Culture

If you like festivals, museums, music, dancing or beautiful gardens, the Tri-State area is filled with great places to visit.

Events and Festivals

• January

  January ACT UP! WINTER THEATRE CLASSES Winter Theatre Classes Six week theatre program, two age groups Ages 6 - 9 Thursdays, 4 - 6 Jan 21 - Feb. 25, 2010 Eddie Farnham Instructor Ages 10 - 16 Mondays, 4 - 6 Jan 18 - Feb. 22, 2010 Susan Brolund Instructor All classes and performances are held at The Cultural Arts Center 909 S. St Andrews – Dothan, Al GARDENING FOR BIRDS WORKSHOP Landmarks Park - January 16 * 10 a.m. With instructor Dr. Gary Manfready. Registration required. Workshop held in the Interpretive Center Auditorium. Free with park admission. Call 334-794-3452 to register. HUMMINGBIRD WORKSHOP Landmarks Park - January 23 * 10 a.m. With instructor Fred Bassett. Registration required. Workshop held in the Interpretive Center Auditorium. Free with park admission. Call 334-794-3452 to register. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER Landmarks Park - January 25 * 6 p.m. Board of Directors, Volunteer Service Award and Heritage Award winners announced. Highlights from 2010 and plans for 2010 to be discussed. Stokes Activity Barn. Advance tickets required. Call 334-794-3452 to purchase tickets. BLUEBIRD WORKSHOP Landmarks Park - January 30 * 10 a.m. With instructor Gerald Hartley. Registration required. Workshop held in the Interpretive Center Auditorium. Free with park admission. Call 334-794-3452 to register.

• February

  February ACT UP! WINTER THEATRE CLASSES Winter Theatre Classes Six week theatre program, two age groups Ages 6 - 9 Thursdays, 4 - 6 Jan 21 - Feb. 25, 2010 Eddie Farnham Instructor Ages 10 - 16 Mondays, 4 - 6 Jan 18 - Feb. 22, 2010 Susan Brolund Instructor All classes and performances are held at The Cultural Arts Center 909 S. St Andrews – Dothan, Al ASTRONOMY NIGHTS Landmarks Park - February 12, 19 * 6 p.m. View stars and constellations through telescopes and binoculars on the Gazebo lawn. Wagon rides, Planetarium programs, refreshments. Registration required. Members, $2; nonmembers, $4. Scouts in uniform will receive a discount. Astronomy Night meets several requirements for the Astronomy badge. Call 334-794-3452 to register. Rain date Feb. 26. The Cultural Arts Center February 16-20, 2010 - 7:30pm Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT) indulges its love of theatre classics with the presentation of Lawrence and Lee’s immortal classic, INHERIT THE WIND. The drama, based on the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, will be directed by Danny Richards. Performances are February 16th-20th, 2010 at The Cultural Arts Center.

• March

  March BLUE JEANS AND BALLET March 5 - 7:00pm SEADAC presents its' semi-annual fundraising auction. Its an evening of fun, food and shopping to benefit SEADAC scholarships and our outreach programs! Bid to win your dream vacation, wine tasting parties, and more unique items. The Silent Auction begins at 7:00 and the Live Auction is at 8:30. Tickets are $30 and include refreshments. SPRING FARM DAY Landmarks Park - March 20 * 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Turn back the clock 100 years and experience living history demonstrations of sheep shearing, blacksmithing, plowing with draft animals, basket weaving, quilting and other traditional spring farm activities. Plus, the “Old Time Fiddlers Convention” and the “Alabama State Horse and Mule Plowing Contest.” Adults, $8; senior citizens, $6; children, $4; members, free. SPRING BREAK CAMPS Landmarks Park - March 15-17 and 23-24 • 9 a.m.-noon Half-day camps for kids ages 4-11. Registration required. Call 334-794-3452 to register. OPP RATTLESNAKE RODEO March 26-27 Eufaula, Alabama Since 1959, the Opp Jaycees have attracted the attention of local and international visitors, as well as the media, with its annual Rattlesnake Rodeo. Last year, over 30,000 attended the event, which is held to raise funds for local charities. PINEY WOODS ARTS FESTIVAL Enterprise-Ozark Community College March 27-28, 2010 The 36th Annual Piney Woods Arts Festival is sponsored by the Coffee County Arts Alliance. According to David Deal, Chairman of the Festival, "Piney Woods features quality arts and crafts for reasonable prices and offers something for everyone in the family. There will be many new artists - come out and enjoy a fun-filled weekend." If you have any questions about the Festival, please telephone David Deal at 334-406-ARTS (2787).

• April

  April EUFAULA PILGRIMAGE April 9-11 Eufaula, Alabama The Eufaula Pilgrimage is an annual tour of historic homes in Eufaula, Alabama, home of Lake Eufaula. The tour is sponsored each year by the Eufaula Heritage Association. Eufaula has many old homes and structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A PARTY FOR THE PARK Landmark Park April 23 * 6 p.m. An outdoor barbecue that you don’t want to miss. Bring your appetite and friends for this unique fundraiser. Advance tickets required. Call 334-794-3452 to purchase tickets. FESTIVAL ON THE RIVER Geneva, AL April 23rd, 24th & 25th 2010 Each year the Geneva Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Festival on the River over three days. The Festival parade is on Friday followed by the opening ceremonies for the festival at the entrance to the Park. Saturday and Sunday are days filled with a wide variety of activities including several competitions, entertainment as well as arts and crafts ranging from those with jewelry. shirts, photos, wood crafts, leather goods, face painting, clowns and specialty food vendors in the food court. Local artist will perform at the food court throughout the day starting at 8:30 a.m. THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM The Cultural Arts Center April 27-May 1, 2010 In April of 2010, SEACT invites you to take a little trip down the Natchez Trace, with the foot-stompin’ Bluegrass musical, THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM. Based on the Eudora Welty novella, Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman wrote this Tony-winning musical comedy that will be directed by Jim McGee. Fiddlers will be needed, so make plans for auditions in late February for the April 27th-May 1st show dates at The Cultural Arts Center.

• May

  May THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM The Cultural Arts Center April 27-May 1, 2010 In April of 2010, SEACT invites you to take a little trip down the Natchez Trace, with the foot-stompin’ Bluegrass musical, THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM. Based on the Eudora Welty novella, Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman wrote this Tony-winning musical comedy that will be directed by Jim McGee. Fiddlers will be needed, so make plans for auditions in late February for the April 27th-May 1st show dates at The Cultural Arts Center. AN EVENING WITH RIDERS IN THE SKY May 14 * 8 p.m. A special evening with “America’s Favorite Cowboys.” This Grammy award winning western band and comedy team will present a performance in the Stokes Activity Barn. Held in conjunction with the Yellawood® Johnny Mack Brown Western Festival, the concert and dinner will benefit Landmark Park and the Jimmy Rane Foundation. Advance tickets required. YELLAWOOD® JOHNNY MACK BROWN WESTERN FESTIVAL Landmark Park May 15 • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate the Old West, Wiregrass style. Featuring movies and memorabilia of the late Dothan native and Western film star Johnny Mack Brown. Event includes shooting demonstrations, roping shows, reenactments, a chuck wagon cookoff, music and more. Adults, $8; senior citizens, $6; children, $4; members, free."An Evening with Riders in the Sky" held at the Stokes Activity Barn on May 14. Advance tickets required for concert.

• June

  June MUSIC BY MOONLIGHT Featuring the Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz Group June 10, 24; July 8, 22 - 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, bring the family and friends and enjoy an evening of great music under the stars in a relaxed, informal setting. Free admission. Sponsored by MusicSouth. About The Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz Band Hotlanta sets your feet firmly on Bourbon Street in Old New Orleans. You'll experience every bit of the joy, energy, and humor of that early American Jazz called Dixieland. Songs from Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael, Louie Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, plus many old favorites like "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Royal Garden Blues", "South", "Hard Hearted Hannah", and "When The Saints Go Marchin' In" are all part of Hotlanta's musical treat. Based in Atlanta, the group has performed extensively in the South since its founding by Don Erdman in 1990 with appearances at "The Famous Door" on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, The Brevard College Jazz Festival in North Carolina, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, to name a few. FUTURE MASTER GOLF TOURNAMENT June 26-July 3, 2010 - Dothan Country Club The Press Thornton Future Masters Golf Tournament is one of the most traditionally rich junior tournaments in the world. An impressive list of golfing greats who have competed in the tournament continues to grow and includes past U.S. Open champions Hubert Green and Jerry Pate, Masters winner Larry Mize, PGA champions Bob Tway, Mark Brooks and Shawn Micheel, and British Open winner Ben Curtis. The Future Masters has become a proving ground for golf’s brightest junior stars, but it is not, nor has it ever been, only about golf. It is about the spirit of competition, friendships made, sportsmanship on the course, and the challenge of preserving fifty-nine years of growing golf. OLD FASHIONED ICE CREAM SOCIAL June 26 * 5 p.m.-8 p.m. It’s a summertime treat for the whole family as we observe National Dairy Month. Activities include free ice cream (while supplies last), butter churning, ice cream making and more. Adults, $5; children,$3; members, free. HEADLAND ANNUAL BBQ COOKOFF Date & Time TBA This event is held at Douglas Park in June.  BBQ cooking teams from the area cook their finest BBQ in the spirit of competition and fun.  Individuals from the Tri-States setup booths to display their crafts and area organizations provides a wide variety of refreshments.  Children will enjoy the kids area where they can jump and slide to their hearts content.  All of this going on while music is played by various entertainers from the sound stage. ANIMAL ADVENTURES Landmark Park Fridays in June and July • 10 a.m. noon program available if 10 a.m. program fills) Special one-hour educational programs for children ages 5 and older. Reservations required. Free with park admission. Fifty percent deposit required for groups of 15 or more. Interpretive Center Auditorium. Call 334-794-3452 to register.

• July

  July FUTURE MASTER GOLF TOURNAMENT June 26-July 3, 2010 - Dothan Country Club The Press Thornton Future Masters Golf Tournament is one of the most traditionally rich junior tournaments in the world. An impressive list of golfing greats who have competed in the tournament continues to grow and includes past U.S. Open champions Hubert Green and Jerry Pate, Masters winner Larry Mize, PGA champions Bob Tway, Mark Brooks and Shawn Micheel, and British Open winner Ben Curtis. The Future Masters has become a proving ground for golf’s brightest junior stars, but it is not, nor has it ever been, only about golf. It is about the spirit of competition, friendships made, sportsmanship on the course, and the challenge of preserving fifty-nine years of growing golf. JULY 4TH PATRIOTIC CONCERT Time TBA July 4th is a special day for our country and the Headland Chamber of Commerce celebrates this occasion with an annual July 4th Patriotic Concert held on the Town Square.  Restaurants around the Town Square have supper baskets to enjoy while listening to the music which goes on into the night. MUSIC BY MOONLIGHT Featuring the Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz Group June 10, 24; July 8, 22 - 7:30 p.m. Pack a picnic supper, bring the family and friends and enjoy an evening of great music under the stars in a relaxed, informal setting. Free admission. Sponsored by MusicSouth. About The Hotlanta Dixieland Jazz Band Hotlanta sets your feet firmly on Bourbon Street in Old New Orleans. You'll experience every bit of the joy, energy, and humor of that early American Jazz called Dixieland. Songs from Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael, Louie Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, plus many old favorites like "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Royal Garden Blues", "South", "Hard Hearted Hannah", and "When The Saints Go Marchin' In" are all part of Hotlanta's musical treat. Based in Atlanta, the group has performed extensively in the South since its founding by Don Erdman in 1990 with appearances at "The Famous Door" on Bourbon Street in New Orleans' French Quarter, The Brevard College Jazz Festival in North Carolina, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, to name a few. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DOMINO TOURNAMENT Andalusia July 9 & 10, 2010 Welcome to Andalusia, Alabama for the 34th annual World Championship Domino Tournament! The City of Andalusia and the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce join the Andalusia Rotary Club in welcoming you to this family event. More than $750,000 in prize money and trophies have been awarded since the Domino Tournament began in 1976. Playing dominoes in this tournament guarantees fellowship, fun and competition. Round robin tournaments will be held each afternoon on Friday and Saturday, July 10 & 11, 2009, in order to make sure that everyone gets to play enough dominoes HERITAGE FORUMS July 4, 11, 18, 25 * 3 p.m. If you have an interest in history, Landmark Park is the place to be each Sunday afternoon during the month of July. Our annual series of "Heritage Forums" will feature guest speakers each week who will present a program about some aspect of state or local history. Forums held in the Interpretive Center Auditorium. Free with park admission. Reservations requested. Call 334-794-3452 to register. ANIMAL ADVENTURES Landmark Park Fridays in June and July • 10 a.m. noon program available if 10 a.m. program fills) Special one-hour educational programs for children ages 5 and older. Reservations required. Free with park admission. Fifty percent deposit required for groups of 15 or more. Interpretive Center Auditorium. Call 334-794-3452 to register.

• August

  August SCIENCE ON SATURDAYS August 7, 14, 21, 28 * 10 a.m. Each Saturday during the month of August the park will present a fun and educational program for children and their families. Programs held in the Interpretive Center Auditorium. Reservations required. Free with park admission. Call 334-794-3452 to register.

• September

  September LOW COUNTRY BOIL September 16 • 6 p.m. Annual fundraiser with food, music, auction and children's activities. Advance tickets required, 334-794-3452. Tickets: $60 per person ($50 for members). Table of eight: $450 ($400 for members). Held in the Stokes Activity Barn. Call 334-794-3452 to purchase tickets.

• October

  October WIREGRASS ANTIQUE AND COLLECTOR CAR SHOW October 2 * 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit one of the largest car shows in the Wiregrass Region with approximately 200 cars on display, ranging in age from "T" models to custom classics. Adults, $5; children, $3; members, free. Hosted by the Wiregrass Antique and Collector Car Club. HEADLAND HARVEST DAY FESTIVAL October 9 * 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Every 2nd Saturday in October, the Headland Chamber of Commerce sponsores the annual Harvest Day Festival around the Town Square. Festival activities include live entertainment, antique cars, rides and games for all ages, arts and crafts, cake walks, moonwalks, pony and train rides. Several local organizations have booths with lots of good food. It's purpose is to promote our city, our local businesses and our agriculture industry. This event is a major fundraiser for a lot of local organizations and includes the Harvest Day Pageant which selects a Tiny Miss Harvest Day, Little Miss Harvest Day, Junior Miss Harvest Day, Teen Miss Harvest Day and Miss Harvest Day. WIREGRASS HERITAGE FESTIVAL October 23 * 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come watch and learn how peanuts were harvested in the Wiregrass Region a half-century ago. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, basket weaving, soap making, and other traditional farm activities. Also, plenty of music and a wide variety of antique gas and steam engines will be on display. Quilt display in the Stokes Activity Barn, Oct. 22-24. Adults, $8; senior citizens, $6; children, $4; members, free. NATIONAL PEANUT FESTIVAL National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds Dates TBA (typically late Oct - early Nov) The nation's largest peanut festival is held each fall to honor peanut growers and to celebrate the harvest season. The fairgrounds are located on Highway 231 South -- just three miles south of the Ross Clark Circle. The festivities include numerous fun-filled family events, such as amusement rides, animal acts, agricultural displays, live music concerts, beauty pageants, arts & crafts displays, contests, food, a two-hour parade, of course, tons of peanuts! Come join us!

• November

  November NATIONAL PEANUT FESTIVAL National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds Dates TBA (typically late Oct - early Nov) The nation's largest peanut festival is held each fall to honor peanut growers and to celebrate the harvest season. The fairgrounds are located on Highway 231 South -- just three miles south of the Ross Clark Circle. The festivities include numerous fun-filled family events, such as amusement rides, animal acts, agricultural displays, live music concerts, beauty pageants, arts & crafts displays, contests, food, a two-hour parade, of course, tons of peanuts! Come join us!

• December

  December CHRISTMAS IN THE WIREGRASS CONCERT Tri-State Community Orchestra Dates TBA Dothan Opera House Featuring: Guest directors Who will be the best conductor? Come find out! DWAL sponsored Art Contest for student artists Art works will be projected during the performance. Also appearing will be the Enterprise-Ozark Community College Choir. Directed by Joy Blair VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS December 12 * 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Warm up to some holiday hospitality during an afternoon centered on the pleasures of Christmas’ past. Visitors are invited to sample turn-of-the-century desserts and sip hot chocolate or mulled cider while children try their hand at making traditional Christmas decorations. A circuit-riding preacher will arrive on horseback to deliver a Christmas message at the church. Arts and crafts, holiday music, wagon rides and more. Free admission, visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank. WIREGRASS YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (WYSO) PERFORMANCE Dates TBA Dothan Cultural Arts Center Auditorium HEADLAND CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Date & time TBA The Headland Chamber of Commerce, City of Headland and area organizations sponsors a Christmas Concert, Christmas Tree Lighting and a Christmas Parade around the middle of each December on the Town Square in Headland. Many area citizens brings their lawn chairs to enjoy the beautiful Christmas music and watch the parade. Kids come for Santa!

Area Attractions

• The United States Army Aviation Museum

  The United States Army Aviation Museum The United States Army Aviation Museum, located in South-central Alabama, maintains a collection of over 160 military aircraft, including one of the largest collections of military helicopters in the world. Public galleries represent the Army's involvement in aviation from the beginning days of the Wright brothers and early combat aircraft from World War I, to the highly technological machines flown by Army Aviators today.

• Dothan Opera House

  Dothan Opera House Dothan has been pleasing crowds since 1915, when the city fathers built the Dothan Opera House, a facility where the acoustics are so good that the Atlanta Symphony chose it as the place to record their records. Recently renovated, the Victorian styled center of Dothan's cultural life is on the National Register of Historic Buildings. Today, the Opera House hosts dance recitals, business seminars and meetings, choral ensembles, beauty pageants, community theatre and concerts in the beautiful 590 seat theatre and upper level conference room. Other amenities include two large and four small dressing rooms, and an historic elevator. The entire facility is ADA accessible. Professional production equipment is provided to include state of the art lighting facilities, an up-to-date sound system, contour curtains plus free bars and choral and band risers.

• Landmark Park

  Landmark Park There's an adventure waiting for you and your family, just on the outskirts of Dothan... Landmark Park. A 100 acre park built to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of southeast Alabama's Wiregrass Region. Landmark Park is more than just a place to look. It is a place to participate and experience. Experience history on an 1890's living history farm, complete with an old farmhouse, smokehouse, cane mill, syrup shed, and sheep, goats, and pigs. Drift back in time in a Victorian gazebo, a one-room schoolhouse, a drugstore/doctor's office, a country store or a turn-of-the-century church. Experience nature with a walk through the woods on an elevated boardwalk, stroll nature trails, visit our interpretive center and planetarium, see wildlife exhibits and have a picnic in our picnic area. Experience the excitement of annual special events like folklife festivals, antique car shows, traveling exhibits, concerts, and workshops. Experience the heritage of the Wiregrass Region and Experience An Adventure.

• Dothan Tour of Murals

  Dothan Tour of Murals Tour of Murals -- Colorfully and boldly painted on buildings throughout Dothan's downtown area, 19 murals depict the history of the Wiregrass area. There are more than 60 4-foot-tall, painted peanuts around town that reflect our area's industries and personalities (even Elvis!) while reminding visitors that Dothan is the "Peanut Capital of the World."

• Wiregrass Museum of Art & Conference Center

  Wiregrass Museum of Art & Conference Center The mission of the Wiregrass Museum of Art is to increase awareness, education and appreciation of the visual and decorative fine arts by providing quality exhibitions and interpretive programs in Southeast Alabama; and by collecting and holding in trust important and significant works of art that reflect our cultural heritage and give inspiration and expression to the human spirit and experience

• George W. Carver Museum

  George W. Carver Museum The G.W. Carver Interpretive Museum provides a comprehensive glimpse of the historical contributions and influences of African related individuals and cultures symbolized by Dr. Carver which includes:   * Commemoration of Dr. Carver as economic catalyst, scientist, and artist   * A focus on early major African American influences in science, inventions,and exploration   * Early African civilizations and their universal influences   * The historical impact of black Americans in military events, and as agents of positive social change A major intent of the exhibits is to counter negative historical distortions and stereotypes of blacks with factual information that has been routinely omitted in the telling of history. The museum exhibit and display description begins with the front entrance.

Cultural Organizations

• Music South

  Music South Music South, originally the South Alabama Symphony Association, or SASA, was formed in 1979. The primary goal of the Association is to provide the Wiregrass community with quality cultural and educational musical experiences for area children and adults. Since 1979, the South Alabama Symphony Association has evolved, from strictly presenting symphony concerts to featuring a wide range of quality musical performances, from symphony and jazz to Music By Moonlight at Landmark Park. As the Association evolved, it was felt a new name would better represent its broader mission. In 2000, the Association name was changed to Music South.

• Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT)

  Southeast Alabama Community Theatre -- The Theatre Company began in 1974 when a group of spirited individuals had a "Vision" for a more cultural minded community. The group went to the bank and borrowed two hundred dollars. They held auditions and rehearsals in churches and even barns! The first performance that year was "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." In the years since, SEACT has grown to include hundreds of subscribers and sponsors and produces three to four major productions a year. In addition to our major shows, we also make possible other theatrical performances, including the Birmingham Childrens Theatre Shows. We also sponsor a childrens theatre camp in the summer for up and coming thespians. We provide fall and winter theatre classes, then summer theatre camp in the summer. We've come a long way in thirty one years, and we're not resting yet. Stay tuned to see how we grow in the 2010-2010 seaons, and beyond.

• Southeast Alabama Dance Company (SEADAC)

  Southeast Alabama Dance Company -- Southeast Alabama Dance Company (SEADAC) is a non-profit dance organization based in Dothan, Alabama. Its original artistic director, Tracy Solomon, founded the company in 1978 and served in this capacity for 25 years. Ashlie Solomon Wells assumed the role of artistic director in 2005. The Southeast Alabama Dance Company is an organization consisting of approximately 30 serious dancers who study and perform a diverse repertoire of dance. Dancers in the company are selected annually through a strict audition process. The company presents three local performances each year. These include a holiday season performance of The Nutcracker sometimes accompanied by a live orchestra, a spring performance and an annual summer performance that is offered free to the public. SEADAC presents performances and lecture demonstrations to schools and community groups. Currently, SEADAC is collaborating with the Dothan City School system to provide Delivering Art Now in Children's Education (D.A.N.C.E.), an outreach program for all 4th grade classes. Approximately three thousand students each year benefit from our "hands on" classroom education and by their attendance at our specially created school performances at the Dothan Civic Center. Scholarship opportunities and on-going dance classes at the Dothan Cultural Arts Center are also provided to underserved children in the community and for promising dancers in financial need. In addition, SEADAC annually awards over $20,000 in scholarships to dancers that are in financial need and to outstanding company dancers to further their dance education. Members of the company are given broad exposure to dance with major emphasis in classical ballet along with various aspects of jazz and modern dance. Frequent visits by world-renowned teachers are provided to supplement and broaden the training of the company dancers. Professional guest artists are hired to perform with the company as well. New dances are commissioned from reputable choreographers and presented by the company at local, regional and national performances. SEADAC was chosen to become a member of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association in 1988 through a strict audition process. In 2002 they were awarded the status of "Honor Company" which is the highest level that a company may receive. SEADAC is also a very active member of the Alabama Dance Council. SEADAC is honored to provide the educational programs offered as well as our continuing mission to improve the quality of life in our community.

• Tri-State Community Orchestra (TCO)

  Tri-State Community Orchestra The Tri-State Community Orchestra (TCO) was founded in 1995 by a group of wiregrass area musicians to provide the opportunity to play, learn, and help educate others about the joy of orchestral music. During each playing season we enjoy entertaining the community with several main concerts and other outreaches. Since inception, the TCO has grown in size and ability to a membership of over 55 string, brass, wind, and percussion players. Southeast Alabama, Southwestern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle are the areas from which we draw our members. Ages vary from elementary students to retirees. Musical abilities range from the beginning instrumentalist to the professional musician. Many of our members are former high school musicians who are living proof that it is never too late to pick up that old instrument, or buy a new one, and start playing again. Orchestra members volunteer their time to rehearse, perform, and share their common love of music.