The moon rises above the levee, casting a soft glow over the hushed crowd of enraptured listeners relaxing on their blankets. The lilting notes of the violinist float on the summer air as young and old alike sense the special serenity of the moment.
Suddenly, the deep boom of the timpani rouses the crowd into a roar of applause as the orchestra reaches its finale. The spell is broken. But for a moment, on this warm summer's eve, everyone felt that age-old stirring of the heart in the presence of beautiful music.
The love affair between music and the residents of Rome and Floyd County began in the early 1900’s. The oldest symphony in the South, the Rome Symphony Orchestra was formed in 1921. The Rome Symphony Orchestra continues to provide quality orchestral concerts in their subscription series, providing four classical and two informal outdoor concerts to the community. In 2008, Richard Prior was selected, and currently serves, as Conductor and Music Director. Mr. Prior has brought a new commitment and direction to the 70-member, professional orchestra. For more information, call 706-291-7967 or www.romesymphony.org.
The restored, historic DeSoto Theatre, built in 1929, is the home of the Rome Little Theatre today. Their productions are always well-attended affairs that include a regular season of plays, musicals, dramas, and youth programs. Each Christmas "The Nutcracker" showcases the talents of local children.
Chieftains Museum: New residents and visitors to Rome and Northwest Georgia will immediately notice the Cherokee heritage. The Chieftains Museum, originally the home of Major Ridge, a famous Cherokee leader, houses artifacts found on the property that tell the story of the Coosa River Valley from its Native American inhabitants to its traditional southern heritage. It is a gracious 19th century, white clapboard plantation house with a log cabin core dating back to the 1790's. Major Ridge lived in Chieftains until 1837. 706/291-9494
