LANETT — At Thursday’s meeting of the West Point Rotary Club, Marshall Sapp talked to fellow members of the club about high-quality entertainment available in the local area that many people may not be aware of. As examples, he mentioned the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, which has performances throughout the year at Callaway Auditorium, the Atlanta Symphony, which has performed at Callaway Gardens, and closer to home, the students at Point University.

Sapp said he’d taken in a number of performances by the LaGrange Symphony, had been most impressed and thought the general public should be more responsive for what they are doing.

“They are trying to get people involved,” he said. “They are helping hundreds of children in Troup County, teaching them to play instruments.”

Students at West Point Elementary School, for example, are eligible for annual scholarships. This will allow them an opportunity early in life to learn to play such instruments as the violin and he cello.

Young musicians from the Troup County area will be showing off their talent in “An Evening of Mozart” to be performed on March 19 at Callaway Auditorium, which is located across Dallis Street from Callaway Stadium. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. EST.

The LaGrange Symphony will perform Gustav Holst’s famed work, “The Planets” on April 23.

“The LaGrange Symphony wants to know what the public wants,” Sapp said. “Today’s millennials may not be into the music of the eighteenth century, but they like the music of John Williams in Star Wars.”

At some point, the LSO will likely play at Sweetland in downtown LaGrange.

“They just love performing,” Sapp said. “They could be the backup orchestra for a popular singer who performs there.”

Sapp said he appreciated what the symphony was doing in local schools.

“They’re very supportive of local artists, and they do great work with local schools,” he said.

Members of the club agreed that the LaGrange Symphony was a tremendous resource for the west Georgia-east Alabama region.

“They have a phenomenal show for children,” said Dr. Kelli Hodge, superintendent for Chambers County Schools.

“Their concerts are really amazing,” said Larry Nix, “and it’s not that far away to attend events at Callaway Auditorium.”

Musicians with the LaGrange Symphony have performed at local events such as the annual dinner by the Fort Tyler Association.

Sapp said he’d enjoyed a performance by the Atlanta Symphony on the beach at Callaway Gardens and had been most impressed by performances he’d attended at Scott Performance Hall on the campus of Point University.

“Those students are so musically talented,” he said.