Welcome to the Cobb Symphony Orchestra (CSO)

Celebrate the Holidays with the CSO
Michael Alexander, Music Director
Bryan Black, Chorus Director
Alison Mann, Youth Chorus Director
John Morgan, baritone

Dec 5, 2009 • 3:00 PM • Murray Arts Center of Mount Paran Christian School
Dec 5, 2009 • 7:00 PM • Johnson Ferry Baptist Church

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
Vaughn Williams: Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Anderson: Sleigh Ride
Prokofiev: Troika, Lt. Kije
Traditional: Christmas Sing-a-long

COBB COUNTY, GA - On Saturday, December 5 - 3 PM at the Murray Arts Center of Mount Paran Christian School and 7 PM at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church - the Cobb Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, under the direction of Michael Alexander, in conjunction with the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra Chorus, will celebrate the season with family and friends while enjoying holiday favorites featuring the Cobb Symphony and Cobb Symphony Chorus. The program includes a range of works from secular to non-secular. For tickets and additional information contact the Cobb Symphony at (770) 429 - 7016 or visit online at www.CobbSymphony.org.

Guests may further explore their CSO experience throughout the year by using any number of initiatives in place by the Cobb Symphony including:

Ask Mike! - a way to ask CSO Music Director Michael Alexander any question you may have about an activity of the Cobb Symphony
Explore the On-line Conservatory - Meet our Music Director Mike Alexander and get a unique view of the most highly anticipated concerts this season. The CSO's innovative, new exclusive interview series with Michael Alexander is your guide to what's playing on and beyond the stage.
Chat! - Tech savvy and don't fell like picking up the phone or typing an e-mail, chat with someone from the CSO directly from the website.
Casual Friday's - an opportunity to talk with Associate Conductor John Concklin and that concert's guest before rehearsal and then get a behind-the-scenes look at an actual rehearsal
Explore Your CSO Experience Podcasts - This series is dedicated to erasing classical music's elitist stigma and attracting a new generation of fans. Throughout the episodes, you will explore the great masterworks, community projects, interesting conversations with people in the community locally and nationally, in addition to a host of other interesting and exciting things.

Guest Artists

Elonia Varfi is a violinist with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, and performs regularly with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra.

She received her diploma in violin performance from the Albanian National Academy of Fine Arts and her Master of Fine Arts in violin performance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory. Her violin teachers include Laurie Smukler, Daniel Phillips, and currently Cecylia Arzewski, former concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony. Prior to moving to the United States Ms. Varfi was a member of the Albanian National Radio and Television Orchestra. Since moving to the U. S. she has performed with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, and served as concertmaster of the Mankato Symphony and Minnesota Valley SommerFest Chamber Orchestra. In Atlanta she has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Lyric Theater, and Georgia State University Chamber Players.
Ms. Varfi has been teaching violin since 1996. Her teaching experience includes Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota State University, and St. Joseph School of Music in Minnesota. Since moving to Atlanta she has taught at the Lovett School, Georgia Academy of Music, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, and Atlanta International School.

Many of Ms. Varfi’s students have been accepted into the All State Orchestras in both Minnesota and Georgia. Her students have also been members with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The Cobb Symphony Orchestra strives to ensure artistic excellence in a diverse community that takes pride in the Orchestra's artistic success and feels a sense of ownership for the Orchestra. The Cobb Symphony is further dedicated to becoming a catalyst for community collaborations and for lifelong learning, using technology and other means to broaden the musical experience of current and future audiences. For more information, visit www.CobbSymphony.org or call (770) 429 - 7016.

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