The Muncie Symphony Orchestra ended their 2013 summer season with “Picnic and Pops.” Roughly 350 students and locals flocked to see the show on the Minnetrista lawn, and new Conductor Douglas Droste didn’t disappoint.
Last night’s show was Droste’s first performance as the orchestra’s conductor. When asked how he thought it went, he responded with nothing but praise and pride for the MSO. The response was the same from Ball State senior Kyle Noonan.
Noonan entered the orchestra two years ago, playing the contra-bassoon. He now fills in on bassoon regularly.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to get experience in a paying orchestra,” Noonan said. “It [the orchestra] helps build a connection between Ball State and the Muncie community.”
When asked about his favorite piece, Noonan was adamant about the Harry Potter set. The set consisted of three tracks from the fourth film, “Harry’s Theme,” “The Quidditch World Cup” and “Hedwig’s Theme.”
“Maybe it’s just because I’m young, but I do love that Harry Potter stuff,” Noonan said.
Droste felt that the “1812 Overture” was the best performance of the night.
“I’ve been a season ticket holder for almost 40 years, in the reserved section. I’ve been to every one. This was the best one ever,” said Ben Bennett, audience member. “We’re looking forward to seeing more of Droste.”
