Sunday, March 29, 2015

Community Music in the Community

The next two weeks are slow for Community Music Groups due to Spring Breaks at schools and the Easter Holidays.  I find it interesting that some musicians may take a break from school and may even take a vacation, but many will be performing in religious ceremonies during this time.

If you attend such a service and enjoy the music performed, be sure to let the musicians know you enjoyed their performance.  Even though this blog promotes community orchestras and bands, I believe that the biggest source of community music are these services.  And the musicians involved volunteer their time and effort to make them the best they can. 

Be sure to show your appreciation.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Something Special

Every now and then a unique concert comes up.  One such concert will occur in Oshkosh at the Music Hall on the UW-Oshkosh campus on April 21at 7:30 PM:  a performance of the Oshkosh Horn Choir under the direction of Dr. Bruce Atwell.

For those of you who may not have attended such a concert, the group is made up of many French Horn players, all volunteers from around the eastern Wisconsin area.  Performers come from as far away as the Milwaukee and Green Bay areas for weekly rehearsals.  Last semester, the Oshkosh Horn Choir had 16 horn players on stage - 16 part harmonies, all on French Horn.  It was an outstanding concert.  I especially loved the horn choir arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody!

The group is rehearsing now for the April 21 performance.  This concert will be centered around music from Broadway shows.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend this concert.  If you have the evening open, I recommend the drive to hear this concert.  The group is truly unique and talented.  And best of all, the concert is free.  Hope to see you there.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Happy Anniversary to the MMCCB

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a special concert on Sunday March 22 at 3 PM in the wonderful Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. 

The concert will feature a number of special guest conductors.  And the concert has free admission!

The MMCCB always performs a nice concert.  I've found that the concert is long enough to have a nice variety of music while being short enough for young ones to not get too fidgety.  If you have children and you want to expose them to a more formal concert setting and music, an MMCCB performances is a great place to start.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

More on the Concord Chamber Orchestra

The next concert by the Concord Chamber Orchestra is set for Saturday evening March 21 at 8 PM at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa.  A preview of the concert was posted a couple of weeks back.  Looks to be an excellent concert.

Besides the New World Symphony of Dvorak and the Rococo Theme Variations of Tchaikovsky, the CCO will also be raising funds with special coffees and teas from Colectivo.  You can purchase special Colectivo Coffee blends created for the CCO as well as teas.  (Personally, I like the Mystic green tea.) 

And be sure to stay and mingle with the musicians at the complimentary reception following  the concert Great music and a great time after!  That's a good way to spend a Saturday evening!

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, see the CCO web site.

Hope to see you there!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Special Announcement for the Milwaukee Festival Brass

The MFB will hold a Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast this Saturday morning March 7 at the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill in West Allis.  Unfortunately, tickets must be ordered in advance from the MFB web site.  No tickets will be sold at the door.

Breakfast will be served from 8 to 10 AM at the Applebee's in West Allis at 2865 S. 108th St.  That's on Hwy 100 between National and Oklahoma Avenues.  The flapjack breakfast includes sausage!  Here's a nice way to start the weekend on a great note and help the Milwaukee Festival Brass raise funds.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Concerts Coming Up: Wauwatosa Community Band and Milwaukee American Legion Band

The Wauwatosa Community Band will present their Mid-Winter Concert on Tuesday march 17 at the Longfellow Middle School on the corner of 76th and North Avenue in Wauwatosa.  The concerts are always fun and great for the kids.  For more information, check out Tosa Band's web site.

I also heard from the Milwaukee American Legion Band and conductor Mike Van Pelt a few weeks ago.  They have a concert coming up on Sunday March 29th at 3 PM at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, 9700 W. Grantosa Avenue.  Unfortunately, I do not have a program preview at this time.  However, given that the concert is occurring very near the first day of Spring, I saw that they named the concert for the Equinox - should be fun.  If I am able to get a list of the program, I'll post it.

See the Legion Band web site for more information.