of the piece contrasted with the up tempo, almost jazzy style of the remainder of the work.

The first half of the program ended with this season’s “Bach to the Future” theme: J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (1721), presented by three violins, three violas, three cellos, a bass and digital harpsichord. The fugue-like main theme introduced alternately by the violins and violas provided a delightful, energetic interplay among the strings.

After intermission, Conductor Garner recognized and thanked the health care professionals in attendance.

Kingsville Symphony Orchestra The second half of the program began with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ meditative Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910). This elegant, elegiac piece featured outstanding solo performances by concert master Jose Flores and Kathleen Kono on violin, Melissa Melendez on viola, and Jesus Tovar on cello.

The final selection of the afternoon was Symphony No. 2 “Sinfonia India” (1936) by Mexican composer Carlos Chávez. Woven into this piece were influences of the Aztec and Mestizo musical traditions, especially in the variety of percussion instruments used.

The afternoon’s music spanned from the eighteenth to the twentieth century, offering many different styles. As always, A&M–Kingsville music professor Judith Cole provided excellent program notes.

The KSO’s final concert of the season, honoring our military, is scheduled for Sunday, July 4, at 3 p m., in Jones Auditorium on the campus of A&M–Kingsville.

David and Sue Sabrio were both recent recipients of Texas A&M University System Teaching Excellence Awards.