The show must go on for OPAS

  • Mother Nature brought strong winds and heavy rain, which changed the program, but the show still went on as attendees huddled under umbrellas and bundled up in rain coats to brace for the elements.
    Mother Nature brought strong winds and heavy rain, which changed the program, but the show still went on as attendees huddled under umbrellas and bundled up in rain coats to brace for the elements.
  • Taylor and Katelyn DuBois with parents Lisa and Phil DuBois are all smiles despite rain and winds.
    Taylor and Katelyn DuBois with parents Lisa and Phil DuBois are all smiles despite rain and winds.
  • Talented tenor Timothy Miller, voice of the Atlanta Braves, begins the evening with patriotic songs including the “Armed Forces Medley.
    Talented tenor Timothy Miller, voice of the Atlanta Braves, begins the evening with patriotic songs including the “Armed Forces Medley.

    Unfortunately, Saturday’s Memorial Day concert presented by the Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS) was plagued by rain and strong winds.

    Yet many of those music fans who did show up braved the cold, wet conditions and stayed for “The Music of Billy Joel,” starring Michael Cavanaugh, Stuart Malina, and international operatic tenor star Timothy Miller, who also sings 'God Bless America' during the seventh-inning stretch at all Atlanta Braves home games.

    Several food trucks were onsite, including PONKO, where East meets West in a combination of Japanese and Western cuisine, Dough Daddy Dough, serving Chicago-style pizza and crepes, and as always, the Kona Ice Truck was there serving up a wide selection of frozen treats.

    For more adult tastes, Pat Templeton, distributor for Legends Distillery based in Cummings, Lake Oconee Cellars owner Matt Garafalo with Legends Distillery owners Denise and Michael Gerard were all on hand with free wine samples and a taste of Legends bourbon, also available at Oconee Cellars.

    Despite Mother Nature’s discouragement, pianist Cavanaugh and his band came through with a solid, though soggy, performance.

    “It was very wet, very cold, but everyone had fun, lots of laughter, cheering and singing along,” one brave concertgoer said. “I think all the wine helped out,” she added with a laugh.

    The next event for OPAS will be “A Summer’s Night Dance Party,” with Atlanta’s favorite party band, Band X, on July 14, at Festival Hall in Greensboro. For information on ticket sales visit OPAS.org.

    OPAS
    Oconee Performing Arts Society