10/28/2026
Literature Meets Music!
Thanks to the amazing efforts and incredible generosity of the Athens Symphony Orchestra, conductor/artistic director Brad Maffett, and their supporters, and the initiative shown by Cedar Shoals High School English teacher Tara Stuart, more than 60 Cedar Shoals students had the opportunity this past weekend to attend the symphony’s performance of the live score of the original 1931 “Frankenstein” film!
Ms. Stuart’s Advanced Placement (AP) Literature students are currently reading Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 “Frankenstein” novel, and when she learned of the performance, she saw an opportunity for her students to have an immersive experience with the text and reached out to Mr. Maffett about the possibility of the group viewing a dress rehearsal to remove potential cost barriers for many students.
Mr. Maffett did the group one better and organized an effort among symphony members and friends to raise $2,240 – enough for all of Ms. Stuart’s AP Lit students, plus approximately 40 Cedar Shoals orchestra members to attend the live performance!
“When Tara first contacted me, I immediately felt that we needed to find a way to bring these students to the performance,” said Mr. Maffett. “The 1931 film is quite different from the novel they were studying, and I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for them to experience the story in a different way. More importantly, I wanted them to experience something truly unique—a live symphony orchestra performing alongside a classic Universal Studios monster movie.
“I was thrilled that we could make this possible. I had the pleasure of meeting the students before and after the concert and was thoroughly impressed. Providing young people with opportunities to experience the arts is incredibly important to me, and I hope this is something they will remember for years to come.”
Thank you to Mr. Maffett and the symphony for the experience and for deepening our students’ love and appreciation for both literacy and music!
