Seated in the foyer, the orchestra played pops music for an hour, filling the library with the sounds of such classics as Sound of Music, New York, New York, Titanic, Phantom of the Opera, and ending with a rousing rendition of Star Wars.

As the orchestra began playing Star Wars, the evil Darth Vader suddenly appeared from within the many rows of books lining the library walls.

The orchestra’s conductor, Dr. John Ricarte, ever in control, quickly dispatched Vader and saved the evening’s festivities from an early conclusion.

The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1992 and is made up of amateur and professional musicians from throughout the area. The orchestra provides music for a variety of events as a service to the residents of Fort Bend County.

“We especially enjoyed playing for such a great audience and for such a worthy cause as the Literacy Council,” said Dr. Ricarte, “and I am glad that I was able to prevent the sinister Darth Vader from disrupting the evening,” he laughed.

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