Sunday, December 22, 2019

Have a wonderful Holiday Season

And be sure to thank the volunteer musicians you hear during the season.  They play for the joy of playing but they do appreciate knowing that the audience enjoys it as well.

The next post will be in January.  Until then.....

Sunday, December 15, 2019

A Holiday Favorite - Horns a plenty Christmas

It will be worth the trip to Appleton to the Fox Valley Lutheran High School on Saturday December 21 to attend the Horns A Plenty Christmas concert at 3:30 PM.  The horn players all over Wisconsin will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for largest Horn Choir performing Christmas Music. 

If you have not heard a performance of Horns A Plenty Christmas, it is worth the effort to attend.  The horn players all volunteer for the performance.  There is no admission charge, although free will offerings are accepted.  All money goes to scholarships for young horn players.

So take time out of your busy holiday schedule for some wonderful music the afternoon of the 21st.  See you there. 

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Waukesha Area Symphonic Band Holiday Concert

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band on Friday December 13 for their Holiday Concert, which begins at 7:30 in the Waukesha South High School auditorium.  Free admission to everyone who brings a donation for the Food Pantry of Waukesha County

Featured on the program is music by Michael Ball, Percy Grainger and Alfred Reed.  Take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the music of the season, and maybe support the food pantry as well. 

For more information, see the WASB web site.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Menominee Falls Symphony upcoming concert

The Menominee Falls Symphony will present Christmas Fairy Tales and Fantasies on Saturday December 14 at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center.  The music begins at 7:30.

The MFSO will perform some wonderful Christmas favorites, including selections from the Snow Maiden and Babes in Toyland.  The program is especially geared for younger audience members to become more interested in classical music.

Joining the orchestra is internationally acclaimed Milwaukee accordionist Stas Venglevsky.  He will perform the Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra by Anthony Gala-Rini, as well as music from the Nutcracker and other Holiday favorites. 

Tickets are $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, and $6 for Students, and can be purchased from the MFSO web site or at the door.  See you there. 

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Concord Chamber Orchestra concert

"If music be the food of love, play on."

Join the Concord Chamber Orchestra on Saturday evening December 7 for the second of their concert devoted to the music surrounding the works of William Shakespeare.  This concert, Twelfth Night, will focus on Christmas music from the time of Shakespeare, including the Christmas Opera Ahmal and the Night Visitors. 

  • Lunatics and Lovers: Overture and Bacchanalia by Linda Robbins Coleman
  • Overture to Twelfth Night, Op. 73 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
  • Fantasia on Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams
  • Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti with the Chorus from the Milwaukee High School of the Arts
And special thanks go out the Affiliated Dermatologists for their support for this concert.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for Seniors, and $15 for Students.  For more information or to purchase tickets, see the CCO web site.  
 

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Upcoming concert: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band will perform their fall concert on Sunday November 17 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College, 88th and Wisconsin Avenue. 

The MMCCB concerts are always light and a great place to introduce younger kids to music.  And admission to the concert is free.  For more information, see the MMCCB web site.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Waukesha Area Symphonic Band Concert

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band on Friday November 8 at 7:30 as they explore Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, in the Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University. 

The program includes music by modern composers Frank Ticheli and Martin Ellerby as well as Giannini and Respighi, from an Italian March to an Italian Polka to the Pines of the Appian Way.  An interesting program to be sure. 

The concert will benefit the Healing Hearts of Waukesha County (see their web site for more information.) 

Tickets can be purchased at the door.  For more concert information, see the WASB web site.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

The Kettle Moraine Symphony will present America!, a concert dedicated to veterans, on Sunday November 3.  The concert begins at 3 PM, with a pre-concert presentation beginning at 2 PM, at the Silver Lining Center in West Bend High School.  Veterans are admitted to the concert free. 

On the lighter side, the orchestra will perform the Armed Forces Salute of Bob Lowden, and Gershwin's An American In Paris.  The second half of the concert will be Dvorak's ninth symphony, From The New World, an evergreen favorite. 

The symphony will again offer free bus transportation to concerts. Please call 262-334-3469 to reserve a spot. There are two pick-up locations:

  • 1:00 at the West Bend Senior Center (the old Pick n’ Save north), 2378 W. Washington St.
  • 1:10 at Cedar Ridge Apartments, 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend
Please be sure to call and reserve a spot.

If you need more information or to purchase tickets, please see the KMS web site.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Menominee Falls Symphony concert this Saturday

Join the Menominee Falls Symphony Orchestra on Saturday October 18 for Fairy Tales and Fantasies.  The concert will begin at 7:30 PM in the Sussex-Hamilton Fine Arts Center. 

The first concert of the season is a lighter concert, designed to introduce students to the world of classical music.  In this concert, the orchestra presents ballet and movie music from fantasies, including music from the Harry Potter movies, the story of Peter and the Wolf, and others.  Members of the audience, of any age, are invited to sit onstage within the orchestra, to hear what it sounds like in the midst of the music making.  This is a great opportunity for a student to learn more about picking up an instrument.

The concert will also feature singer / songwriter / recording artist Jayne Taylor.  Her ability to sing in a number of different styles makes her perfect for this wide range of music. 

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please see the MFSO web site

Monday, October 7, 2019

Concord Chamber Orchestra this Saturday

The Concord Chamber Orchestra presents its first concert of the season this Saturday October 7 at 7 PM at St. Sebastian Church (5400 W. Washington Blvd.).

This season, the CCO will focus on music inspired by the works of Shakespeare.  This concert will focus on the Comedies:

  • Overture from As You Like It, John Knowles Payne
  • "Love Scene" from The Merchant of Venice, Engelbert Humperdink
  • Suite from The Fairy Queen, Henry Purcell
  • Excerpts from A Midsummer's Nights Dream, Felix Mendelssohn
The orchestra will be joined by actors from the Feast of Crispian for a number of narrations.  This nonprofit organization brings professional actors and veterans together to strengthen the emotional resources to overcome trauma and reintegration issues.  

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

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The first concert announcement of the season

The Kettle Moraine Symphony begins its season on Sunday September 29 with a Family Concert at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School.  The concert will include the orchestra members sitting side by side with student members of the West Bend High School Chamber Orchestra.  The concert begins at 3 PM.  Note to all football fans:  the Packers are not playing on that day.  It's a great day for a concert!

Featured on the concert is the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Associate Concertmaster, Jeanyi Kim.  She will perform "Autumn" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  The concert will also introduce student audience members to the different areas of the orchestra through Britten's Young People's Guide to the Orchestra.  After intermission the children can enjoy hands-on activities and learn more about the orchestra while parents, and more adventurous students, enjoy Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $5 for students, family rates are $30 for Two adults w/children and $20 for One adult w/children.  Tickets may be purchased online by going to the KMS website, or by check made out to the Kettle Moraine Symphony, PO Box 52, West Bend, WI 53095. Tickets are also available at the following outlets: Horicon Bank in West Bend,  White House of Music in West Bend and Germantown, and Douglas Jewelers in Hartford.  More information is available on the website or by calling 262-334-3469.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

A new season begins....

The first post of every season lists the different community music groups in the area.  If you are a musician, and you would like to play, there are groups at all talent levels that would love to have you play with them.  If you know of other groups, drop me an email and I will add them to the list.  I've organized the list by the day of the week that they rehearse.

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. You can check their web site for more information.

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.   You can get more information on the concerts, and on joining the orchestra, from their 
web site.

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 folks who like both genres 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's Conductor Laureate, Rick Kirby, 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. 
All the details are on their site.

Wednesday:  The Concord Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Jamin Hoffman, rehearses at Nicolet High School and requires an audition.  See their 
web site for information.

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 becoming a member.


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.

Thursday: The Milwaukee Concert Band is another group with a long history, having been sponsored at one time by the Civic Music Association. See their web site for more information.


Thursday:  The Greenfield Concert Band is relatively new, having been in existence for only a few years.  They rehearse at Greenfield High School and do require an audition in order to place new members into the sections.  See their web site for information.

Thursday: The Greendale Village Band welcomes members of all playing abilities. They are a part of the School System in the Village of Greendale.


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

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The summer season is over

The Milwaukee Community Music Blog will take a break until September.  Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Don't miss this free concert

The United States Coast Guard Band will perform a free concert in Milwaukee during their 2019 Great Lakes tour.  The concert will be at the Marcus Center on Saturday August 10 beginning at 7 PM. 

While the tickets are free, you do need to get tickets.  Please call the Marcus Center box office for tickets:  414-273-7206.  For more information, see the Marcus Center web site.

Don't miss your chance to hear a great concert band! 

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Summer band concerts at the Marcus Center

The Peck Pavilion will be filled with the sounds of community bands this summer.  The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts will again host the Summer Band Concert series at the Peck Pavilion.  The venue has great sound and the concerts are free.  It is a great way to introduce younger ones to concert music.

The first concert will feature the Milwaukee Festival Brass on Sunday July 21.  Later, on August 18, the Milwaukee Police Band will perform.  All concerts begin at 2 PM.

For more information, see the Marcus Center Live at the Peck web site.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Summer concerts in Racine at the Zoo

The Racine Concert Band will again perform a series of summer concerts at the Racine Zoo on Sunday evenings beginning on June 30.  The concerts will run every Sunday evening at the amphitheater through Sunday August 11. 

Each week is a different program and theme.  The music will range from light classical to Broadway Show tunes to music from the movies.  And every concert will include at least one march. 

These concerts are a great way to introduce young people to classical music.  The concerts are about an hour long (maybe a tad longer) and feature lighter, shorter pieces.  And if the young one's energy level is very high, there is a playground just at the top of the hill.

This year, RCB brings back the Racine Concert Band Quiz and the Summer Sweepstakes Spectacular!  When you enter the quiz (a question of useless information), the correct answers are put in a drawing for an American Flag provided by Ace Heating and Cooling.  But all answers, correct or not, are entered into the Sweepstakes for a great prize given away at the last concert.  If you come each week and enter each quiz, you have many chances to win the big prize. 

The concerts in June and July begin at 7:30, while the concerts in August begin at 7 PM.  The easiest way to enter the zoo on Sunday evenings is at the east end of Augusta Street near Lake Michigan, but you can also enter from Main Street.  And, please keep in mind that the Zoo grounds themselves are not open during and after the concert. 

Hope to see you at one (or all) of the concerts at the Racine Zoo by the Racine Concert Band.  Happy Summer! 

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Summer concerts by the Concord Chamber Orchestra

The Concord Chamber Orchestra will perform four free concerts this summer season.  The group will present music from the movies, Broadway, and popular and patriotic favorites.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy fun music in wonderful venues at no cost.  These programs are wonderful for introducing orchestral music to younger ones.  And if they want to run around a bit, that is not a problem at any of these locations.  Here's the list:


  • Boerner Botanical Gardens in Whitnall Park, 6:30 PM - The CCO opens the summer season of concerts at the Gardens.
  • Wednesday July 24 in New Berlin at the Library Green Park at 6:30
  • Sunday July 28 at Franklin's Lions Legend Bandshell at 2 PM
  • Wednesday August 7 in Glendale at the Maslowski Glendale Community Park at 7 PM
With locations all over town, there is one concert nearby.  Be sure to put it on your calendar and enjoy the music this summer.


Sunday, June 2, 2019

The first concert of the season is in Shorewood!

The Shorewood Concert Band will perform at the Chicken BBQ hosted by the Shorewood Men's Club.  The annual (and quite delicious) event will be held, rain or shine, at Atwater Park on Saturday June 8.  The park is at the corner of Capitol Drive and Lake Drive, and chicken will be served all day. 

The band will be the first of the entertainment groups to perform, beginning about noon for about an hour.  Other groups will also perform later in the day.  The chicken will again be prepared by Rupena's, and in my opinion, there is none better!  Enjoy some chicken in the park, or take some home for the family, and you will also be supporting a different groups in Shorewood, including the concert band. 

See you there! 

Sunday, May 19, 2019

A Summer Tradition continues

Chill On The Hill returns to Humboldt Park this summer.  And with it comes the continuation of a summer tradition:  a concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band.

The Legion Band will perform on Tuesday July 2 with a concert of patriotic tunes and music from Broadway and the movies.  They have been playing at Humboldt Park as long as I can remember.  The concert is always fun and worth attending.

And the week before, the Milwaukee Symphony performs at the Chalet stage.  This is a great way to catch the MSO in a nice setting, and a wonderful way to introduce the younger ones to symphonic music.  Mark these dates on your calendar.

And here is the schedule for all of the concerts at Chill On The Hill for 2019 courtesy of OnMilwaukee.com.

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Just a reminder

The Concord Chamber Orchestra presents North South at St. Sebastian's Church on Washington Boulevard on Saturday May 11 at 7 PM.  See the CCO web site for all the details.  This is one of the last concerts of the spring season, and it should be a good one.  See you there! 

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Special Free Concert - The US Air Force Airmen of Note

The Marcus Center announced that the Airmen of Note (US Air Force jazz ensemble) will be performing in Uihlein Hall on Wednesday May 1 beginning at 7:30.  Special thanks to Waterstone Bank for sponsoring the concert. 

Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the Airmen of Note is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Forces dance band, the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist.
 
Through the years, the Airmen of Note has presented its own brand of big band jazz as well as more contemporary forms of jazz to audiences via annual tours across the United States, deployments around the world and local performances throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C. For smaller, more intimate venues, the Airmen of Note Combo and various individual musicians perform apart from the full band to support military and civilian ceremonial and diplomatic events.


A General Admission ticket is required and is available in person at the Marcus Center’s Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Downtown Milwaukee or by calling 414-273-7206.  For more information, please see the Marcus Center web site.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Upcoming concert: Concord Chamber Orchestra

Join the Concord Chamber Orchestra for the final concert in their year-long review of the Yin and the Yang:  North and South.  The concert begins at 7 PM on Saturday evening May 11 at St. Sebastian Church, 5400 W. Washington Boulevard.  

Feel the chilly climes of Norway and Finland against the heat of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Spanish vacation. Plus we'll give a warm Mozartian welcome back to our 2016 Concerto Competition winner, pianist Gregory Hartmann.

The program:



  • Karelia Overture - Jean Sibelius
  • Piano Concerto No. 21 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, featuring Gregory Hartmann, piano soloist
  • Capriccio Espagnol - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
  • Selections from One Hundred Folk Songs from Hardanger - Geir Tveitt
For more information or to order tickets, see the CCO web site.  

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Upcoming concert - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band's next concert, Dance Card, is Friday May 3 at 7:30 PM at Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University.  WASB will perform the challenging Symphonic Dances by Clifton Williams. 

The concert will also feature the winner of the WASB concerto competition, Annaliese Heim.  She will perform the third movement of the Concerto for Marimba by Paul Creston.  Annaliese is currently a Senior at Menominee Falls High School.  She will be studying Spanish and Music Education in her upcoming college career - no school has been chosen as of yet. 

The concert will benefit the Adaptive Community Approach Program of Waukesha.  For more information on the concert, or to order tickets, please see the WASB web site.
This concert will benefit Adaptive Community
Approach Program (ACAP) (www. acap-waukes h a. org.) Admission for the concert,
“DANCE CARD is $10. Tickets are available by calling WASB at 262-333-8012 or
Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) at 262-521-1120 and will also be
available in the Shattuck Auditorium lobby on the evening of the concert.
This concert will benefit Adaptive Community
Approach Program (ACAP) (www. acap-waukes h a. org.) Admission for the concert,
“DANCE CARD is $10. Tickets are available by calling WASB at 262-333-8012 or
Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP) at 262-521-1120 and will also be
available in the Shattuck Auditorium lobby on the evening of the concert.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Upcoming concert: Menominee Falls Symphony

The Menominee Falls Symphony Orchestra will present their Spring Classical concert featuring Finland's Finest.  The concert is Saturday April 13 beginning at 7:30 PM in the Sussex-Hamilton Fine Arts Center. 

The concert features the Sixth Symphony of Jean Sibelius, containing some of the finest music written for strings.  The concert was also going to feature the winner of the MFSO Concerto Competition.  However, problems have arisen and the soloist will be featured at another concert in the future. 

Tickets for the concert are $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, and $6 for Students.  For more information, or to purchase advance tickets, please see the MFSO web site

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Upcoming concert: Concord Chamber Orchestra

The Concord Chamber Orchestra will present Hard and Soft, the next in the 2018-19 series of concerts looking at musical contrasts.  The concert begins at 7 PM on March 23 at St. Sebastian's Church, 5400 W. Washington Boulevard. 

The March concert for CCO always features the winner of their student concerto competition.  This year the CCO chose two winners:  violinist Daniella Brusubardis and pianist Neil Krzesk.  Both performed so well that the judges could not choose just one.  And so both will perform at the March 23rd concert.

Here is the concert program:

  • "The Montagues & the Capulets" from Romeo and Juliet - Sergei Prokofiev
  • Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin featuring Neil Krzesk
  • Violin Concerto No. 3 - Camille Saint-SaĆ«ns featuring Daniella Brusubardis
  • Variations on a Theme by Haydn - Johannes Brahms
Doors open at 6:30.  For more information or to order tickets, please see the CCO web site.

Sunday, February 24, 2019

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Wisconsin Philharmonic

There is no better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with the Trinity Irish Dancers.  They will join the Wisconsin Philharmonic at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center in Brookfield on March 17 for Celtic Fire - Irish Music and Dance.  The concert begins at 3 Pm, with a pre-concert conversation beginning at 2 PM.

Besides wonderful Irish tunes for dancing, the concert will feature music from Lord of the Rings.  Special Guest violinist Julian Rhee will perform the Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra.  It will be an afternoon of fun and dramatic music. 

For more information, or to order tickets, see the Wisconsin Philharmonic web site.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

The Kettle Moraine Symphony will continue its 50th Anniversary concert season with Russian Romance on Sunday February 24 at 3 PM.  There is a pre-concert talk at 2 PM.  The talk and concert will be held at the Slinger High School Performing Arts Center. 

The Orchestra will perform Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, with all the emotion that it brings.  In addition, the West Bend High School Chamber Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings.

Ticket prices are: Adults $18, Senior $15, Student $5 (w/valid ID) and Family Packages: $30 (2) adults + children, $20 (1) adult + children

Tickets may be purchased at the door, online at www.kmsymphony.org, or by calling 262-334-3469 (please leave a message). Advance purchases can also be made at the following outlets: Horicon Bank in West Bend, White House of Music in West Bend & Germantown, and Douglas Jewelers in Hartford.


Don't miss the wonderful music of Mother Russia by the Kettle Moraine Symphony.  

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Menominee Falls Symphony Valentines concert and evening

Join the Menominee Falls Symphony on Saturday February 16 for a wonderful Valentine's Dinner Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club.  Dinner begins at 6:30.  The concert begins when dinner is completed.  Dessert is served during the intermission. 

This is always a well attended event.  If you would like to be there, don't delay.  Visit the MFSO web site for more information and to order tickets.  The rumor that I heard was that the event tickets are selling faster than in previous years.  Don't miss out on a wonderful night of dinner and music with your valentine and the MFSO.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

The second half of the concert season begins

Below is the calendar of concerts that I have on my list to take us through May of 2019.  Attending one or more concerts will help the groups to continue and provide relaxation.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me! 

January
  • 27 at 2PM, Concord Chamber Orchestra at North Shore Congregational Church

February
  • 15 at 7PM, Greenfield Concert band at Greenfield Performing Arts Center
  • 16 at 6:30, Menominee Falls Symphony at the Silver Spring Country Club
  • 16 at TBA, Waukesha Area Symphonic Band at Carroll University
  • 24 at 3PM, Kettle Moraine Symphony at Stinger High School

March 
  •  3 at 2PM, Milwaukee Concert Band at the Oak Creek Community Center
  • 17 at 2PM, Lakeshore Symphonic Band at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
  • 23 at 7PM, Concord Chamber Orchestra at St. Sebastian Church
  • 24 at 3PM, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band at Wisconsin Lutheran College

April
  • 13 at 7:30, Menominee Falls Symphony at Hamilton Fine Arts Center

May

  • 3 at 7:30, Waukesha Area Symphonic Band at Carroll University
  • 5 at 2PM, Milwaukee Concert band at Oak Creek Community Center
  • 5 at 3PM, Kettle Moraine Symphony at Holy Hill
  • 11 at 7PM, Concord Chamber Orchestra at St. Sebastian Church
  • 11 at 7:30, Lakeshore Symphonic Band at Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
  • 17 at 7PM, Greenfield Concert Band at AMP at Konkel Park
  • 27 at 4PM, Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band at Milwaukee County War Memorial