Columbia Theatre sets holiday mood with Baton Rouge Symphony
Contact: Tonya Lowentritt
11/24/09
Click on thumbnail for high resolution photo
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts will celebrate the holiday season when the university’s historic downtown theater hosts the Baton Rouge Symphony holiday concert Dec. 3.
Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance for the popular 7:30 p.m. holiday concert, traditionally a sell-out.
Tickets are $35, Orchestra; $39, Loge; and $31, Balcony. Tickets can be purchased online at www.columbiatheatre.org or at the Columbia Theatre box office, 220 E. Thomas St., (985) 543-4371. Box office hours are 11-4 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and one hour prior to performance time.
Under the baton of Assistant Conductor David Torns, the Baton Rouge Symphony will present many classical holiday pieces. Concert guests will also be treated to a special “guest conductor,” selected from among area students who created ornaments for the holiday tree in the Columbia’s lobby.
“As assistant conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony and Music Director of the Louisiana Youth Orchestras, David Torns conducts outreach, educational and pops performances,” said Columbia Theatre Director Donna Gay Anderson. “His musical training and diverse background bring youth, enthusiasm and warmth to his performances.”
A native of San Diego, Torns’ musical studies began at the age of five on the violin. He completed his bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and graduate studies in violin and orchestral conducting at West Virginia University.
Prior to his appointment in Baton Rouge, Torns served as assistant conductor of the Symphony of the Mountains and music director of the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra in Kingsport, Tenn. His guest conducting engagements have included the Vanderbilt University Symphony, West Virginia University Symphony, the North Carolina School for the Arts Musica Piccola Orchestra, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
More News...
