Here is a feature article from the Fall, 2007 Issue

South Georgia Orchestra looking for musicians

Given his last name, it’s fitting that Thomasville resident Tom Wagner has a love of music.

Unlike the famous German composer, Richard Wagner, Tom hasn’t composed any operas. But thanks to his efforts to form the South Georgia Community Orchestra, musicians in South Georgia will soon hopefully have the chance to perform orchestra pieces. Maybe, perhaps, even a piece composed by Wagner.

Practice makes perfect! Members of the South Georgia Orchestra in Thomasville, Ga., meet for one of their weekly rehearsals.
A native of Chicago, Tom started playing the accordion at eight. He wanted to join his older brother, John, in the high school band, but the summer before beginning high school, the band director told him the band didn’t need an accordionist. So, John taught him to play the clarinet, and Tom joined the band. He played the clarinet in his high school band for two years. After high school, Tom formed a band, “Something Old, Something New” that played at local weddings and other events for three years. The band broke up when Tom relocated to Georgia.

Twenty-two years later, Tom’s daughter, Michelle, followed in her dad’s footsteps, playing the clarinet in her middle school band. When Michelle expressed an interest in playing in an orchestra, Tom discovered that the closest orchestra in the area was the Big Bend Community Orchestra in Tallahassee. After waiting three years for a spot to open up with the Tallahassee orchestra, Michelle’s dreams of becoming a professional clarinetist began to fade. Tom’s younger daughter, Nikki, also plays the clarinet, giving him twice the inspiration to establish an orchestra for the area.

Thinking there might be other would-be musicians without a stage, Tom placed ads this May in his local paper to gauge community interest in forming an orchestra. The group started out with only six members, but has already grown to 28 members. Gerard Troise, a former faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, who has relocated to Thomasville, has volunteered to conduct the group. Tom says anyone can play in the orchestra as long as they can read music.

“We have all ages and skill levels of musicians in our growing enterprise, but we’re in need of some more members. Our members range in age from eighth grade students to adults in their late sixties. Some members have played consistently, and some have not played since college or high school,” Tom said. “This orchestra gives more experienced musicians an opportunity to share their knowledge with others and gives the younger players someone to look up to and learn from in a hands-on setting.”
Tom envisions all of South Georgia benefiting from the orchestra.

“There are several upcoming musicals in neighboring communities who have expressed a desire for our orchestra to play at their performances, and the South Georgia Ballet Troupe has expressed interest in using a live orchestra for their annual performance of The Nutcracker instead of recorded music,” Tom said. “To see the face of children, who may have never heard a live orchestra perform before, light up when hearing a live performance or be able to perform at nursing homes on Sunday afternoons. These are the kind of things I would like to give the South Georgia area an opportunity to share in.”

Tom is working to form a network between area colleges and other community orchestras for the purpose of sharing pieces of music and possibly joint performances. The orchestra meets each Monday night from 7-8:30 p.m.

Anyone interested in joining the orchestra should contact Tom via email at gibbtvl@rose.net or (229) 226-4663.