The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center welcomes the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Celebrating Movies & America! Saturday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. Conducted by Deanna Tham, this special season-ending UGA Presents performance combines beloved music from iconic films with classic American orchestral masterworks in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The first half of the program brings the magic of the silver screen to life with music from some of cinema’s most memorable scores, including themes from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rocky, Mission: Impossible, and James Bond. Audiences will also enjoy selections from Disney-Pixar’s Up, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Following intermission, the orchestra turns to a distinctly American musical landscape with works by Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and George Gershwin. Highlights include Copland’s stirring Fanfare for the Common Man, Barber’s lively Overture to The School for Scandal, Copland’s beloved Hoe-Down from Rodeo and Variations on a Shaker Melody, and Gershwin’s vibrant tone poem An American in Paris.
A dynamic and engaging conductor, Tham is recognized for her energetic presence on the podium. She currently serves as associate conductor of the Oregon Symphony and music director of the Union Symphony Orchestra. A semifinalist in the 2024 La Maestra Conducting Competition in Paris, Tham has appeared at renowned venues including the Royal Albert Hall Proms, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Tanglewood Music Center. Recent highlights include conducting the world-premiere concert presentation of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with the Broadway Sinfonietta and serving as a cover conductor for the San Francisco Symphony.
Celebrating Movies & America! offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of blockbuster film music alongside timeless American classics performed by one of the country’s premier orchestras. The performance concludes the UGA Presents 30th anniversary season and is supported by the Performing Arts Center Concert Fund.
PROGRAM
RICHARD STRAUSS
Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey (Based on Also sprach Zarathustra)
BILL CONTI, arr. Bonvecchio
“Gonna Fly Now” (Theme from Rocky)
LALO SCHIFRIN, arr. Custer
Theme from Mission: Impossible
JOHN BARRY, arr. Ford
Theme from James Bond
MICHAEL GIACCHINO, arr. Andrea Datzman
Music from Disney-Pixar’s Up
KLAUS BADELT, arr. Ted Ricketts
Pirates of the Caribbean
HOWARD SHORE, arr. Whitney
Symphonic Suite from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
JOHN POWELL, arr. O’Loughlin
From the Motion Picture How to Train Your Dragon
AARON COPLAND
Fanfare for the Common Man
SAMUEL BARBER
Overture to The School for Scandal
AARON COPLAND
“Hoe-Down” from Rodeo
AARON COPLAND
Variations on a Shaker Melody
GEORGE GERSHWIN
An American in Paris
PERFORMANCE TALK
Join us for a free post-performance talk by Hugh Hodgson School of Music Assistant Professor of Music, Media and Film Scoring Cristina “Trinity” Vélez-Justo in Ramsey Concert Hall following the performance.
TICKETS
Securing tickets for UGA Presents performances couldn’t be easier. There are three ways to choose from:
- Purchase tickets online 24/7 here.
- Call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (706) 542-4400, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Visit the UGA Performing Arts Center Box Office, Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (5 minute parking is available in the drop off circle at the Performing Arts Center for purchasing or picking up tickets.)
UGA Presents single tickets start at just $30 with promo code PAC30 and UGA student tickets are $15. Information about accessibility and venue amenities is available on the PAC website. Parking is free.
