Bridging the gulf between rock n' roll and classical music, conductor/arranger Brent Havens takes the podium to present Windborne's newest show, The Music of Queen, a program he scored to extend the listening experience of Queen's exceptional tunes. Performed by an orchestra and amplified with a full rock band and vocals, Havens and his ensemble capture Queen's distinct sound while presenting some familiar and lots of new musical colors.

Delivering a fabulous rendition of Freddie Mercury's vocals is Las Vegas star Brody Dolyniuk. "When he came out to audition for the show we knew immediately that he had something special. He not only knew the music but he had clearly listened to every aspect of Freddie's performances," states Havens. "His inflections were spot-on and even the wailing rock sound had that Freddie resonance.  Clearly, there will never be another Freddie Mercury but close your eyes and listen to Brody and you're going to get something very close."

Heightened by rock concert lighting, the symphonic rock hybrid has met with riotous approval. "As always we wanted to keep the foundation of the music as close to the originals as we could and then add additional colors to enhance what Queen had done," says Havens. "The wonderful thing with an orchestra is that you have an entire palette of sounds to call upon. The band is reproducing what Queen did live, as closely as possible within the constraints of personnel, and then having an orchestra behind the band gives the music richness, a whole new feel, a whole different sense of color but still preserving the wonderful music that they originally produced." 

About the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
Since its founding in 1948, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has become Louisiana's oldest continually operating professional orchestra and one of the most respected regional orchestras in the United States. The SSO's mission is: To Embrace - to embrace the community we serve and to be embraced by the same community; to broaden the level of supporters and their involvement with the orchestra; to work across the region with various arts organizations through cooperation and partnerships. To Enlighten - to educate; to enlighten the senses beyond the norm. To Experience - to provide the unique aesthetic experiences of live orchestral music; to give depth and enriching life; to connect people through music; to foster cultural diversity. To Excel - to foster artistic, organizational, and financial excellence.  www.shreveportsymphony.com