Auburn, Ala. - The Auburn Community Orchestra invites the community to join them in celebrating fall with a FREE concert at Kiesel Park on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. Bring a blanket, chairs, a picnic, and the family dog and enjoy an afternoon of music under the shade trees at one of Auburn's favorite parks.

The program is a salute to soldiers through history and will include Holst’s “Mars, the Bringer of War” from The Planets, an astrological orchestral suite, as well as Beethoven’s commemorative “Victory Symphony,” written for the Duke of Wellington’s victory in Spain. Other featured cinematic scores including Alex North’s Main Title from the classic 1960 film “Spartacus” and Jerry Goldsmith’s Main Title from “Patton,” an Academy Award winning masterpiece. The program features Sousa’s renowned “Marches” and culminates in Tchaikovsky’s celebrated 1812 Overture, written in commemoration of Russia’s defense against Napoleon in 1812.

Founded in 1998, the Auburn Community Orchestra (ACO) evolved from the former Auburn University Orchestra. The ACO is dedicated to the mission of presenting orchestral concerts to the citizens of Auburn, Opelika, and East Alabama and promote awareness of orchestral music outside of the Auburn/Opelika area by performing in other communities throughout the region.

In the event of rain, the concert will be held in the band room of the AU Music Building, Goodwin Hall. For more information, please contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.