Murfreesboro Symphony President Phil Barnett proclaimed that the MSO's tribute to Queen might possibly be one of the community's highlights for the year, and the response from the audience after the concert at World Outreach Church endorsed his feelings.

The symphony started the evening with our National Anthem as everyone stood and placed their hand over heart.

MSO Music Director and Conductor Joseph Lee was right at home with the pop music and he fit lead vocalist Michael Shotton's way of getting the audience and orchestra involved like a comfortable old shoe. The Jeans 'n Classics group from Toronto kept the audience clapping and snapping all night. In fact, it will be a positive evening that will long be remembered.

Don Paulton played the keyboard, Steve Lucas kept the beat going on electric bass, Adam Martin was on guitar, Paul DeLong on drums and back-up vocalists included the talented Stephanie Martin and Kathryn Rose. When Phil Barnett kept saying "We Will Rock You"--his promise was kept!

Thursday night's concert sets the stage for a second MSO attraction. A special family free event starting at 10:00 o'clock this coming Saturday morning at Erma Siegel Elementary School at 135 West Thompson Lane.

Barnett invited everyone to be there in the beginning for such family activities as face painting, a musical instrument petting zoo, arts area and more.

Then at 11:00 o'clock Saturday morning, the Murfreesboro Symphony unites in music with the Murfreesboro Youth Symphony.

Finalists in MSO's Emerging Artists competition were at the Thursday night event, and stood to rousing applause. They will be a major part of Saturday's activities at Erma Siegel School. In fact, they will be introduced to those in attendance this weekend.

And Barnett encouraged the entire community to attend the final concert of this season: "Scheherazade". That will be 7:30 Thursday night, April 16th, at First United Methodist Church at 265 West Thompson Lane. He noted that tickets for the coming season would go on sale then, and from the audience response, it may be MSO's biggest season yet!

For more information, contact the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra at 615-898-1862. And if this was on Bandstand, we'd definitely have to give the evening's performance a "10".