Dr. Peter Jackson, Symphony Guest Conductor

SALISBURY, MD---Fifteen years after his father played in the inaugural concert of the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at Salisbury State University, Dr. Peter Jackson will take up the conductor's baton to lead the orchestra during the Friday, May 11 Spring Concert that will celebrate the SSO's rich history, proud present and exciting future.

Jackson, a retired senior executive from wireless and Internet companies now doing Internet consulting, placed the winning bid at the March Savor Goes to the Moon symphony fund-raiser for the chance to be guest conductor. He will lead the orchestra in selections from Bizet's "Carmen," Suites No. 1 & 2, music he chose for the occasion after a lengthy on-line search and consultation with his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah

Jackson and Clyde Mitchell. Sarah is principal piccolo/associate principal flute with the Vancouver Symphony and Clyde is founder, conductor and music director of the North Vancouver Symphony.

Peter Jackson played piano, clarinet and bass fiddle earlier in life, but had never tried his hand at conducting. Dr. Thomas G. Elliot, conductor and music director of the SSO, has been a tutor and mentor in the craft. ""I've also spent hour upon hour at home in front of a mirror, practicing with my left hand and right hand, several hundred times. I think I'm ready."

He and his wife, Judy, moved more than 18 times before reaching retirement, and settled recently in Tyaskin. A symphony enthusiast all of his life, Jackson quickly supported the SSO as an audience member and as a donor. "We have been in a lot of towns, and have always participated in the cultural events of the communities, particularly the symphonies," Jackson said. "Now that we're here to stay, it just seemed like an excellent opportunity to join the fun."

It seemed only right: His father, the physician Dr. Roger Jackson, had moved to Salisbury after his retirement from practice and, while serving the community by working at Holly Center, played viola in the SSO when it formed. The elder Jackson, now nearly 94, lives in Dover, DE. This 15th anniversary concert will be dedicated to him.

The concert opens with Festique by M.L. Daniels, the piece that opened the SSO's first concert 15 years ago. Dr. Kevin Hekmatpanah, former principal cellist with the SSO and cello teacher at the University, is featured in the first half of the program performing Edward Elgar's Cello

Concerto in e minor, Op. 85. Violist Margaret Motter Ward and clarinetist David Duree appears in the program's second half on Max Bruch's Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra, Op. 88. Variations on Happy Birthday by John Williams closes this special performance for the symphony.

Hekmatpanah was a past principal cello for the SSO and cello instructor at SSU and now in his seventh year conducting the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and an assistant professor at Gonzaga University. A seasoned artist, he has presented hundreds of solo and chamber performances all over the country, has made more than 60 solo concerto performances with various orchestras, and has performed concertos throughout Europe.

Ward is past principal chair viola with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and violist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist with the Grand Rapids and Lansing symphonies in Michigan. She teaches violin performance at Western Maryland College, where she has also instituted a Suzuki violin program.

Duree was principal clarinetist with the Annapolis Symphony for 20 years and principal chair saxophone with the U.S. Naval Academy Band for 10 years.  He currently teaches clarinet and saxophone performance at Western Maryland and Hood colleges in addition to performing with the Mistral Woodwind Quintet.

The Spring Concert takes place at 8 p.m. in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Gold Pass SSO patrons may use their passes for admission. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $8 for seniors 60 and above and students 18 and under. Tickets are available through any SWAC outlet (Peninsula Bank and Bank of Delmarva branches) or at the door the night of the concert. For information, call 410-548-5587.