I heard from the director of the Wauwatosa Community Band this week. She was finally able to confirm the concert dates. Their first concert is a Children's Halloween concert on Saturday November 1 at 1 PM. Their Christmas concert is Tuesday December 16th at 7:30 PM. Both concerts will be held at Longfellow Middle School at the corner of 76th and North Avenue.
Just a note: the Wauwatosa Community Band always has a fun show. I suggest you attend one (or both) of these concerts, especially if you need a little cheering up. You'll have a great time.
Also of note are the performances coming up this weekend by the Modjeska Youth Theater. This group, based out of the old Modjeska Theater on Historic Mitchell Street, accepts school age kids for performances ONLY if they maintain a B average in their school work. On top of that, their performances are always well done and entertaining. I've personally seen a number of their performances and have always enjoyed them.
This weekend and next the Modjeska Youth Theater performs West Side Story, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in late 50's New York with wonderful (and difficult) music by Leonard Bernstein. Tickets are $10 to $25 and can be reserved by calling 414-384-4550. For more information, see their web site: www.modjeskamilwaukee.com. I saw this group perform this show a few years back and was stunned by how good the performance was. If you have an opening in your calendar the next two weekends, I suggest you take in a performance.
I'll be in the audience next week Friday the 10th. Say hello at intermission!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
We have one, most communities do not!
Many communities have a band, folks volunteering to make life in their communities richer. Some communities have orchestras. But very few communities have a brass band of the British style. The Milwaukee area is lucky to have the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
The first big difference is in the instrumentation. Instead of trumpets, they use cornets. Instead of french horns, they use the upright alto horn (called tenor horns in Europe). The rest of the instrumentation includes trombones (tenor and bass), baritones, euphoniums, and Eb and Bb tubas. As a result the "color" of the sound is much different, very lush. You really have to experience it yourself. Definitely worth taking in one of the concerts of the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
One big difference in the brass band tradition is the idea of competition. In Great Britain, the country is divided into sections. To reach the National competition in the fall, you must place in the top 2 or 3 in your section competitions in the spring. Here in the US, there is the Great American Brass Band Festival in spring, and the US Open Brass Band Championships in northern Illinois in fall. There are many other brass band festivals and competitions, but those are the two big ones.
And if you'd like to see the Milwaukee Festival Brass in competition this fall, reserve November 8 for your trip to St. Charles Illinois at the Norris Cultural Arts Center. While the details are not fully set, Dr. Pat Backhaus emailed me that they were intending to compete at the US Open this year, as they did last year. (In fact, if you bring up the US Open page, on the left side you can hear a short portion of an MFB performance.)
So, for something different, take a ride to northern Illinois on November 8th and take in the US Open Brass Band Championships
The first big difference is in the instrumentation. Instead of trumpets, they use cornets. Instead of french horns, they use the upright alto horn (called tenor horns in Europe). The rest of the instrumentation includes trombones (tenor and bass), baritones, euphoniums, and Eb and Bb tubas. As a result the "color" of the sound is much different, very lush. You really have to experience it yourself. Definitely worth taking in one of the concerts of the Milwaukee Festival Brass.
One big difference in the brass band tradition is the idea of competition. In Great Britain, the country is divided into sections. To reach the National competition in the fall, you must place in the top 2 or 3 in your section competitions in the spring. Here in the US, there is the Great American Brass Band Festival in spring, and the US Open Brass Band Championships in northern Illinois in fall. There are many other brass band festivals and competitions, but those are the two big ones.
And if you'd like to see the Milwaukee Festival Brass in competition this fall, reserve November 8 for your trip to St. Charles Illinois at the Norris Cultural Arts Center. While the details are not fully set, Dr. Pat Backhaus emailed me that they were intending to compete at the US Open this year, as they did last year. (In fact, if you bring up the US Open page, on the left side you can hear a short portion of an MFB performance.)
So, for something different, take a ride to northern Illinois on November 8th and take in the US Open Brass Band Championships
Friday, September 12, 2008
As promised - the 2008-09 Season Calendar
I know you're ready to print this post and decorate your refrigerator! But I'm still waiting for responses from two of the local band directors, and I have no info at all on two other groups. I'll need your help to get that info, more on that later. When the information comes in, I'll add it to this post so that everything will be in one place. And I'll be sure to alert you to the additions in the weekly postings. And now, on with the calendar of concerts!
OCTOBER
11 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform Fabulous 40 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Sheboygan at 7 PM.
18 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their fall concert at 7 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
NOVEMBER
1 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs a Children's Halloween Concert at 1 PM at Logfellow Middle School
2 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Fabulous 40 at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay at 3 PM
8 - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra performs a Fall Fantasy Concert at 7:30 at the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
9 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Fall Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
11 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium at Carroll University
21 - Suburban Concert Band of West Allis performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School
23 - The Knightwind Ensemble performs Pastiche at 3 PM at Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College
DECEMBER
7 - Menomonee Falls Symphony perform the Sing Along Messiah at St. Sebastian's Church in Milwaukee at 2 PM
12 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium
14 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform O Christmas Brass at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall
14 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band perform their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at the Basilica of Holy Hill in Hubertus
14 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Christmas Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
16 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at Longfellow Middle School
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
13 and 14 - Menomonee Falls Symphony present their annual Valentines Day Dinner and Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club. Dinner begins at 6:30.
MARCH
6 - Suburban Concert Band performs a winter concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis
8 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Americans We at their annual Festival concert at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall. This year's concert salutes our Armed Services.
8 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM in the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
22 - Knightwind Ensemble performs their spring concert at Schwan Concert Hall at 3 PM
APRIL
MAY
1 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their annual Spring Benefit Concert featuring the winner of the Concerto Competition at 7:30 in Shattuck Auditorium
15 - Suburban Band of West Allis performs their spring concert at Nathan Hale High School at 7:30
16 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performs Springtime featuring the winner of their Young Artist Competition at 7:30 in the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
17 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their Concerto Concert featuring the winner of their concerto competition at 3 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
17 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
25 - The Knightwind Ensemble perform their 20th Annual Memorial Day Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 1 PM
JUNE
7 - Milwaukee Festival Brass present Intergallactic Brass at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall
I am still waiting for information from the director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. As I mentioned above, when it comes in, I'll let you know and then add it to this list.
Also, I have had no luck finding the schedules for the Milwaukee Concert Band and the Greendale Village Band. If you have information on their season schedules, please post a reply with the information. Thanks.
OCTOBER
11 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform Fabulous 40 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Sheboygan at 7 PM.
18 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their fall concert at 7 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
NOVEMBER
1 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs a Children's Halloween Concert at 1 PM at Logfellow Middle School
2 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Fabulous 40 at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay at 3 PM
8 - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra performs a Fall Fantasy Concert at 7:30 at the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
9 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Fall Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
11 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium at Carroll University
21 - Suburban Concert Band of West Allis performs their Fall Concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School
23 - The Knightwind Ensemble performs Pastiche at 3 PM at Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College
DECEMBER
7 - Menomonee Falls Symphony perform the Sing Along Messiah at St. Sebastian's Church in Milwaukee at 2 PM
12 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 at Shattuck Auditorium
14 - Milwaukee Festival Brass perform O Christmas Brass at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall
14 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band perform their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at the Basilica of Holy Hill in Hubertus
14 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their Christmas Concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
16 - The Wauwatosa Community Band performs their Christmas Concert at 7:30 PM at Longfellow Middle School
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
13 and 14 - Menomonee Falls Symphony present their annual Valentines Day Dinner and Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club. Dinner begins at 6:30.
MARCH
6 - Suburban Concert Band performs a winter concert at 7:30 at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis
8 - Milwaukee Festival Brass performs Americans We at their annual Festival concert at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall. This year's concert salutes our Armed Services.
8 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM in the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
22 - Knightwind Ensemble performs their spring concert at Schwan Concert Hall at 3 PM
APRIL
MAY
1 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs their annual Spring Benefit Concert featuring the winner of the Concerto Competition at 7:30 in Shattuck Auditorium
15 - Suburban Band of West Allis performs their spring concert at Nathan Hale High School at 7:30
16 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performs Springtime featuring the winner of their Young Artist Competition at 7:30 in the Menomonee Falls Jr. High School
17 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band performs their Concerto Concert featuring the winner of their concerto competition at 3 PM at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
17 - Milwaukee American Legion Band performs their spring concert at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School
25 - The Knightwind Ensemble perform their 20th Annual Memorial Day Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo at 1 PM
JUNE
7 - Milwaukee Festival Brass present Intergallactic Brass at 3 PM at the Schwan Concert Hall
I am still waiting for information from the director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. As I mentioned above, when it comes in, I'll let you know and then add it to this list.
Also, I have had no luck finding the schedules for the Milwaukee Concert Band and the Greendale Village Band. If you have information on their season schedules, please post a reply with the information. Thanks.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Couple of things
I was hoping to have a season calendar for the different community music groups in the area, but it's taking longer to put together than I had hoped. I'll put that together for next week.
In the meantime, get out those old instruments, blow off the dust (maybe rinse them out if you need to), and get that lip back in shape...or get the sticks and the practice pad out and get the wrists moving again. Then check the post from August 21 and join in on the fun!
OR maybe you've just chuckled reading that last paragraph, knowing that there is no way you could ever play again. In that case, contact your favorite group and volunteer your time. Every group needs help, some at rehearsals, some only on concert dates. Personally, I know that the Knightwind Ensemble needs some help on dress rehearsal and concert days (two days in November and 2 days in March, and that's all the commitment needed). There is a lot to do and every group can use a little help. So, take a look at your calendar and ask yourself if you could volunteer four afternoons over the next 7 months or so. Then contact your favorite group's web site (see the post from August 21 for the links) and give them a hand. They'll appreciate it very much and you'll feel great about it.
Time is so much more valuable than money...of course, money is pretty good as well!
Finally, don't forget the first concert of the season by the Menomonee Falls Symphony, coming up on Wednesday evening September 10th at 7:30. See the details in the last post.
In the meantime, get out those old instruments, blow off the dust (maybe rinse them out if you need to), and get that lip back in shape...or get the sticks and the practice pad out and get the wrists moving again. Then check the post from August 21 and join in on the fun!
OR maybe you've just chuckled reading that last paragraph, knowing that there is no way you could ever play again. In that case, contact your favorite group and volunteer your time. Every group needs help, some at rehearsals, some only on concert dates. Personally, I know that the Knightwind Ensemble needs some help on dress rehearsal and concert days (two days in November and 2 days in March, and that's all the commitment needed). There is a lot to do and every group can use a little help. So, take a look at your calendar and ask yourself if you could volunteer four afternoons over the next 7 months or so. Then contact your favorite group's web site (see the post from August 21 for the links) and give them a hand. They'll appreciate it very much and you'll feel great about it.
Time is so much more valuable than money...of course, money is pretty good as well!
Finally, don't forget the first concert of the season by the Menomonee Falls Symphony, coming up on Wednesday evening September 10th at 7:30. See the details in the last post.
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