The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra's season continues with feature guest conductor Dirk Meyer, one of the four finalists competing to become the Symphony's next Music Director. He will conduct an evening of classical and contemporary music on Saturday, November 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 102 Ann Street.
This season has marked an important chapter in the FSO's organization as it searches for its next artistic leader. Throughout the season, four guest conductors will take the podium, each presenting a program of their choosing. These performances will give audiences a chance to experience each candidate's musical style, artistic vision and approach to conducting.
The community will play a role in the selection process. Concertgoers will be encouraged to share their impression of the candidates and their performances. Audience feedback will help to inform the Symphony's final decision.
Myers brings extensive experience to orchestral leadership and is known for developing innovative concert experiences. He is currently serving as Music Director of the Augusta Symphony, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of the North.
Meyer believes in bringing classical music to new audiences and uses creative programming such as multimedia presentations, collaborations and performances that explore the connections between traditional and
contemporary compositions.
His accomplishments include a recording project with the Augusta Symphony featuring five previously unrecorded works by Uruguayan-American composer Miguel del Aguila. Meyer is also the author of Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Repertoire: A Catalogue of Modern Music, a resource that is dedicated to modern orchestral literature.
For this concert, Meyer has selected a program that bridges musical eras, combining familiar masterpieces, along with works that offer audiences a different perspective on orchestral music.
The evening will be centered around Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1. This monumental composition took the composer years to complete. The symphony, which premiered in 1876, is loved for its emotional intensity, dramatic contrasts and triumphant conclusion. Brahms' masterpiece is a great opportunity for the audience to experience the full expressive range of the orchestra and is considered one of the greatest achievements of Romantic orchestral music.
The program will also include Ludwig van Beethoven's Leonore overture. This dramatic piece is often associated with his opera Fidelio. This composition captures themes of struggle, hope and liberation through its powerful musical storytelling.
Concertgoers will also hear Theme and Variations by Erich Volfgang Korngold, a composer whose career has spanned not only classical concert music, but also Hollywood film scores.
Rounding out the concert is Entr'acte by contemporary American composer Caroline Shaw. Inspired by classical minuet and trio form, this piece offers unexpected harmonies and musical textures, and offers a striking contrast with the more traditional selections. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/current-season/, by calling the FSO office at 910-433-4690 or at the door the evening of the performance.

(Photo courtesy of Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra)