The Lake Charles Symphony will be celebrating the resiliency and culture of Southwest Louisiana at the 2023 Summer Pops concert – “Louisiana Saturday Night.”

This is an annual symphony event that fuses contemporary music and orchestral composition, said Beth Dawdy, executive director of the Lake Charles Symphony. This year the event will take place on Saturday, July 8 at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

This year, they are collaborating with Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock and Soul to bring “all things Louisianian.”

This artistic direction will be a first for all parties involved. “We’ve decided to keep it local, because Lake Charles needs local,” she said. “We’ve never done zydeco or zydecajun before, and Sean has never put his music to orchestra before.”

The rich artistic community in Lake Charles was an inspiration. “The symphony wanted to highlight our diverse music and our talented artists.”

Ardoin will be performing 10 songs alongside the orchestra.

The 45-member orchestra is conducted by celebrated conductor, Chelsea Tipton III.

The Symphony is dedicating this performance to their home. “We are so proud of Southwest Louisiana for getting back on its feet, and it is a true tribute to our community,” Dawdy said. “We should revel in how hard we have worked to rebuild.”

The orchestra is culturally balanced and the people that hear the orchestra’s music should reflect the diversity of Lake Charles, Dawdy said.

A main goal is to build the regular audience and Summer Pops was specifically curated “the excitement of the orchestra” to a wider range of audiences.

“Music crosses a lot of barriers,” she said. “We are constantly trying to pull in new audiences and bring the symphony to the masses.” The familiarity of Ardoin’s discography will make the orchestral music more accessible to locals. “They will hear Sean’s music through a violin, an oboe or a cello, not just an accordion or guitar.”

Beverly Jones, incoming Symphony board president for the 2024 through 2026 seasons, said that their mission is to connect and enrich SWLA through musical performances. “Summer Pops has always been a way to reach a broad audience and create a wonderful shared experience through music,” she explained. “Sean Ardoin, and the musicians in our outstanding orchestra are Southwest Louisiana. The connection with our audience promises to be especially deep and meaningful.”

“Louisiana Saturday Night” will be hosted in partnership with First Federal Bank of Louisiana, who committed to a $15,000 sponsorship for the event. Erica McCreedy, First Federal marketing department manager, said they share a common goal: “to improve the quality of life in Southwest Louisiana.”

She believes providing support to the local arts supports this shared mission. “Summer Pops is a great way to show the community that their symphony is creative, talented and brings the unexpected to our area.”

‘Bayou a chance’ to win a Gator on the Geaux

In tandem with “Louisiana Saturday Night,” the Symphony is holding the “Gator Raffle.”

Residents are encouraged to “Bayou a chance” to win the first hand-painted Gator on the Geaux of the 2022-2023 season, “Rise.”

Hosting a raffle to ensure everybody in the community had an opportunity to win a cultural piece of art felt thematically appropriate, Dawdy said.

This gator was painted by Candice Alexander, local award-winning artist and owner of Candice Alexander Art Studio.

“Rise” premiered in September 2022. On the night of its unveiling, Alexander explained that she designed it with the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura in mind.

The gator features symbols emblematic of Lake Charles and Louisiana, such as pieces of glass from the building colloquially known as the Capital One Building and the state bird, the pelican. It is the final and fourth piece of Alexander’s Hurricane Series, which also includes “Faith,” “Hope” and “Love.”

Dawdy said that the theme of the gator was purposeful. “We felt our inaugural Gator should represent the rebirth of Lake Charles.”

“Gators on the Geaux and “Rise” was an important pairing in that they both represent the next step in SWLA’s recovery for the community, the arts and the beautification of our city,” said Alexander.

Raffle tickets are available on the Symphony’s website and are $20 a piece. The winner of the raffle will be announced

“Rise” currently resides in the lobby of the Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center.

After the raffle, it will be moved to its new home.

Dawdy said that while it was a coincidence, Ardoin joining the orchestra for Summer Pops during the same season as the rerelease of Gators on the Geaux was a beautiful synchronicity. At the same event that “Rise” was unveiled, the Symphony received their public art display exhibition and fundraising effort “Gators on the Geaux” after twenty years.

Efforts like “Gators on the Geaux,” in addition to the Symphony’s programming and events, financially support them. “Fundraising, sponsorships and memberships are essential to the Symphony and all of the arts,” said Dawdy. “It allows us to bring quality symphonic music and programming to our community.”

She said this is vital, as the Symphony is “the voice of the arts.”

“We paint our pictures through the imagination of our audience. Having a great cultural foundation in our community is essential for the future growth in SWLA.”

Summer Pops is the symphony’s largest fundraising event of the season. Dawdy stated that the goal is to fill the Civic Center will 800 to 1,000 people.

To promote accessibility, there is a wide variety of tickets available to the public. “There is a price point for everyone to attend.”

Tickets and tables

General admission tickets for riser seats cost $45 per person. Tickets for children aged 12 and under at $25 a piece.

There are 40 tables – seating 8- available for an enhanced experience. There are three tiers of table seating: Bronze Reserved, Silver Premium and Gold VIP.

Bronze reserved tables are $600, or $75 each; Food and beverages can be purchased separately.

Silver Premium tables include pepperoni and veggie pizza, provided by Mr. Gatti’s and choices in sodas, water, wine or beer. Selections have to be picked up by attendees. These tables are $1000.

With a Gold VIP, concert-goers will have the same selections of food and drink delivered to them, as well as recognition on the event table signage. A gold table can be purchased for $1250.

Individual reserved table seating is also available for $95.

The doors open at 6 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at www.lcsymphony.com.