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Bringing classical music to the River City
The mission of the Decatur Orchestra Sul Ponticello is the active cultivation of musical life in the River City via a professional chamber orchestra. Our goal is to expand options currently available to area residents and to inspire young musicians to strive to the beautiful possibilities of performing classical music.
Our Name
Sul Ponticello is a musical term for stringed instruments meaning to play “near the bridge”. Decatur, alternatively called “The River City” has a downtown area situated close to the Tennessee River, which is spanned by two traffic bridges and a not too distant railway bridge. Hence, “orchestra near the bridge”.
Our History
Orchestra Sul Ponticello began as a chamber group and has grown to a full orchestra. The vision of Viljar Weimann, conductor of the orchestra, was to have a professional chamber orchestra that provided live classical music in the River City and inspired members of the Decatur Youth Symphony to aspire to one day play with the adult orchestra. More advanced youth players are invited to play in parts of the concerts. The orchestra has been so well received that it now has grown beyond a chamber group into a full orchestra.
Our Vision
Spearheaded by Conductor Viljar Weimann, it was the vision of some of the professional musicians in the city to actively cultivate musical life in the River City. The intention was to enrich the artistic activity available to Decatur residents, inspire young musicians with a broader spectrum of music choices, and enhance the artistic culture of our area.
inspiration
“We live in a very chaotic world that sometimes just seems like a mess. One of the reasons why we listen to music, and to great classical music in particular, is that everything is in an order and in a place and has a beauty that you see in nature, and that people look for when they look for God.”
— JOSHUA BELL
“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”
—JOHANNN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
“If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die.”
— WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE