The Manchester Symphony Orchestra soared to new heights May 3 under the direction of Conductor Debra Lynn with the final concert of its 87th season.

Audience members leapt to their feet to applaud the world premiere of “The Flock” concerto, composed by Jacob Warren and Grant Flick, and then again for the “Flying Theme” from E.T. (The Extra-Terrestrial).

The historic Eagles Theatre in Wabash was the perfect venue for the Take Flight! concert, which celebrated contemporary composers and was inspired by the notion of flight — from mythology, to invention, to airplanes, birds, clouds, and even a small alien on a bicycle.

The concert not only included the world premiere of “The Flock” but featured the U.S. premiere of a little-known piece by an Irish composer, Seóirse Bodley. “A small white cloud drifts over Ireland” evoked the feeling of what it would be like to be a cloud looking down on the land, catching bits of melodies and birdsong along the way.

“Inventing Flight” by William Bolcom followed in three parts, the first recreating the tale of Daedalus building artificial wings of wax and feathers, and his son Icarus falling to his death after flying too close to the sun; the second celebrating Leonardo da Vinci’s many designs of flight that one day, long after his death, became reality; and an exuberant celebration of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s successful flying machine.

“The Flock” came after intermission, which included a rousing Kahoot! trivia quiz, with more than 50 people taking part.

Warren & Flick used a “flock” of instruments, including the nyckelharpa, five-string octave tenor guitar, double bass, and violin, to bring forth the spirit of jays, owls, and kingfishers. Usually performing as a duo, this was their first performance with a full orchestra, and the brief silence as the last note played was followed by shouts and a standing ovation. After returning to the stage, the two performed an encore piece.

The finale, the “Flying Theme” from E.T. (the Extra-Terrestrial), by John Williams, ended the 87th season on a high note.

A highlight of the concert was the surprise presentation of the Life Member honor to longtime symphony member Mark Huntington. Not only has he played clarinet and bass clarinet with the symphony since he was a Manchester College student in the 1970s, he played with the MSO throughout his career as a professor and after his retirement from the university. He has served as chair and is the orchestra representative on the Manchester Symphony Society.

We want to thank MPS Egg Farms, the Indiana Arts Commission, and our many donors for making this concert possible.

Finally, our thanks to the MSO’s talented and dedicated musicians who joined Lynn in taking on the challenge of contemporary works, especially the world premiere. With this premiere, the MSO joined Warren & Flick to create a definitive performance against which other symphonies will measure themselves in the future.