Coinciding with the opening concert by the newly reorganized Murray Symphony, Murray City Arts Appreciation Day will be held Saturday in downtown Murray.
Beginning that morning there will be performances by pianists Jeff Manookian and Matt Faerber, a barbershop quartet, the Murray High School Madrigals and Marching Band, a bluegrass band, a string quartet, the Robinson Sisters, belly dancer Rahshema Sha, folk dancing and a ballet lecture-demonstration by Willam F. Christensen at the Christensen Center.Except for the ballet demonstration, all will take place at the Murray Mansion, 5440 S. State. Also at the mansion the Murray City Fire Department will screen a 1920 film by Walt Disney showing scenes of old Murray.
In addition on display through the day at various sites will be arts and crafts from violin- and quilt-making to ceramics, painting and sculpture.
The Murray Symphony will present two concerts that day, the first a free children's program at 10 a.m. at Murray High School, and the second its season-opener at 7:30 p.m., also at the high school. Tickets to the latter are priced from $2.50 to $3.50.
Conducting both concerts will be the orchestra's new music director, Robert Zabriskie. An 18-year veteran of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Zabriskie has since 1979 also been director of Salt Lake Opera Theatre. He succeeds Robert Lentz.
Saturday evening the orchestra, numbering around 60, will be heard in excerpts from Beethoven's "Prometheus," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker," Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Puccini's "La Boheme." They will be joined by the Murray Symphony Chorale for additional selections. Also performing will be the Murray Symphonic Band.
Further concerts are scheduled Feb. 11, March 18, April 14 and May 13, all in the Murray High School auditorium.
Recently the orchestra launched its "Quarters for Concerts" fund drive with the backing of city officials. Fundraisers hope to collect around 20,000 quarters, or $5,000, between now and Thanksgiving. Honorary chair of the fund drive is Jess Burbidge. New president of the Murray Symphony board is Susan Wright of the Christensen Center, replacing Arlette Day, president of Day Murray Music.
Day and Lentz served for seven years, during which time the orchestra's budget, including Lentz's salary, was reported at $25,000 a year. Zabriskie says initially he is making his services available on a volunteer basis.
"I think it was a good move," Wright said of the reorganization. "I think It made everybody appreciate what they had when they thought they were going to lose it."