Sybil Cheesman expected to stay in Jackson only four or five years. "That's the longest I'd ever lived in one place," she says. Thirty-six years later, Cheesman has played her flute in the "Pepsi Pops" concerts since the first event. Featuring light classical, show tunes, movie scores and American standards for the past 32 years, this year's concert is Friday, May 9.

Cheesman, 60, first came to Mississippi in 1965 to attend the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. There she met her husband, Robert, a trumpet player, and the couple moved to Jackson in 1972 to join the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra after earning their bachelor's and master's degrees in music. Today, Cheesman is the orchestra's principal flutist.

Born in Idaho, Cheesman comes by her love of music through her father, William Gower, who was a horn player, conductor, and taught music at the college level. Her father started Cheesman and her sister in music on the piano. "Learning to play the piano was akin to learning to read" in her household, she says. "When I started (playing the) flute, it was just like the right hand on the piano."

"It was in Wyoming that I had all my musical stuff come together," Cheesman recounted. Her family moved there the summer before she entered seventh grade. The outstanding musical program in Casper, Wyo., schools set the foundation for the rest of her career; she's been playing in orchestras since then.

"My mother is the only one (in the family) not musical," Cheesman says, "and she said it was her job to clap. She said every musician needs an audience." At 91, her mother is still applauding.

What's it like playing at Pepsi Pops?
It's a big Jackson metro area picnic, with music and fireworks and bugs (laughs)—mosquitoes.

What's on this year's program?
We're doing music from "A Bug's Life," and music from "Jurassic Park." Then we're doing (Sousa's) "Stars and Stripes" when the fireworks come on. (For that one,) the three flutists, we all put our flutes down and pick up piccolos. Right in the middle of our solo, some great big huge explosion goes off in the sky and about knocks us off our feet, (laughs) but it's always a lot of fun. … The music is more light-hearted (than other performances) … We're doing a little disco version of Beethoven's Fifth. People will really like that. It's very low stress and fun; the musicians are able to really have a good time, too.

Resolve a mystery for me: Is it "flutist" or "flautist"?
Well, I always say this: "I'm a flutist because my instrument is the flute. I don't play the flaut." (Flautist) comes from the Italian word for flute, flauto.

What advice would you give to a young person starting out, with dreams of being a professional musician?
I tell (the students) that studying music makes everything else they do better. Because of the discipline it takes to study music … it teaches you not to quit, not to give up on yourself when faced with a daunting assignment.

I also tell them that some of my most enjoyable moments and memories is when I was doing something with my flute. … Music is a gift of God, and I'm glad I am blessed with the talent and work effort to pursue it.

The 2008 Pepsi Pops concert, "Rockin' the Rez," will be held at Old Trace Park, on Post Road in Ridgeland, on Friday, May 9. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., with Mississippi Swing at 5:30 p.m., The Juvenators at 6:30 p.m. and the MSO at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks at dark. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, a picnic supper (there's a contest for best picnic) and insect repellent. Advance tickets are $12 for adults, $15 at the gate; $5 for children under 18. Go to their web site for information.

Previous Comments

ID

129575

Comment

I hope I can make it to Pepsi Pops one day. I've never been before.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-05-10T11:20:03-06:00