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Springfield Symphony Orchestra has banner day with Patriots

Date: 9/17/2015

FOXBOROUGH – The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO), led by SSO Music Director and Conductor Kevin Rhodes, took part in the pre-game show at Gillette Stadium to celebrate the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl championship prior to the team’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.

Formally dressed in black tie and tails, Rhodes and 50 members of the orchestra first provided the musical backdrop to the Patriots’ traditional tunnel run onto the field for the start of the game, with “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. Next, the SSO switched gears and musical genres to perform a special two-minute segment from DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win”, with hip-hop and R&B artist, T. Pain.

“It is exciting beyond words, and an honor beyond description for the SSO to have experienced the largest audience in the history of the orchestra by a factor of, well, a lot,” Rhodes said. “This is truly for all of us, a performance to remember, and I would like to extend my personal gratitude to the staff, management and musicians of the SSO for all the incredible coordination and organization it took to pull off such a performance on short notice. We are deeply moved to be able to be ambassadors of the city of Springfield in this way.”

SSO Executive Director Peter Salerno added, “Being able to show off the versatility and talent of our extraordinary musicians in front of a television audience of over 35 million viewers is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We thank the World Champion New England Patriots for allowing us the honor to share in their championship moment at Gillette Stadium. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra, its donors, Trustees and patrons will cherish these moments forever. Go, Pats.”