Hit the Road

March to a different beat this season with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra

Classical music may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the Rodeo Capital of Texas, but don’t be fooled — Mesquite has more to offer than legendary rodeos and barbecues.

This community also prides itself on enjoying the finer things in life, and the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a unique, cultured experience unlike any other in Texas.

Found only 15 minutes from Dallas, the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra is a hidden gem that’s been bringing music to Texas since 1987.

Based at the Mesquite Arts Center, the MSO isn’t your average orchestra. It’s a volunteer-driven ensemble, steeped in the European tradition of community orchestras and dedicated to making memorable experiences through music.

The symphony is made up of talented musicians from North Texas who infuse their passion and expertise into every performance. Since 2018, the Orchestra has been led by Felix Torres, who previously served as the apprentice conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the executive director of the East Texas Youth Orchestra.

Under the baton of Torres, the MSO embraces the true Mesquite spirit of unpretentious sophistication. This isn’t your typical symphony, with stuffy dress codes and stifling regulations. In Mesquite, they believe music is for everyone and you are welcome to come as you are, whether that's dressed to the nines or however you feel comfortable.

That welcoming spirit doesn’t stop at the dress code. Visitors are encouraged to emulate the atmosphere of the early days of classical music, which more closely resembled a modern rock concert than a modern symphony.

All are invited to express the emotions brought on by the music during the performance, be it through clapping or cheering. Additionally, MSO endeavors to present diverse programs that are impactful for people of all backgrounds, including populations that are historically excluded.

The 2023-24 season is a series of enchanting performances, kicking off with Short Ride in America featuring works by John Adams, Antonin Dvorak, and William Grant Still.

The season continues with The Adventures of Youth, A Winter Celebration, Her Story, and Fantasy Unleashed, and culminates in the grand finale, Into the Fire, featuring pieces by Victor Agudelo and Igor Stravinsky.

Much like the community that hosts it, the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra isn't about the glitz and glamor; it’s about genuine charm and fostering an appreciation for live performance.

Here is the season at a glance:

Short Ride in America - September 16, 2023
7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring John Adams’ "Short Ride in a Fast Machine," Antonin Dvorak’s "Cello Concerto" with soloist Tsun-yuet Emmanuel Kwok, and William Grant Still’s "Afro-American Symphony."

The Adventures of Youth - October 28, 2023
7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring John Williams’ "The Adventures of Indiana Jones," a world premiere by local composer Nicolas Miranda, Juliea Wolfe’s "Fountain of Youth," and the bilingual version of Sergei Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf (Pedro y el lobo)."

A Winter Celebration - December 16, 2023
5-6p m, 7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring John Williams’ "Three Holiday Songs from Home Alone," A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas, Coleridge-Taylor’s "Ballade," and more.

Her Story - February 17, 2024
7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring Florence Price’s "Piano Concerto" with soloist Evan Mitchell and Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s "Scheherazade."

Fantasy Unleashed - April 6, 2024
7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring music from the Harry Potter universe, Video Games Live, Katahj Copley’s "Equinox," and more.

Into the Fire - May 18, 2024
7:30-8:30 pm
Featuring Victor Agudelo’s "Algo va a suceder" and Igor Stravinsky’s "The Firebird."

Photo courtesy of Visit Mesquite

Felix Torres has led the MSO since 2018.

Tickets can be purchased at MesquiteSymphony.org. The Mesquite Arts Center is located at 1527 N. Galloway Ave. Find more to do and enjoy in Mesquite here.

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Holiday Travel News

American Airlines briefly halts flights nationwide for technical issue

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into high gear.

American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by federal regulators.

Just before 8 am Dallas time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday.
The ground stop, according to the time stamps on the FAA's orders, lasted exactly one hour.

American has not expanded on what technical issue grounded the flights and the airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The groundings couldn't come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2.

Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up.

In December 2022, Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike.

Southwest was ordered to pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into the Christmas debacle of 2022.

Excluding the settlement, the nation’s fourth-biggest airline by revenue said the meltdown cost it more than $1.1 billion in refunds and reimbursements, extra costs and lost ticket sales over several months.

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