As the cosmos aligns for a total eclipse in East Texas, we're joined by Richard Lee, the musical director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, for a conversation that promises to be as mesmerizing as the stars themselves. Lee discusses ETSO's upcoming symphonic celebration that will marry the majesty of classical music with the cinematic splendor of composers like John Williams, Strauss, and Holst. He discusses the magic behind curating a soundtrack for the skies, the exhilaration of pairing this auditory feast with the visual spectacle from TJC's Earth and Space Science Center.

Meanwhile, on the terra firma of East Texas, football reigns supreme, and so does the spirit of the "Gridiron Symphony," a triumphant testament to the region's cultural heartbeat. Lee shares the odyssey behind the creation of this homage to high school football, capturing the essence of community pride and the orchestra's intrinsic connection to the local ethos. 

Transcripts of all UT Tyler Radio Connects episodes are available at uttylerradioorg.

(Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain phonetic spellings and other spelling and punctuation errors. Grammar errors contained in the original recording are not typically corrected.)