The Southwest Symphony of Hobbs, “bringing classical music to Lea County since 1983”, has announced its roster of performances for the 2021-22 season.
After cancelling live events during the COVID-19 crises to protect the health and safety of everyone, concerts and diversified entertainment shows are being reinstated, starting in October. COVID-19 regulations will be strictly enforced before, during and after all presentations.
First Performance of the 2021-22 Season
The first concert of the 2021-22 season, a presentation by the Southwest Symphony Chamber Orchestra, will be on Sunday, October 24, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. The concert is being held at the R. N. Tydings Auditorium, the performing arts theatre located on the Hobbs High School campus. GPS coordinates are 32°42’30.8″N 103°07’18.8″W.
Concert goers will be entertained by a selection of pop and light classical music. Southwest Symphony keyboard, percussion and trumpet musicians will join the orchestra’s chamber musicians during the pop songs. Familiar pieces have been selected for the classical segment of the concert. They include “Vivaldi’s Spring from The Four Seasons, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3,” states the Southwest Symphony website.
The Symphony’s Vision
Even during the recent live performance moratorium, Southwest Symphony’s vision to provide quality musical experiences to all – the business community, local ranchers, oil field hands, soccer moms, children, store clerks, everyone – has remained a driving force of the organization’s staff, musicians and board members. Now, after months of being on hold, the Southwest Symphony of Hobbs is back with the goal of enriching the lives of area folks. To quote the symphony’s Mission, “It is our aim to promote the arts and to be a cultural resource for Southeastern New Mexico,”
The symphony effectively kept its promises of promoting the arts and being a cultural resource even during the pandemic. Numerous virtual concerts were offered to the public, and in February a redesigned website was launched.
The 2021-22 Season
Five concerts/events in addition to the Chamber Orchestra presentation on October 24 are scheduled for the 2021-22 season.
On November 20, Farewell Angela will perform at the Lea County Events Center in Hobbs. The county group is all female and “is on fast track to ‘celebrity’ success,” states the Southwest Symphony website.
On February 7 at the Tydings Auditorium, the symphony will present a concert titled “Video Games meet John Williams”.
On March 11, the symphony’s fourth event of the season is scheduled. Quarteto Nuevo, known for merging “western classical, eastern European folk, Latin and Jazz with an organic feel” will perform at the Pannell Auditorium located at the high school in Lovington.
Then, on April 2, the Irish step dancing group, the Step Crew, will perform at the Tydings Auditorium.
The season finale is scheduled for the afternoon of May 22. The symphony will present “Beethoven’s Playlist” at the First United Methodist Church in Hobbs.
Tickets
Individual tickets are $20 each, for all performances. Tickets are available at the symphony’s website or at the door in advance of each performance. Tickets may also be purchased at Q Systems Music and Sound, Music World and Lovington MainStreet.
The symphony also offers a season pass for $100. The season pass has numerous advantages. The website points them out. “With a season pass you receive a ticket for each concert; unused tickets can be used for entry into another concert. The Roswell Symphony sweetens the season ticket deal by allowing entry to their concerts if seats are available. See their website for concert information.”
Community Partners
The Southwest Symphony of Hobbs is a non-profit organization supported in part by the general public and a group of generous Community Partners – Baymont Inn & Suites. Chevron, the City of Hobbs, the J. F Maddox Foundation, Hobbs Municipal Schools, Whitley Penn, Merrill Lynch, Q Systems Music & Sound, Urenco USA, New Mexico Arts and the Veteto Foundation. Through the ongoing support of both the public and these partners, the symphony is able to “promote music programs of the highest artistic quality” for the benefit of all in Lea County.
