Welcome to the World of the Georgia Philharmonic

For the tenth year, Saturday night in the Hyatt Centennial at 8PM was filled to capacity as people eagerly waited for this night of incredible music and talented performers.

Music filled the hall with renditions from various shows and movies. The energy the performers put into these musical scores matched their skill and dedication to their craft. No one was disappointed with the show as time flew by with riveting music, incredible performers, and the energy of Dragon Con. The Georgia Philharmonic is always one of the major highlights of the Con.

Everyone could feel the joy and positive energy as thunderous applause, joyful gasps, and sing-alongs filled the ballroom. It’s one of the reasons the Georgia Philharmonic enjoys performing here at Dragon Con. Even the guest conductor, Nse Ekpo, dressed up as a Jedi, excited to be a part of this night. The audience was so excited to see a guest conductor so immensely enjoying his part.

Members of the Lauda Musicam of Atlanta also joined the performance, bringing in the sweet sounds of various flutes and a Bodhran from Middle Earth.

Songs were done in sections like a playlist and each section tended to fall into a theme. The hall would erupt with thunderous applause after each musical score. After each playlist, the audience applauded harder, some laughed, others may have shed a tear or two as each score not only brought back memories of the production, but memories attached to each TV series or movie.

The music took the audience on a journey to Arrakis, slaying demons with Huntrix, and traversing through Middle Earth. Other music was from The Muppet Show, Buzz Lightyear, Super Mario, and The Mandalorian.

It was a celebration of achievements. First, to Dragon Con for reaching 40 years. Next was the movie Alien, which also reached the 40-year mark. Twenty-five years ago, there was yet another milestone. Can you guess what it was?

Throughout the night, there were three songs performed with vocals. Two were performed by a volunteer and the third was performed by a member of the orchestra. This was the first time three soloists performed with such a magnificent backdrop. 

After the final number, the audience stood and applauded for several minutes. Laughter, smiles, and uplifted moods were evident all around.

The Georgia Philharmonic is a philharmonic in the truest sense of the word: local musicians unite and perform out of their love of music. In doing so, the artists create classical music experiences that not only rival those of professional orchestras but also delight and inspire audience members.

Author of the article

Award-winning author Amanda Faith may have been raised in Dayton, but her heart and home is in the South. With a lifelong love of teaching and writing, she had plenty of encouragement from teachers and friends along the way. Loving a good puzzle has always been a fascination, and writing gives her the outlet to put all the pieces together. Being adventurous and loving to try new things, it wasn’t long before her characters found themselves in unusual situations. She loves to put people from two different worlds into new situations and to see how they interact, taking them on journeys they would never have normally experienced. Her current adventure working as a high school English professor turned Media Specialist, writing, and doing paranormal investigations doesn’t slow her down from having a great time with a plethora of hobbies. Her published credits include several short stories, poetry, several journal articles, her doctoral dissertation, and her award-winning book Strength of Spirit. With multiple degrees, she has a passion for learning and exploring new venues. She is a staff writer for The Daily Dragon at Dragon Con. Check out her new website (www.amandafaith.net) or on Instagram (@dramandafaith)