Join Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer for a Holiday Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. Admission is free.

The Northshore Community Orchestra is the only symphony orchestra in St. Tammany Parish where both youths and adults can make learning and performing music a lifelong endeavor. The orchestra was established in 1987, and has operated continuously ever since. The orchestra performs several full orchestra concerts as well as some smaller group ensembles throughout the year, with genres including classical, jazz, pop, folk, ethnic, traditional, movie themes, and broadway hits. Each year, the orchestra typically performs for Slidell’s Patriot Day ceremony and Christmas and spring concerts.

The members of the orchestra come from Slidell, St. Tammany Parish and from surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans area and south Mississippi. The members represent a diverse assortment of backgrounds such as students, medical professionals, engineers, skilled tradesmen, scientists, homemakers, members of the military, educators, and retirees. Though our student members typically begin with us around late middle school or junior high age, currently our youngest member is just 9 years old, and our oldest is in his 80s. Some of the orchestra’s musicians are family members who play together – spouses, parents, children, and siblings.

The orchestra’s conductor since 2006 has been Mrs. Susan Messina, a Slidell native who has a master’s degree in music from Southeastern Louisiana University, and over 30 years experience as a music educator. She has served as a band director at several area schools, and currently teaches private lessons on a wide variety of instruments at Christy Music in Slidell.

The Slidell Municipal Auditorium is located at 2056 Second Street in Olde Towne Slidell. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free, but a donation to the Northshore Community Orchestra is welcomed.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For the latest information about City of Slidell news and events, visit MySlidell.com or follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook.