Staff report

GALLIPOLIS — Who will be the next Maestro for a Moment and lead the Ohio Valley Symphony in John Phillip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever?

The audience gets to decide with votes by contributing to the orchestra’s annual fund raiser. This year’s candidates vying for the baton are businessman Keith Blankenship, Dr. Wayne Munro and Vinton County pilot Nick Rupert.

Each candidate is presented with a baton, a recording and sent forth to raise funds whatever creative way they can.

Past candidates have chosen variety of means to put forth their cause. Pastor John Jackson hiked the newly purchased portion of the Rails to Trails, Bill Medley obtained pledges for every mile he rode on his bike, Josette Baker brought her own “one-man band” with her to conduct as patrons filed in the theatre (with a conveniently displayed hat for tips) and David Smith offered plane rides for a sufficient fee.

Potential Maestros have right up through intermission of the season opener for the Ohio Valley Symphony on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. to obtain their financial “votes” and the winner is announced by Maestro Ray Fowler at the end of the concert.

The Ohio Valley Symphony’s season opener features fiddler and violinist Andy Carlson at the newly named Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre.

For more information or to get tickets, call (740)-446-ARTS (2787).