(St. George, UT) - The Dixie State College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Paul Abegg, will open the 2012-13 season with its Fourth-Annual “Pops in the Pines” concert, performed at the Historic Pine Valley LDS Chapel in Pine Valley, Utah, on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. This special outdoor concert is free and open to the public to attend.

The orchestra’s program will feature a number of American and classical favorites, including Beethoven’s 5th Symphony and Camille St. Saen’s Dance Bacchanale, along with favorites by Leroy Anderson, Johann Strauss and John Philip Sousa. The program will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, with accompaniment provided by the chapel’s bell tower.

“This has become a tradition for our program and a wonderful way to open our season in a beautiful outdoor setting,” Dr. Abegg said. “This will be a short program the whole family can enjoy.”

In all, the DSC Symphony Orchestra will perform six times this academic year, including four concert engagements at the Avenna Center Cox Auditorium, starting with the annual fall concert on Saturday, Oct. 27. The Orchestra will also ring in the holiday season with a special Christmas concert on Saturday, December 8.

The Orchestra will perform a pair of concerts during the spring semester, beginning with the ensemble’s annual winter concert on Saturday, Feb. 23, and will close the season with its spring concert on Saturday, April 20. The Orchestra will also perform during Dixie State’s Centennial Commencement Ceremonies slated for Friday, May 3, 2013.

All four orchestra concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets for each concert will be available at the door for $5 for adults and $1 for DSC students and faculty and staff with current ID.

For the fifth-straight season, Dixie State is offering a DSC Fine Arts Season Pass (excluding dance performances) for just $99, a 40% savings over regular single-event ticket prices, giving patrons access to all DSC theatre productions, and instrumental and vocal concerts for the 2012-13 season.

For tickets and further information, please call 435-652-7800