The Holidays are here!

There is one last way to enjoy music from community musicians.  Many musicians will volunteer their time and talents at their respective religious celebrations over the next couple of weeks.  You can enjoy wonderful music as a part of the celebration of the season.  So, whatever particular celebration you keep, may it be wonderful.  The phrase I like to use is Merry Christmas!

The next post will be on January 6.  Enjoy the season!

Horns A Plenty Christmas in Appleton

The last big concert of the season is on the Saturday before Christmas in the Fox Valley.  Horns A Plenty Christmas will be held at the UW Fox Valley Communications Arts Center in Menasha.  If you are a french horn player, you don't want to miss a minute of this.

The guest artist is the nationally known french hornist Martin Hackleman.  He is the Principle Horn in the National Symphony Orchestra.  Formerly, he played French Horn in the Canadian Brass and the Empire Brass.  Mr. Hackleman will hold a clinic for all horn players beginning at noon.  A rehearsal for the Horns A Plenty Christmas performance will begin at 1:30, and the Horns A Plenty Christmas Concert begins at 3 PM.  If you need more information, see the web site.  And keep in mind that the concert is free!

Even if you drive from the Milwaukee area, you cannot find a better event to participate in than Horns A Plenty Christmas.  And the event raises money for scholarships for French Horn players!  Be sure to attend and throw some paper money into the pot for scholarships!

Milwaukee Festival Brass Christmas Concert

The Music Director of the Milwaukee Festival Brass, Maestro Mark Taylor, was kind enough to send me a summary of their concert, coming up on Sunday December 16 at 3 PM.  In fact, it was so good, I am posting it with no alterations, but with one addition:  I'll see you there!


The Milwaukee Festival Brass returns to Wisconsin Lutheran College for “Holiday for Brass II,” an exciting program of holiday traditions old and new. The concert features familiar carols, including “We Three Kings,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “I Saw Three Ships.” The band will also celebrate the season of Hanukkah, whose final day coincides with the performance, with the playing of “Festival of Lights.” And to help prepare for Kwanzaa, the band will perform Jean Francois Michel’s “Mama Africa,” a spectacle of tribal drumming, chants and song mingled with blazing brass riffs.


The performance will feature a solo performance by Stephanie Lippert, bass trombonist for the Milwaukee Festival Brass, in a jazzy rendition of “Winter Wonderland.” Audience members will also be invited to join the band for a special carol sing-along.

The focal point for this musical holiday gathering will be the Milwaukee Festival Brass presenting the North American premiere of Richard Huw Cole’s “Three Ancient Customs.” Originally scored as the test piece for the Third Section of the 2012 British National Finals brass band championship, this work explores three different Welsh traditions, all occurring in wintertime. Cole’s harmonic language is sparse, even austere, which works all the more effectively to serve as a platform for the exciting technical demands and haunting melodies in the work’s three contrasting movements.

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will present “Holiday for Brass II” on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Schwan Concert Hall, Wisconsin Lutheran College, 8815 West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, WI. Tickets are $12, or $9 for seniors and students. Group rates are available. For more information, please visit the band’s website at www.mfbrass.org.

Waukesha Area Symphonic Band Concert

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band on Friday December 14th at 7:30 PM for an evening of Holiday music.  The concert will be in the Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University, and will feature the entire band as well as chamber groups from inside the band.

The tickets are $5 each, and can be purchased at the door.  And, in celebration of the Holiday Season, if you bring 5 food items to donate to the Waukesha Area Food Pantry, you get to enjoy the concert for free!

So, take some time out of the bustle of the season, and head to Carroll University for the WASB Christmas Concert.  Relax, enjoy the music, and know that your food donation will help someone have a happier holiday!

List of Holiday Concerts

In case you were looking for a list of concerts, here's what I have for our area.

November:
26 - Horns A Plenty Christmas, Milwaukee, 7 PM, Uihlein Hall, Marcus Center

December:
2 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 2 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC
2 - Hartland Community Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill National Shrine
14 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 6PM, Basilica of Holy Hill
16 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
22 - Horns A Plenty Christmas Menasha, 3 PM, UW Fox Valley Campus

I'm sure there is at least one concert of interest.  Be sure to mark it on your calendar.

The first concert coming up is the Menomonee Falls Symphony on December 2, presenting a Storybook Christmas.  It will certainly get you in the mood for the Holiday Season!  Hope to see you there.

And, as our one-time classical music radio personality Obie Yadgar used to say, Find A Concert, and go to it!

Confirmation

It is confirmed.  The Horns A Plenty Christmas Concert in Milwaukee will be held on Monday November 26 at 7 PM in Uihlein Hall of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.  The guest artist is Dr. Greg Flint, Horn Professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

And the best part is that admission is free.  If you so wish, you can drop off a donation on the way out to support scholarships for French Horn students.  What a great way to start the Holiday Season.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderfully happy Thanksgiving holiday.  Regardless of the trials we all have, we have a lot to be thankful for, including living in a city with many active community music groups.  How blessed we really are!

A special event coming up

I have heard rumblings about this year's Horns A Plenty Christmas events.  Tradition has the concert in Appleton on the Saturday before Christmas.  This year, the concert in Appleton will be on December 22.  As soon as I have the details of rehearsal and concert times, and have confirmed the event location, I will post it.

I have also heard rumblings about a Horns A Plenty Christmas Concert here in Milwaukee.  The rumblings also include a special performance of a double octet horn choir.  As soon as I can confirm that information, I will post it as well.

In the meantime, as you prepare for the Holiday Season, keep some time to attend these wonderful concerts.  More soon!

I missed one

Sorry about that.  I usually have two or three posts lined up to go for Sunday morning.  This week, I thought I had one ready to post, but I did not.

Turns out that there is not much news right now.  I will have something interesting for you to post on Sunday.

An opportunity to play and some Upcoming concerts

The first bit of information this week is from the Milwaukee Festival Brass.  They will have an open rehearsal on Tuesday November 6 from 7 to 9 PM at the United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay on East Silver Spring.  If you are interested or would like more information, send then an email at manager@mfbrass.org.  Also, if you know of a high school student that would like to apply for the MFB apprentice program, and email to the same address will get the ball rolling.

And one point to add:  I attended the MFB concert last Sunday and their performance was very nice.  A varied program, some serious music, some fun music.  And all performed very well.  I just love the sound of a British style Brass Band - the sound is so rich!  If you missed the concert, be sure to mark their next concert on your calendar:  December 16 at 3 PM at Schwan Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Finally, here a short reminder note about concerts that are coming up in November.

The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band performs on Sunday November 11th at Carroll University at 7:30 PM.  Here is more information.

The Milwaukee American Legion Band also performs on Sunday the 11th at Milwaukee Lutheran High School at 3 PM. 

The Knightwind Ensemble performs on Sunday November 18th at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center at 3 PM.

I am collecting a list of Holiday concerts and will post them soon.  Enjoy the performances!

Concert Preview: Menomonee Falls Symphony

The Menomonee Falls Symphony will perform on Sunday October 28th at 2 PM at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center.  The concert will feature Violinist Stephanie Liu, one of the winners of last year's Concerto Competition.  She will perform the Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 by Jean Sibelius.  This concerto is generally symphonic in scope, departing completely from the often lighter, "rhythmic" accompaniments of many other concertos. The solo violin and all sections of the orchestra have equal voice in the piece.

The second half of the concert will be the Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, based on the tales of The Arabian Nights.  Rimsky wrote a brief introduction that he intended for use with the score, as well as the program for the premiere:  The Sultan Schariar, convinced that all women are false and faithless, vowed to put to death each of his wives after the first nuptial night. But the Sultana Sheherazade saved her life by entertaining her lord with fascinating tales, for a thousand and one nights. The Sultan, consumed with curiosity, postponed from day to day the execution of his wife, and finally repudiated his bloody vow entirely.

Tickets are $15, $12 for Seniors, $6 for Students.  You can find more information about the concert, and you can purchase tickets, from the MFSO web site.

Upcoming concerts and Attention Oshkosh Area French Horn Players

First, don't forget the upcoming concert by the Milwaukee Festival Brass on October 21st at St. Matthews Lutheran Church.  That's going to be a good one!  Don't miss it!

Also, here is an alert for those in the Racine area.  The Racine Concert Band performs on Thursday the 18th at Horlick High School at 7:30 PM.  They will perform one half of the concert while the High School Band performs the other half.  And, of course, there will be a massed band at the end.  I also learned that one of the pieces the Racine Band will perform is Norman Dello Joio's Scenes From The Lourve.  It is one of my all time favorites.  If you have a chance, be sure to attend because it will be a good concert!

Now, on to the topic of Horns.  One of the lesser known community music groups in Southeast Wisconsin is the UW Oshkosh Horn Choir under the direction of Dr. Bruce Atwell.  They have been performing for a few years now, and the quality has always been very good.  If you have not heard a choir of French Horns, be sure to attend their concert coming up the end of November.  But for right now, as they begin their rehearsals, they find themselves a bit smaller in number than they would like to be. 

If you play the French Horn and are interested in playing in this wonderful group, please contact Dr. Bruce Atwell at UW-Oshkosh at this link.  He can provide the best information.  And mark your calendars for Tuesday November 27 at 7 PM in the Music Hall for the performance of the UW Oshkosh Horn Choir.  Admission is free and the music will be wonderful.

Update: Wauwatosa Community Band

The concert calendar is finalized for the Wauwatosa Community Band.  The band rehearses and performs at Longfellow Middle School in Wauwatosa, at the corner of 76th and North Avenue.  The next concert is the annual Halloween Kids Concert on Tuesday October 30th at 7 PM.  This concert will be in the school cafeteria, as the school theater will be unavailable.

Kids in costume will get free admission to the concert, and that includes all of us older kids!  Also, there will be activities and goodies after the concert.  These concerts are always fun and full of a variety of music.  This year the Halloween concert will include music from the movies and a performance of Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev.  And for us music geeks, the band will perform Von Suppe's Poet and Peasant Overture.  It sounds like a great way to spend an evening and get some extra use out of that costume.

Tosa Band (as the members like to refer to it) will also perform a Christmas Concert on December 11, a mid-winter concert on March 19th, and a Spring concert on May 14.  More information will be available on this blog as it develops.  And you can always check their web site!

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Festival Brass

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will present its first concert of the season on Sunday October 21st at 3 PM.  The venue will be St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1615 Wauwatosa Avenue in Wauwatosa.  The Brass will be under the baton of new Music Director Mark A. Taylor.  He was kind enough to send a preview of the concert.  Rather than my paraphrasing his words, here is his summary.

The Milwaukee Festival Brass opens its 2012-13 concert season by welcoming newly-appointed Music Director Mark A. Taylor in a concert devoted to themes of Autumn. Entitled “Homecoming,” the program explores various aspects of the holidays and traditions we enjoy during the fall months. The concert opens with a jazzy, Broadway-style rendition of Hughie Cannon’s wartime hit, “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?” The concert also includes works by Eric Ball, one of the twentieth century’s most prolific and virtuosic writers for British brass bands, as well as Drew Fennell, a young American brass band composer. Douglas Court’s “Harvest Festival March” playfully disguises quotations from a familiar Thanksgiving tune.


The performance will feature performances by three soloists from the Milwaukee Festival Brass: Tom Mohr on trombone, Marty Kuphall on cornet, and Edman Leung on E-flat tuba. Special guest artist Melinda Voelcker, a jazz and contemporary singer from the Chicago area, will join the band for a rendition of Cole Porter’s iconic tune “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To.”

The centerpiece for this table of sumptuous musical delights will be the band’s performance of Philip Wilby’s “Paganini Variations.” This towering, monumental work is one of the most challenging pieces in the brass band repertoire. Constructed around a theme (originally created by Niccolo Paganini) followed by a set of intricate and unique variations, the piece serves as a sort of auditory homecoming: each time the listener hears the familiar opening theme in its new version, it is like a return to a musical home base.

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will present “Homecoming” on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Evangelic Lutheran Church, 1615 Wauwatosa Avenue in Wauwatosa, WI. Tickets are $12, or $9 for seniors and students. Group rates are available. For more information, please visit the band’s website at www.mfbrass.org.

For those who have not heard music played on the instruments of a British Brass Band, be sure to attend this concert.  The music will be wonderful, and the sound of the British instruments is rich and full.  I know I will be there!

Not much news

Not much news in the last week, so this post will be short.  All the community music groups have begun rehearsing, some are still auditioning new members.  As I get more information on the upcoming concerts, I will post it.

A neat concert in Watertown and news from West Allis

Mark September 25 on your calendar.  There will be a special performance at 2 PM in the Auditorium at Luther Prep in Watertown by Dr. Patricia Backhaus.  We know her as the Music Director of the Shorewood Concert Band during the summer months.  But Dr. Pat also performs shows reenacting Helen May Butler, also known as the Female Sousa.

Dr. Pat will be in full costume portraying Ms. Butler, one of the first female band directors.  For background information about Helen May Butler and her accomplishments, please click here.

The concert will be presented for a free will offering.  Dr. Pat's performances are musically enjoyable and always fun.  This concert is not offered regularly, so if you can, be sure to attend.

Now onto the West Allis news.  Some of you might have seen a comment from the Suburban Concert Band as a response to my post about different bands in the area.  The information is important and I want to repeat it today.  The Suburban Concert Band is looking for members for both the Concert Band and Jazz band.  There is a special need for clarinets, trumpets, and trombones.  The group rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7 PM at Nathan Hale High School, 116th and Lincoln Avenue.  If you would like more information, please contact Leslie Hall at (262) 797-8376 or email to paulandleslie@sbcglobal.net.  The post also stated that the Suburban Band is looking for a Music Director for this season.

2012 - 2013 Concert Season Calendar

Here is a list of the concerts for the community bands and orchestras in and around the Milwaukee Area that I found in my search. These concerts are always fun and many are outstanding. We are truly blessed here in the Milwaukee area, to have so many community groups performing for our enjoyment at an extremely low cost. Be sure to mark your calendar to include as many of these concerts as you can.

There are a couple of groups that have not published their concert dates yet. As soon as I learn those dates, I'll get them listed.

And if you have concert dates that I have missed, please email them to me and I will update the calendar and post the additions. Thanks.

OCTOBER
7 - Hartland Community Band, 3 PM, Oconomowoc Arts Center
21 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa
21 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 4 PM, Cedarburg PAC
28 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 2 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC

NOVEMBER
11 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
18 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee PAC

DECEMBER
2 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 2 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC
2 - Hartland Community Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill National Shrine
14 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 6PM, Basilica of Holy Hill
16 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College

JANUARY
No concerts

FEBRUARY
15 and 16: Menomonee Falls Symphony Dinner Concert, 6:30 PM, Silver Spring Country Club
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, Children's Concert, TBA

MARCH
3 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, St. John's Lutheran, Brookfield
3 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 4 PM, Cedarburg PAC

APRIL
21 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee PAC

MAY
3 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
5 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg PAC
11- Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC
12 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
27 - Knightwind Ensemble, 1 PM, Wisconsin Memorial Park

Milwaukee Festival Brass Opportunities for Youth

I wanted to post a special alert to younger musicians about a special opportunity.  The Milwaukee Festival Brass will again open its Apprentice Program to qualified high school musicians.  This is unique because of the wonderful training and mentoring each student receives from the talented adult musicians in the group.

The Milwaukee Festival Brass is unique in the Milwaukee area in that they are a British Style Brass Band using British instrumentation.  So, for example, there are no trumpets in the group, but there are different types of Cornets.  You won't find a French Horn in the MFB, but there are Alto Horns.

The best way to learn more about the Apprentice Program is to check the MFB web site.

And Good Luck to all who audition!

Opportunities to play in community music groups

The Milwaukee metro area is very fortunate to have an active arts scene.  The number of community bands and orchestras is huge compared to other areas of the country.  A friend of mine moved to the South where there were two community bands in the entire state.  He's glad to be back and playing every week - it is a type of relaxation he can get no where else.

If you have thought about getting back into playing, or you were just interested in the different groups in the area, this post is for you.  I've published this information for the last few years, and I still get emails from folks new to the area looking for a group to play with.  It all comes down to a simple fact::  if you live in the Milwaukee area and want to play with a community music group, there are lots of opportunities at all skill levels!

Here's the list that I have.  If you have more information about other groups, send me an email and I'll add it to this post.

Sunday: The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band is under the direction of Karen Lippert. They welcome all players regardless of ability and play traditional concert band music. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site at this time. If you are interested in more information, post a response or send an email and I will forward your information to the director.

Monday: The Menomonee Falls Symphony, under the direction of Mike Kamenski, rehearses on Monday evenings in Sussex at Hamilton High School. An audition is required. Their web site is under construction at this time.  If you are interested in more information, post a response or send an email and I will forward your information to the director.

Tuesday: The Wauwatosa Community Band, under the direction of Donna Kummer, rehearses at Longfellow Middle School. Tosa Band performs as a symphonic band and also as Tosa Jazz, so those folks that like both genre's of music may find a good fit with this group. See their web site for more information.

Tuesday: For the folks in the western suburbs, the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band also rehearses on Tuesday. The group is directed by Rick Kirby, who has also composed music for some of the concerts. Their web site also has more information.

Tuesday: The Milwaukee Festival Brass, the only British style Brass Band in the area, rehearses on Tuesday as well. This group is unique in that they have an apprentice program for high school students as well as a youth British Brass Band. All the details are on their site.

Wednesday: The Milwaukee American Legion Band is a traditional, patriotic-style community band. They are directed by Mike Van Pelt. Their site has information on their history, which is extensive, and on joining.

Wednesday: The Lakeshore Symphonic Band serves the north shore and Ozaukee County communities, performing their concerts at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center. Click here for their information.

Wednesday: The Knightwind Ensemble is the most decorated community band in the area, having been awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll from the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. The group performs very difficult music, and performs it well. As a result, auditions are required. Their web site has all the audition and history information. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a volunteer for the group.

Thursday: The Milwaukee Concert Band is another group with a long history, having been sponsored at one time by the Civic Music Association. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site. There is contact information for this group at the Wisconsin Music Group web site.

Thursday: The Suburban Concert Band is based in West Allis and is sponsored by the West Allis Rec department. Their web site has all the information.

Thursday: The Greendale Village Band welcomes members of all playing abilities. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site. However, the Wisconsin Music Group site does have contact information.

And if I missed information on your group, send me an email and I'll be sure to post it.

The summer season is winding down

Labor Day weekend is not far off, marking the end of summer.  The fall concert season will begin in October. 

And I am going to take a short break while I research the fall concert schedule.  I hope to publish it on Labor Day weekend, Sunday September 2.

So until then, cheers!

Racine Concert Band Summer Finale

The last concert of the summer season in Racine will be at 7 PM on August 19th.  Oboeist Katherine Radeck will perform Autumn Soliloquy by James Barnes.  The band also welcomes mezzo soparano Allison Hull.  Ms Hull is a lecturer at UW-Parkside and teaches at the North Shore School for the Arts in Glencoe, Illinois.  She has also performed with the Skylight Opera Theater and the Seattle Opera. 

In between every piece on the program, a drawing will be held for free dinners at local restaurants.  In order to get your name in the drawing, you must have attended previous concerts and entered the Racine Concert Band Quiz.  Special thanks go out to all the restaurants that donated dinners for the drawing.

And the final Sousa march of the season is the famous El Capitan.  Hope to see you there!

Racine Concert Band August 12

The Racine Concert Band welcomes soprano Ami Bouterse to the stage on Sunday August 12th.  She will perform some light operatic favorites, as well as show tunes from Harold Arlen and Rogers and Hammerstein.

Also featured on the program is clarinetist Diane Kosmala performing Scene and Air by Michael Bergson.

And the Sousa march of the evening is one I bet you are not familiar with:  The Beau Ideal.  Be sure to come to the concert to see if you recognize it.

The RCB next concert

The next concert I get to tell you about is the Racine Concert Band performance on Sunday August 5.  First, because the sun is going down earlier, the concerts in August will begin at 7:00.  The concerts are still at the band shell in the Racine Zoo.

Joining Maestro Mark Eichner is trumpeter Mark Eichner.  The Music Director will perform Trumpet by Candlelight by Terry Kenny.  Also performing is the trombone section with a fun piece called Frolic for Trombones.

The Sousa March for the evening will be the famous King Cotton, written in 1895 for the Cotton States International Exposition.

Remember the 7 PM start time.

Racine Concert Band concerts

Today at 7:30, the Racine Concert Band will perform at the Racine Zoo.  The concert will include music by American composers Morton Gould and Alfred Reed.  The percussion section will be featured in a piece called Haskell's Rascals.  That will be a lot of fun!

Joining the band will be soprano Aimee Wetenkamp, performing show tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein, and Lorenz Hart. She will also sing a song by John Philip Sousa.

And, of course, every Racine Band Concert ends with a rousing march by Sousa.  This week it will be his second most famous march, The Washington Post.

Next week, July 29, the band welcomes former Miss Wisconsin Jeanie Hatfield, performing jazz standards by Burt Bacharach and the Gershwin Brothers.

Chris Tomaloff of the percussion section will perform the fun (and very difficult) Rainbow Ripples on the xylophone.  You don't want to miss that one.

And the Sousa march of the evening is a wonderful march that is not played very often:  The Foshay Tower Washington Memorial March. 

Shorewood Concert Band Finale

The last concert of the summer season for the Shorewood Concert Band is Thursday July 19th at 7:00 in Atwater Park, corner of Lake Drive and Capitol Drive in Shorewood.  Maestra Patricia Backhaus has a number of fun pieces and surprises in store.  I know that the band has been rehearsing a serious piece, the First Suite in E-flat by Gustav Holst.  They have been performing one movement at each of the previous concerts.  On Thursday they perform the entire piece.  It is one of the cornerstones of band literature, and one of my favorites.

Be sure to bring a blanket or a lawn chair.  And just in case the weather changes from the heat wave we have had in 2012, you might want to check the weather and bring a sweater or jacket, as Atwater Park is right on the lake.  I attended a concert their two years ago, and a front came down the lake, dropping the temperature into the low 60's by the end of the concert.  What a change!

See you on Thursday.

Upcoming concerts in Racine

The Racine Concert Band will perform the second of their summer series TONIGHT July 8 at 7:30 PM at the band shell on the grounds of the Racine Zoo.  Tonight the music includes the Overture from the Pirates of Penzance by Arthur Sullivan, an evergreen favorite the English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a number of fun marches, and a performance by the Racine Junior Lighthouse Brigade Band.

Also joining the band is Greg Berg, Professor of Music at Gateway Technical College.  He will perform music from Carmen and a song or two by Gershwin. 

The third concert will be Sunday July 15, also at 7:30 PM at the Zoo.  Rick Sunier will perform Mirror Lake on his euphonium, and Eric Weiss will perform Essay in Blue on trumpet.  Also on the program is music by Edvard Grieg, Pierre Leemans, and a march by Sousa.

The concerts continue every Sunday at 7:30 in July and 7:00 in August.  The last concert of this summer season is Sunday August 19.  Be sure to catch at least one, if not all the concerts.  They are a lot of fun and are free!

One more important item:  be sure to enter the Racine Concert Band Quiz every week to have a chance at free prizes at the final concert on August 19th.  A number of local restaurants have donated free dinners for supporters of the band, and the only way you can have a chance at the drawing is to play the Racine Concert Band Quiz.

A number of items

Lots going on for the 4th

The Racine Concert Band will perform in the Racine parade on the 4th, and perform their weekly concert at the Zoo on Sunday the 8th at 7:30.  The Shorewood Concert Band will perform a special July 4th concert at Atwater Park at 6:30 PM as a part of the Shorewood Family Day Celebration.  And I'll watch my hometown parade in Greenfield to see a subset of the Badger Marching Band perform in the parade down Layton Avenue followed by The Fifth Quarter at Konkel Park right after the parade.  (I bet they have no chops left at the end of the day!)

The Tradition Continues

The Milwaukee American Legion Band has been performing at the Chalet at Humboldt Park as long as I can remember.  They continue that tradition on Tuesday July 3rd at 6:30 PM.  The band will present an old fashioned concert in the park with movie music, show tunes, marches and light classics.

And the lakefront fireworks will be begin at 9:30, so you will have plenty of time after the concert to find a great place to watch the fireworks! 

There is a lot going on this week.  Enjoy the celebration of your freedom!

Hartland Community Band Summer Series

The Hartland Community Band, under the direction of Jack Schulze, has announced their summer season of concerts.  They begin on Friday June 29th in Nixon Park in Hartland at 7 PM, with a Hometown Celebration Concert.  The band will next perform in the Hartland Parade on Sunday July 1 at 1 PM through downtown Hartland.

On Wednesday August 1st, the band travels to Hartford for a joint concert with the Hartford City Band at 7 PM in Woodland Park.  The band returns the next night to Nixon Park for a summer concert at 7 PM.

On Wednesday August 15th, the band performs in Oconomowoc at the City Beach Bandshell at 7:30 to round out the summer schedule.

New this year is a concert on Sunday October 7th at the Oconomowoc Arts Center, entitled the Gib Wiegel Scholarship Concert.  More details will come once they are set.  For more information, see the Hartland Community Band web site.

Shorewood Concert Band

The next concert by the Shorewood Concert Band is Thursday June 21 at 7 PM in Atwater Park, corner of Lake Drive and Capitol Drive.  Be sure to bring a chair or blanket.  And in case of rain, the concert will be cancelled...so let's hope that if it does rain, the rain comes after 8:30!

This season Music Director Dr. Patricia Backhaus has decided to play each of the movements of the First Suite in Eb by Gustav Holst at the first three concerts, and the complete suite at the last concert.  The concert on Saturday the 9th saw the band perform the third and final movement, the March.  This week, they perform the second movement, the Intermezzo.  Be sure to hear all of the movements at the first three concerts, and then come back to hear them in the order designated by the composer on July 19th.

Also on the program on June 21st is a gorgeous piece by Gabrieli:  Sonata pian'e forte,  Seaside Ballad by Jim Duff, and March for Moderns by Jared Spears.  And the concert would not be complete without a march by Sousa.  This week Dr. Pat presents the famous Washington Post.

It is always great fun at the Shorewood concerts.  See you at Atwater Park on Thursday the 21st!

Summer Season Preview: Racine Concert Band

The Racine Concert Band begins its summer season with their 1,428th free concert on Sunday July 1 at 7:30 PM at the Band shell in the Racine Zoo Park on Main Street.  While the programs for each concert are still being set, Maestro Mark Eichner will be sure to have a lot of fun music, including marches, show tunes, light classics, and some big band jazz. 

The Racine Band almost always features different individuals and groups from within the band, and this year will be no exception.  The Band also features local and regional soloists to perform everything from jazz to opera.  And every concert ends with a rousing march!

In July, the concerts will begin at 7:30, while the August concerts begin at 7 PM.  You can hear the Racine Concert Band on July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, as well as August 5, 12, and 19.  All of these concerts will be at the Zoo Park at the Band shell.

The Band will also perform in the FourthFest parade at 9 AM, and will perform before the fireworks at North Beach that evening beginning at 7:30 PM. 

Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair.  And don't forget your thinking cap, in order to participate in the Racine Concert Band Quiz!

Summer season preview: Shorewood Concert Band

The Shorewood Concert Band begins its summer season on Saturday June 9th at Atwater park at 12:30 PM performing at the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Dinner.  Of course, you already know that from this blog.  The band will perform three other concerts, all in Atwater Park, at the corner of Capitol Drive and Lake Drive.  They will be on Thursday June 21 at 7 PM, Wednesday July 4 as a part of the Shorewood Independence Celebration beginning at 6:30 PM, and on Thursday July 19 at 7 PM.

Dr. Patricia Backhaus is now setting up some the programs for those concerts.  They will include the music of Broadway and the Movies, light classics, lots of marches, and a lot of fun!

Be sure to bring a blanket or lawn chair for the concerts.  And bug spray can be helpful as well!

So, mark your calendar for the 4 concert series of the Shorewood Concert Band.  See you at Atwater Park on the 9th!

Memorial Day

There are always concerts and parades in observance of Memorial Day.  Be sure to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Just a reminder that the Knightwind Ensemble concert at Wisconsin Memorial Park begins at 1 PM (Memorial Day May 28) in the Chapel of the Chimes.  Yours truly will narrate A New Birth of Freedom, a musical setting of the Gettysburg Address.  I hope to see you there.

The first concert of the summer season

The first concert of the summer season that I want to pass on to you will be performed by the Shorewood Concert Band.  It will be as a part of the Chicken Barbecue at Atwater Park presented by the Shorewood Men's Club. on Saturday June 9.  The fun begins at 11:30 and continues to 7:30 PM.  But you might not want to wait until the end, as the chicken goes fast. 

The chicken will be prepared again by Rupena's Fine Foods.  I can tell you from experience that the chicken is excellent.  If you have a small appetite, the 1/4 chicken dinner is probably right for you.  For the hungrier folks, the 1/2 chicken dinner is great.  And you can also get a whole chicken to bring home to the family.  Tickets for chicken will be sold at the park, so the only thing you need to remember to do is show up!

The Men's Club will also have entertainment all day at the park.  The Shorewood Concert Band opens the entertainment at 12:30.  They are followed by the Johnny Padilla Quartet.  The last act of the day will be Gleeson's.  Best to make a day of it, enjoy the music, the food, and the park.  What a great way to begin the celebration of summer!

Be sure to mark your calendar and enjoy the Shorewood Concert Band at the Men's Club Chicken Barbecue.  See you there!

Concert Preview: Knightwind Ensemble

The Knightwind Ensemble will present their annual Pops Concert on Memorial Day, Monday May 28 at 1 PM in the Chapel of the Chimes at Wisconsin Memorial Park. 

The Park, in observance of Memorial Day, will be flying their Avenue of Flags:  over 1,500 flags on display throughout the grounds (weather permitting).  The ceremonies begin at 9 AM, with the Knightwind Ensemble concert starting at 1 PM.

Besides patriotic marches and music from Broadway and the movies, the Ensemble will present a work that was written for The President's Own United States Marine Corps Band in 2009.  It is a musical setting of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address entitled A New Birth of Freedom.  And, of course, the concert would not be complete without the traditional Armed Forces Salute.

You might consider coming a bit early to enjoy some of the other performances and ceremonies.  You can also browse the wonderful artwork throughout the building.  And of course, driving through the Avenue of Flags is quite an experience, even if you have done it before.

The events in Wisconsin Memorial Park begin at 9 AM.  The Wisconsin Memorial Park web site has more information.  You can also find more information at the Knightwind Ensemble web site.

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Festival Brass

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will salute the upcoming Summer Olympics with a concert on Sunday May 20 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Under the direction of D. Mark Taylor, the MFB will music with titles, themes, and locales tied to the London Olympics of 2012.  Among the variety of pieces are 'Brilliante' and  'The Torchbearer'!

Brilliante was written for the Childs Brothers as a duet for euphoniums and later adapted for solo euphonium. It is a new variation on Rule Britannia and has become one of the most widely performed euphonium solos.

The Torchbearer was written as the test piece for the 2009 National Brass Band Championships in Great Britain.  The variations are based upon the first phrase of the trio from Eric Ball’s Salvation Army march, Torchbearers.  Test pieces are always a bear to play but wonderful to listen to.  This piece will certainly test the MFB members.



Tickets are $12 for Adults and $9 for Seniors and Students, and can be purchased at the door.  Be sure to mark your calendar for this one.

Concert Preview: Wauwatosa Community Band

Join the Wauwatosa Community Band on Tuesday May 8th for their Spring Concert at Longfellow Middle School, 76th and North Avenue.  Music Director Donna Kummer has chosen the theme And The Band Played On.  The concert includes The Sinfonians, a concert band classic, by Clifton Williams, a number of patriotic marches, and the Aaron Copland classic Lincoln Portrait.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids and seniors and can be purchased at the door. The band wishes to thank the Wauwatosa Recreational Department for their support.

Here is their poster for the concert.

A Cheer for one of our own

I learned that a participant in the Horns A Plenty Christmas program has won a wonderful award.  Congratulation go out to Austin Larson of Neenah, a horn player, currently studying music at the University of Cincinnati.  He is one of the winners of the Neale-Sliva Competition for young artists hosted by Wisconsin Public Radio.

While Austin is in his Junior year of studies from a calendar standpoint, he will graduate in three years from Cincinnati and continue his studies.  He has not chosen a graduate school yet, but has been accepted at a number of prestigious universities including Yale, Julliard, and the Curtis Institute.

The live performance of his winning solo will be broadcast on Wisconsin Public Radio on Sunday April 29 at 12:30 PM.  Check the WPR web site for all the details.  Be sure to tune in and hear all the award winning performances!

I think this is really cool because Austin started with the Fox Valley Horn Choir and Horns A Plenty Christmas as a young student, and has continued with Horns A Plenty Christmas even into college.  And he is moving into the big time, all with the encouragement and support of his friends in Community Music. 

All the best to you, Austin Larson!

It's calm now

Not a lot going on during April. 

The concerts resume in May on the 6th with the Lakeshore Symphonic Band performing at the Cedarburg PAC.  The Menomonee Falls Symphony showcases winners in their talent competition on the 12th at Sussex Hamilton.  The Milwaukee Festival Brass salutes the music of the Olympics on the 20th at Wisconsin Lutheran College.  And finally, the Knightwind Ensemble performs their annual Memorial Day Pops Concert on the 28th at 1 PM at Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Why not mark your calendar for one or all of these concerts...

A bit late

As it turns out, I missed posting yesterday.  Also as it turns out, I had no news to post anyway.

I intended to post a few other dates for the Air Force Band of Mid America's tour of Wisconsin.  For those in the Fox Valley, the band will perform in Kaukauna on April 12 and Clintonville on April 13.  (I hope there are no earthquakes during the performance.)  They will also perform in Manitowoc on April 15, Kenosha on the 16th, Port Washington on the 17th, and Slinger on the 18th.  Finally, the Marcus Center concert will be on Thursday the 19th.  For more information on the tour in general, please visit the Air Force Band of Mid America's web site.

Upcoming Concert at the Marcus Center

I found out that the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts in Milwaukee is presenting the Air Force Band of Mid-America in a free concert on Thursday April 19th in Uihlein Hall at 7:30.  The Band is touring throughout Wisconsin and one of the stops is the Marcus Center.  Great news for us.  We were able to hear the woodwind quintet from the Band perform earlier in the year, and the concert was wonderful.  I'm looking forward to hearing the full band.

Here's what the Marcus Center writes about the group.  The Air Force Band of Mid-America Concert Band represents the professionalism and excellence found every day throughout the Air Force. This diverse, 45-piece ensemble’s repertoire ranges from symphonic band masterworks, to traditional marches, to modern compositions, to pops and jazz. During a concert, you are likely to hear stirring works from contemporary composers as well as the familiar sounds of John Philip Sousa or Major Glenn Miller. The band also features talented vocal soloists, performing a wide variety of popular, classical, and patriotic selections.


This is an all ages, free event. Due to the popularity of this concert, tickets will be required for attendance.  You can pick up tickets from the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water St, Milwaukee, WI, or order tickets via phone at 414-273-7206.  Also, E-Tickets are also available if you use this site.
 
See you there!

Concert Reminders

Just a reminder that the Knightwind Ensemble will perform on Friday March 30 in Appleton in the Chapel of Lawrence University at 8 PM.  Tickets will be available at the door (from me).  The concert will also be performed on Sunday April 1 at 3 PM in the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (with yours truly again selling the tickets).  See the Knightwind Web Site for all the details and a discount offer on adult tickets.

Also, the Oshkosh Horn Choir will perform on Tuesday April 3 at 7 PM in the Music Hall of the Arts and Communications Center on campus.  Admission is free.  Come and hear excerpts of Handel's Royal Fireworks Music.  It should be good.

And don't miss next week's post announcing a great upcoming concert!

Oshkosh Horn Choir schedules their next concert

The Oshkosh Horn Choir, directed by Dr. Bruce Atwell, will perform on Tuesday April 3 In the Music Hall of the Arts and Communications Center on campus at 7PM. They will be joined by Dr. Atwell's students, creating combination of students in recital and a community music concert. The neat thing is that you will hear only French Horns that evening. Featured on the program is a number of jazzy pieces in the first half, followed by some excerpts from The Royal Fireworks Music By George Frederick Handel. I'm looking forward to hearing those excerpts just for the richness of the French Horn sound. The best news is that the concert is free. If you are in the Oshkosh area that evening, I highly recommend attending this concert. Great music and a great deal. You also get to hear the up and coming musicians currently learning their craft. To me, that is a wonderful Tuesday evening.

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band will perform in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday March 31st at 7 PM.  Director Karen Lippert has chosen the theme Surprise! for the concert.  So, while this is a concert preview, I do not have any idea what they will be playing!

The email they sent describes the concert as follows:  Will it be rock, paper or scissors?   Who will be holding the baton?   What type of new (make that old) horn might you see/hear for the first time?  What more surprises are in store for you?  You'll just have to show up to find out [and bring a friend and/or family member with you too]!!! 

If you need more information, please call (262) 538-4464 or email kmlippert@wi.rr.com.

Not a lot of news

But March has arrived and many concerts are coming up.  So, here is a reminder for your calendar.  The Milwaukee Festival Brass perform at 3 PM on Sunday March 25 at Wisconsin Lutheran College.  The Knightwind Ensemble perform twice.  The first is Friday March 30 in the Chapel of Lawrence University in Appleton at 8 PM.  The second is on Sunday April 1st at 3 PM in the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.  Check the web sites for all the details.

Obie Yadgar used to close his shows with the phrase Find a Concert and Go to it!  I've listed three concerts in March that will be well worth attending.  You get to take the next step.

Knightwind Ensemble to perform in the Fox Valley

The final arrangements are being made now for Milwaukee's Knightwind Ensemble to perform in the Chapel at Lawrence University in Appleton on Friday evening March 30.  For those of you who may not be familiar, the Chapel is the site for all of the larger groups that perform on campus.  You can reach the Lawrence University area by taking College Avenue east from Highway 41, and continue through the downtown area.  The University is just past downtown and the Chapel is right on College Avenue.

The program, Songs and Dances, is the same one that will be presented at the South Milwaukee PAC on Sunday April 1.  The post from Sunday February 5 has a description of the program written by the KWE Music Director Dr. Erik Janners.  You can also check the Knightwind web site for all the details.

The Concert in the Lawrence U. Chapel will begin at 7 PM.  Tickets will be available at the door.  I hope to see you there.

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Festival Brass

Join the Milwaukee Festival Brass, under the direction of Dr. Martin Rowden, on Sunday March 25th at 3pm in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College.  The concert is entitled Best of the British, and will feature all music from the UK.

Included on the concert is a fantastic championship test piece: Journey into Freedom by Eric Ball, one of the most renown composers of British Brass Band music. For those of you who are not familiar, Brass Bands in Britain compete in performance in their respective divisions, not unlike college athletic teams here in the US.  Journey into Freedom is a piece that all the competing bands would play for judges (who are screened from the performers so that only the music performance is judged).  Test pieces, such as this one, are deliberately difficult, and will test all of the musical and technical qualities of the band.

Other offerings on the concert include Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst, Londonderry Aire, and music from the motion picture 633 Squadron.

The concert is also a fund raiser/non perishable food raising occasion for Hunger Task Force. Bring 2 or more non-perishable food items to the event and get a discount on admission!

For more information, please check the MFB web site:  http://www.mfbrass.org/

Concert Preview: Kettle Moraine Symphony

Mark your calendar for Sunday February 26th at 3:30.  The Kettle Moraine Symphony will present a Mostly Mozart concert at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in West Bend.  The concert will feature selections from “The Marriage of Figaro” K. 492, as featured in the play and film “Amadeus”, with special guest vocal artists from the West Bend Community. Mozart's contributions will conclude with the ever-popular “Eine Kleine Nachtmusic”.

There are also two pieces from Serge Prokofiev: His “Classical Symphony” (No.1 in D Major) and his Serenade No. 13.

See the Kettle Moraine Symphony web site for more information.

Concert Preview: Knightwind Ensemble

I received some information from the Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble, Dr. Erik Janners.  The concert is on Sunday April 1 (no foolin') at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.  Rather than my rewording his summary of their upcoming concert, here are his words.

The theme of the Knightwind Ensemble’s spring concert is “Songs and Dances.” The concert opens with Julie Giroux’s wonderful overture To Walk With Wings, which is a concert overture style work that traces the development of flight. This is followed by Don Hunsberger’s masterful transcription of JS Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, originally for organ. The first half closes with a performance of Martin Ellerby’s Venetian Spells. Written in 1997, each of the four movements of this work pays homage to a great composer associated with the city of Venice, including Vivaldi, Stravinsky, Monteverdi, and Gabrieli.


The second half of the concert opens with the major work of this program, Piece of Mind for Wind Ensemble by the composer and pianist Dana Wilson. The work, also in four movements like the Ellerby, showcases the composer’s thoughts about various states of mind through music, with movement titles including Thinking, Feeling, Remembering, and Being. A truly incredible work, infused with jazz elements, eastern scales, and a shocking rhythmic intensity. Following that is Percy Grainger’s classic Colonial Song, and we close the concert with David Holsinger’s Scootin’ on Hardrock, which is subtitled “Three Short Scat-Jazzy Dances.” This is one of the most enjoyable works I know from the standpoint of sheer fun, and really will make you want to get up and dance!

For more information, see the Knightwind Website.  You can also visit the South Milwaukee PAC web site.

Tutti - Everyone plays

This week's news is about a special fundraising event happening at The Academy of Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, on Friday February 3.  The event is called Tutti and it raises funds for music scholarships.  I've attended it in the past and had a wonderful time.  The thing I like best about it is that organizers priced the event reasonably - I've wanted to attend some fundraising events for other groups but could not afford the high cost of the ticket.  Nearly everyone can attend Tutti, and all will have a great time.

This year's event will be held in the Somerset Room at the Warch Campus Center from 6:30 to 9:30 PM.  Entertainment during the evening will be provided by Music Academy faculty and students.  Desserts provided by Bon Apetit are included.  There will be silent auction items of all kinds (judging from last year's selection) as well as a live auction.  This year, some auctions are available for bid online before the event.

One of my favorite purchases at Tutti is the chocolate boxes from Wilmar Chocolates.  Not only are the chocolates wonderful, but there is a surprise in each box.  It might be a dollar bill, or it might be a certificate for jewelry.  And the chocolates are so good, that every box is a winner!

Advance tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the Academy of Music at 100 Water Street in Appleton.  You can also purchase tickets online from the Tutti web page.  Tickets will be available at the door for $35.

I'll be there, barring a nasty winter storm.  I hope to see you there as well!

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra

Join the Menomonee Falls Symphony as they present Romance and All That Jazz, a special dinner and concert presented on February 10 and 11, 2012 at the Silver Spring Country Club.  Doors open at 5:30 PM (cash bar) with dinner serving at 6:30.  The concert begins about 7:30.

Maestro Kamenski welcomes jazz artists Pam Duronio and Tim Stemper for an evening of romantic music, both jazz and symphonic.  It is a perfect evening for you and your loved one held in a wonderful setting.  And the MFSO welcomes a second special guest:  Milwaukee Saxophone Legend Warren Wiegratz.  Great jazz and symphonic sounds for you and your special someone!

Tickets are just $45 for the dinner and concert.  You can find all the details about the event at the MFSO web site.  Just click on the Brochure link.  Or you can phone Barb Osberg at 262-679-3905.  Note that all tickets will be sold in advance only:  no tickets will be available at the door.

The reservation deadline is February 6.  Don't miss out on this event.

The Symphonic Music of Genesis

Back in October I previewed the concert with the Menomonee Falls Symphony and special guest Daryl Stuermer and his band.  The two groups collaborated on a symphonic treatment of the music of Genesis.

For those who might be interested in this type of concert, I have some good news.  Daryl Stuermer recently updated his web site to include some of the pieces from the concert with the Menomonee Falls Symphony.  Two of my favorites, Something Happened On the Way to Heaven and Invisible Touch are included on the updated web site.  To access the videos, choose the DS Symphony Link and click on Videos.  You can also find a number of videos on You Tube if you search for Daryl Stuermer.

Congratulations to the Menomonee Falls Symphony on their performance, some of which can now be enjoyed over and over again.  Be sure to check it out.

Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass Openings

The new year brings new opportunities, and 2012 is no exception.  If you know of a budding musician between the ages of 11 and 17, you'll be interested to know that the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass has openings in all sections.  The Youth Brass is an extension of the Milwaukee Festival Brass to introduce young musicians to the music of the British Brass Band, but it also trains the members for virtuoso brass and percussion performance.

The Youth Brass is under the direction of Dr. Walter H. Rich.  Dr. Rich is currently on the faculty of Edgewood College, where he conducts their concert band.  He also conducts the Sheboygan Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Ocomonowoc American Legion Band.  As a Tubist, he performs with the Sheboygan Symphony and the Smashing Tubas Quartet.

I got to see the Youth Brass perform at the Milwaukee Festival Brass Christmas concert in December, and they are a high quality group, but a bit small.  A few more members will fill out the sound quite nicely.  Be sure to pass this information on to young musicians you know.

The Milwaukee Festival Brass website has more details. 

Happy New Year

As promised, here is the list of concerts up to June of 2012.  As Obie Yadgar used to say on the old WFMR, "Find a concert and go to it!"

JANUARY

No concerts

FEBRUARY
10 and 11: Menomonee Falls Symphony Dinner Concert, 6:30 PM, Silver Spring Country Club
26: Kettle Moraine Symphony Mostly Mozart, 3:30, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, West Bend

MARCH
4 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg PAC
25 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
30 - Suburban Concert Band, 7:30 PM, Nathan Hale High School
30 - Knightwind Ensemble, 7:30 PM, Chapel at Lawrence University, Appleton

APRIL
3 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee PAC

MAY
6 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg PAC
11 - Suburban Concert Band, 7:30, Nathan Hale High School
12 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30 PM, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center
15 - Milwaukee Festival Brass Youth Brass, 7 PM, Mount Mary College
19 - Kettle Moraine Symphony Pops Concert, 7:30 PM, Washington County Fair Park
20 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
28 - Knightwind Ensemble, 1 PM, Wisconsin Memorial Park