This concert series, which is co-sponsored by Commerce Bank and Southeast Missouri State University, features the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra in a series of four full symphony orchestra concerts, plus one chamber orchestra performance in February. Sara Edgerton serves as conductor and artistic director of the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra.

This year's concert series will feature music with a Spanish flair, great Classic masterworks by Beethoven and Schubert, and a world premiere for organ and chamber orchestra, to be performed on the newly installed pipe organ at Old St. Vincent's Church. The series also will pay tribute to the nation's American heritage with a stirring choral and orchestral program to close out the fall semester of concerts. A portion of the proceeds from these concerts will help support the Southeast Missouri School of the Visual and Performing Arts.

Programs on the 2002-2003 Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra Series include the Oct. 22 "Symphonic Fiesta!," featuring Manuel Ramos, the top classical Mexican violinist of his generation and current first violinist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Lalo's dazzling "Symphonie Espagnole" with Ramos as soloist will be the highlight of this evening's concert, which will include music from Mexico and Spain.

On Dec. 3, the Orchestra will join forces with Southeast's Choral Union and University Choir to present a concert of inspiring music by American composers titled "An American Celebration." Featured on the program will be Hanson's "Song of Democracy," a stirring setting of a poem by Walt Whitman, and Randall Thompson's "Frostiana," with settings of poems by New Englander Robert Frost. This combined concert is a tradition at Southeast.

Spring semester performances will get under way Feb. 16 with an "Organ Spectacular." Highlighting this chamber orchestra concert in Old St. Vincent's Church will be a newly installed pipe organ, which will be featured in two concertos for organ and chamber orchestra. Dr. Gary Miller, chair of the Department of Music, will perform an organ solo. In addition, the Rev. V. Fayle, a Chicago-based composer and professor of philosophy, is writing a specially commissioned organ work for this concert. Catholic Campus Ministry at Southeast Missouri State University is commissioning the work as a tribute to the newly installed organ at Old St. Vincent's Church.

On March 11, student winners of Southeast's "Concerto and Aria" competition will be featured in a performance titled "European Odyssey." This concert will include enchanting symphonic music by European composers.

On May 6, Southeast's Symphony Orchestra, Choral Union and University Choir will join forces to celebrate the music of the great Classical masters, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert.

All concerts will take place at 8 p.m. in Academic Auditorium except for the Feb. 16 concert, which will take place at 3 p.m. in Old St. Vincent's Church.

The deadline to order tickets for the subscription series is Oct. 10. Subscription series ticket-holders are given priority seating in Academic Hall (Balcony or Front Main Level seating) and in Old St. Vincent's Church; guaranteed admission to all concerts; 10 percent savings over tickets purchased individually; and the convenience of having tickets mailed to your home address.

Subscription series tickets for the five events range from $18 to $45. Admission to individual events ranges from $4 to $10. To subscribe to the series, please call the Performing Arts Box Office at (573) 651-2265.