A recently-formed Andalusia Chamber Music Society will sponsor its first concert on Fri., April 19, at the Church Street Cultural Arts Centre.

LBW president Dr. Herb Riedel explained that chamber music has its roots in the classical period up until the advent of recorded music.

“Usually, it was a small ensemble,” he explained. “People would get together in somebody’s home. Like in the 19th century, you might have someone who played violin, viola, and cello practice the latest Beethoven quartet. It was a form of entertainment.”

As a person who loves classical music, Riedel said he thought that putting together a chamber music organization was more feasible than doing a small orchestra.

Riedel, LBW music instructor Johnny Brewer, former Wallace-Dothan music instructor Ralph Purvis, LBW faculty member and musician Steve Hubbard, Doty Henderson and Paula Harr formed the initial committee.

With a vision of bringing high quality live classical music to Andalusia and a mission of offering a minimum of two concerts annually, the group’s first event has been set. Three principal musicians from the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra will perform in Andalusia next month. Stephanie Riegle, flute, Katie Ott, harp, and Bryan Brown, violin, have put together an hour-long program of music that ranges from Debussy’s Clair de Lune to Shenandoah, a well-known folk tune.

Clair de Lune is a well-known piece of music that was used both in the first Twilight film and in Ocean’s 11. Classical music is “all around us,” he said. Most people just don’t realize it because it is background for a movie or a game.

Riedel said the group is very fortunate that the

Estep Foundation has agreed to underwrite this concert, and will fund a second concert in the fall.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert, which will be followed with a wine and cheese reception, are $25 for adults and $15 for students, and are available from Brooks Hardware, Ansley Place, Harold’s Furniture, or from members of the Andalusia Chamber Music group.