A Powerful International Collaboration
There’s a strong story running through the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra’s 250 Years of Being concert and it has become a defining moment of the season finale.
Samuel Vargas Teixeira and the LSO Sound
As Concertmaster of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, which is conducted by Maestro Richard Prior, Samuel Vargas Teixeira is already a familiar and admired presence on stage. But on April 28, he steps forward in a different light. This time as featured soloist in a work written specifically for him. That distinction alone would make this performance special. What elevates it even further is everything surrounding it.
Samuel, a Venezuelan-born violinist whose artistry reflects both technical brilliance and deep expressive warmth, will perform Andrés Martín’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. He will do so on a rare 1890 Giuseppe Bonora violin from Bologna. The historic instrument adds its own voice to the evening’s story.
Georgia Premiere: A Special Musical Moment in LaGrange
Martín, an Argentinian composer, crafted this concerto to highlight Samuel’s unique musical voice, shaping the work around his strengths and sensibilities. It is not simply a piece Samuel performs; it is a piece that knows him.
Adding another layer of meaning, the concerto was commissioned as a memorial to conductor Michael Morgan (1957–2021), honoring a legacy that continues to resonate across the musical world. And in a rare and meaningful convergence, both the composer and the commissioner will be present in LaGrange on April 28th for this Georgia Premiere. Their attendance transforms the evening into something more than a concert—it becomes a gathering of shared purpose, memory, and artistic connection.
International Collaboration in “250 Years of Being”
That sense of connection feels especially fitting within the broader theme of the program. 250 Years of Being celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States—not just as a historical milestone, but as an ongoing story shaped by many voices, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Samuel’s performance sits right at that intersection. A Venezuelan artist performing a work by an Argentinian composer, commissioned in memory of an American conductor and brought to life through the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra—it is a living expression of how deeply interconnected our cultural landscape truly is.
The Concerto
And then there is the music itself.
Martín’s concerto is strikingly beautiful—lyrical, expressive, and full of color. It invites listeners in with moments of intimacy and lifts them into passages of bold, sweeping energy. Knowing it was written with Samuel in mind adds an extra layer; you’re not just hearing a violin concerto, you’re witnessing a musical conversation between composer and performer.
Program Highlights
The evening’s program offers a vibrant celebration of American musical tradition, weaving together iconic works that reflect the nation’s spirit, history, and enduring sense of identity.
Program includes:
- Fanfare for the Common Man – Aaron Copland [read an interesting LSO expansion about this piece HERE]
- Armed Forces Salute – arr. Bob Lowden
- Washington Post March – John Philip Sousa
- The Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa
- America the Beautiful – Samuel A. Ward
- Savannah River Holiday – Ron Nelson
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra – Andrés Martin
Featuring: Samuel Vargas Teixeira, violin
The program builds toward its culminating moment with Andrés Martin’s concerto, performed by Samuel Vargas Teixeira.
Why You Don’t Want to Miss This Performance
Premieres carry a certain electricity—an awareness that this is the first time a community gets to encounter something new, something that hasn’t yet settled into familiarity. There’s a shared sense of discovery in the room, and that’s something you can’t recreate later.
It is not only a celebration of a 250th anniversary—it is a concert shaped by a rich and diverse history. It is not only a season finale—it is a rare alignment of artistic vision anchored by an orchestra of remarkable depth and artistry. And it also showcases a musician who steps forward in a profoundly personal way, reflecting the LSO’s season-long theme of Breaking Sound Barriers.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a moment that feels both intimate and significant at the same time, this is it.
© LaGrange Symphony Orchestra 2025/2026 | All rights reserved | 706.882.0662 | Richard Prior, Music Director & Conductor
