Media release from the Rome Symphony Orchestra:
In celebration of the Rome Symphony Orchestra’s (RSO) 105th anniversary season, “A Legacy in Sound,” the RSO will host two special ticketed events featuring legendary film and television composer Lee Holdridge.
On Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m., the community is invited to the RSO’s 105th Anniversary Celebration at Foundry on Fifth, where guests can meet, mix, and mingle with Holdridge and Maestro Jeffrey Dokken. The celebration continues on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:00 p.m. with an incredibly special concert: “An Evening with the Legendary Lee Holdridge” at the Rome City Auditorium, featuring the RSO performing a selection of Holdridge’s finest works.
“We have the extraordinary privilege of celebrating our 105th birthday during two unforgettable evenings with one of the most distinguished composers in American music,” said Jeffrey Dokken, Music Director and Conductor of the Rome Symphony Orchestra. “Lee has scored some of the most memorable stories ever brought to film and television. His music is lush, warm, cinematic, and unequivocally beautiful. It is the kind of music that does far more than accompany a story; it helps us feel that story more deeply.”
Holdridge’s remarkable body of work includes scores for “Mr. Mom,” “Old Gringo,” “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” “Into the Arms of Strangers,” “Moonlighting,” “The Mists of Avalon,” “16 Days of Glory,” “The Beastmaster,” and “When Calls the Heart,” among many others.
Thursday’s anniversary celebration offers an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience: a fireside chat between Holdridge, Dokken, and Seth Ingram, Executive Director of the Rome International Film Festival (RIFF), alongside the opportunity for attendees to enjoy casual conversation with one of Hollywood’s most legendary film composers. Tickets are $125 per person and are available through Wednesday, Oct. 21, or until sold out. Admission to this special event includes food and beverages.
“This is more than a commemoration of our history — it is a celebration of, and a thank you to, the people who have made that history possible, and a bold kickoff into the RSO’s future,” added Dokken.
The Saturday evening concert will highlight Holdridge’s lush, sweeping themes and rich cinematic style. Audiences will journey through iconic scores from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Splash,” “East of Eden,” and “The Beastmaster,” as well as music from his acclaimed collaborations with Neil Diamond and John Denver. The program also features the U.S. premiere of Holdridge’s Violin Concerto No. 3, featuring RSO concertmaster Dr. Nick Hoy as soloist.
“To introduce an important new work to American audiences is always exciting,” said Dokken. “To do so with the composer present and one of our own musicians as the soloist makes this a truly historic occasion for the Rome Symphony Orchestra.”
Following the concert, Holdridge will join Maestro Dokken onstage for a special talkback and Q&A session, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and insights from his decades-long career.
“Anniversary seasons naturally invite us to look back, but they should also inspire us to look forward,” said Dokken. “In celebrating Lee’s extraordinary career while premiering his latest work, we are doing both; honoring a lifetime of musical achievement while helping an important new work take its first steps onto the American concert stage.”
Due to the exclusive nature of these events, advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. For regular concert ticket pricing, prorated 2026–27 season packages, concert schedules, and additional details about “A Legacy in Sound,” visit www.RomeSymphony.org or call 706-291-7967.
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