Before an audience that filled nearly every available seat in the Effingham County Recreation and Parks Department Gymnasium, Effingham Community Orchestra presented its “The Americans” concert May 3. The concert featured several patriotic pieces and included many other selections, all by American composers.

“We wanted to bring our audience a different kind of patriotic concert, one that focused on American composers,” said orchestra director Andrea Huff. “In its earliest years, America was dependent upon Europe for its music, other than folk music. In the last half of the 19th century,

American-born composers began to emerge ushering in a new musical sound. The pieces chosen for this concert were from some of our past and present American composers who have had great influence and impact on our American musical sound.”

Composers featured in the concert were Stephen Foster, Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and John Williams. Also included were John Philip Sousa marches and a medley of patriotic favorites. The orchestra’s jazz ensemble played an energetic set, including “Georgia on my Mind,” “In the Mood,” and “American Patrol.”

The orchestra also honored active duty military personnel and veterans of all military branches with “Marches of the Armed Forces.”

“We sincerely appreciate the bravery of our military and the many sacrifices they make to defend us,” Huff said. “We felt it was appropriate to honor them today.”

The concert was conducted by Kenneth David Mosely Jr., Huff and student conductor Charles Patterson.

“This was an exciting day for Effingham Community Orchestra,” Huff said. “It was very rewarding for our Orchestra musicians and for me to have such a large audience enjoy and express appreciation for our music with enthusiastic applause. We thank everyone who chose to spend the afternoon with us.”

Effingham Community Orchestra is a non-profit, 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization dependent totally upon sponsors, donations and fundraisers. They bring free concerts to the community.

The orchestra is now accepting additional adult and high school student musicians. Further information may be obtained by visiting the Web site, www.effinghamcommunityorchestra.org. Huff encourages all interested musicians to email her at effinghamcommunityorchestra@windstream.net or call the orchestra’s office: 826-5300, ext. 110.