Our speaker, Skip Snead presented a very thought provoking talk about the Moody Music School and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. He offered his view of the necessary factors for success of these programs as being broken down to two categories: Resources and Investments.

Resources can come in the following forms: Tangible, Abstract, Personal, Professional, Individual and Community. It comes down to money, people and time. He quoted “Always value time over money. It is the only thing that cannot be replaced.

He asked “How are we improving the lives of those around us?” In the human experience, who are we? How do we define the importance of what makes me different to how it relates to others? What matters most about me?

Technology is important and so is science. It makes the experience do-able – but it is not what makes us human. It is our cultural experiences. WE need to focus more on shaping our own experience in life – and in the lives of those around us.

Culture, Art and Music—-What would a day without it be? The School of Music and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra are the cornerstones of culture in our community. Music speaks in ways that nothing else can. Think about it! Every part of our life is influenced by music. It enhances our experience in this life! The TSO is about improving the human experience with all kinds of music.

If you want to know more, volunteer! It is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the music and musicians that produce it and will improve your experience – therefore allowing you to improve the experience of others. Adam Flatt, the Director of the TSO is by far one of the best in the world and we are so very fortunate to have him in Tuscaloosa.

His principal teachers have included Merwin Crisman, Karen Thornton, and John Dressler, with addit