"I remember vividly my visit to Memorial Hall with my Rockway Elementary School class. The Symphony played part of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, and it left an indelible impression on me!

"Symphonic music became part of my life. My wife and I had some of our first dates attending the SSO, and continued attending as newlyweds. We have attended almost every concert since then in Memorial Hall, North High School, and now in Clark State's beautiful Kuss Auditorium.

"In my life full of day to day stresses, SSO concerts are like an oasis to me. I stop worrying about everything for a couple of hours. The music takes me away from the daily trials and lets me truly relax. It takes me to another dimension, almost spiritual."
– Jim Lagos, attorney

"However we wish to alter our mood, music provides the perfect means. Music reminds us of past memories, inspires us in the present, and offers us hope for the future."
– Plato Pavlatos, general contractor and Tina Pavlatos, medical illustrator, at the Springfield Museum of Art - Migawa Orimo, artist

To say that music has played a big role in the life of the Carey family might be a bit of an understatement. I can't remember it any other way. It was not unusual for Dad to wake us up in the morning by playing a crisp version of Reveille on his trumpet – always followed by his favorite Sousa marches. On Monday evenings, our task was to rearrange the entire living room so that Dad's community marching band might have a place to practice. Oh, and of course, all nine children were expected to play an instrument, sing in the choir, and perform in a musical stage production. God bless John Smarelli, Bud Arthur, and Robert Sedoris for their long-suffering patience with those Carey kids. I don't know if we were any good when they directed us, but my family can still sing the Hallelujah chorus around the dinner table – without music and in parts.

I suppose it was work. But I can only recall all of the great fun and memories of all of the parades, the concerts, the musical productions, and performances. Still, we knew it was a special evening when we were invited to the Symphony with our parents. We would all dress up, and generally try and behave ourselves. And then be transported to a whole new musical world. We loved it!

I suppose the baton has been passed. Now I find myself directing a choir and leading my own band – albeit a Christian rock band rather than a marching band. And now my children are the ones taking the music lessons, playing in the youth symphony, going to concerts in the park, and performing in musical stage productions. As I think of it, there aren't too many times in my household when there isn't music – either by way of the stereo, or one of the children practicing the piano, guitar, flute, violin or vocals. The other day I came home to find my two high school-aged children practicing a dance routine for their high school musical. If only the whole world was coming to this!

And my folks? You will still find them at all of the Symphony concerts. Loving every minute of it. When I'm lucky, I get invited to join them. and I still will dress up and generally try to behave myself.
– Richard Carey, probate court judge and avocational trumpet player

"Music lifts my spirit – anytime, any place. Music makes me feel what words can't express."
– Sonja Ostendorf-Rupp, Director of Museum Operations, the Westcott House

"For me, music is like a best friend who is always there and never criticizes or gets angry. It uplifts me when I'm down and rejoices when I'm happy."
– Lori Wright, SSO cellist and school orchestra director, with husband Doug Rright, SSO bassist and school orchestra director

"Attending a live symphony performance produced in our community is a remarkable and memorable experience for my students."
– Sharon Koster, Springfield City Schools music teacher

"I like to read between the lines. As a musician, I get to mine the depths of meaning of even a scant few notes to my heart's content."
– Sujean Kim, violinist and SSO Concertmaster

"What keeps me returning to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra is the opportunity to play great music with great musicians."
– Moses Carrakker, SSO bassist and avid runner

"Nothing compares to the spiritual and emotional feeling that shoots through me when the conductor raises his baton and every corner of Kuss Auditorium explodes with orchestral sounds."
– Larry Coressel, SSO board member, and WDPR morning radio host