Thursday, June 11, 2020

NO concerts this summer....and maybe next fall

I have heard from a number of community music groups.  The summer seasons are cancelled.  Fall concerts will likely be cancelled because there are few large groups that can rehearse in a manner that promotes social distancing.  We may see concerts of small groups or strings only.  But I am afraid we may not have concerts until 2021. 

As I hear information, I will pass it on.  Until then, stay safe.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Another cancellation

For many years, the first community music event of the summer has been the performance of the Shorewood Concert Band at the Chicken BBQ hosted by the Shorewood Men's Club at Atwater Park.  Because of the virus, this year's event has been cancelled.

As I hear any other news, I will certainly pass it on.

We live in interesting times...

Sunday, April 5, 2020

We live in interesting times

I have heard from a number of community music groups that the upcoming concerts for April and May are cancelled.  Given all the news regarding COVID-19, this is not a surprise.  All of the groups that I am aware of have cancelled the rest of their seasons. 

I will continue to monitor the different groups to see if summer concerts will be starting up or not.  Many of the groups need to rehearse in late May for June concerts, and if the schools remain closed, there will not be spaces for rehearsals. 

So for now I bid you adieu.  I will post something later in May about the summer schedules I find.

Stay safe!

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

The Kettle Moraine Symphony will be featuring the wind and percussion sections at their next concert on Sunday May 3.  Entitled Winds, Percussion, and Romance, local high school students will join the symphony musicians in the first half, while the KMS performs an evergreen favorite in the second half.

The concert begins by featuring high school music students playing side by side with symphony musicians in a work named Flight by Claude T. Smith.  The work is the official march of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and was commissioned by the US Air Force Band in 1984.  Listen for references to the Pachelbel Cannon in the opening strains.

The second half of the concert features one of the most favorite works of concertgoers, the Second Symphony of Rachmaninoff.  (Fans of popular music will recognize that the theme of the third movement was used in an Eric Carmen song from 1976.)  The symphony is just plain beautiful! 

For more information or to order advance tickets, see the Kettle Moraine Symphony website

Monday, March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Update

As of this weekend, the concerts by the Concord Chamber Orchestra (this coming weekend) and the Menominee Falls Symphony (April 18) have both been cancelled due to the closing of the school systems for COVID-19. 

It is too early to see if other concerts scheduled for May will be cancelled or not.  I will post any updates that I get.

We will get through this. 

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Upcoming concert: Menominee Falls Symphony

Join the Menominee Falls Symphony Orchestra on Saturday April 18 at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center.  The concert begins at 7:30 and will complete the season devoted to Fairy Tales and Fantasies.

The program includes music of fairy tales and fantasies including the stories of Billy the Kid (Copland) and Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck).  Included on the program is the Capriol Suite of Peter Warlock.

The concert will also feature the first and second place winners of the Young Artist competition.  Henry Allison, the first place winner, will perform the first movement of the Sebelius Violin Concerto and Heather Beckman (second place) will perform the first movement of the Barber Violin Concerto.

For more information and to purchase advance tickets, please see the MFSO web site.

And be sure to attend the Concord Chamber Orchestra's concert on March 21 at St. Sebastian's at 5400 Washington Boulevard.  See the CCO web site for all the details.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Concert Preview: Concord Chamber Orchestra

The Concord Chamber Orchestra continues its season of concerts based on the works of Shakespeare.  On Saturday March 21, they will present The Histories at St. Sebastian Church, 5400 Washington Boulevard.  The concert will begin at 7 PM. 

I think the summary on the CCO web site is a good one:

 William Shakespeare was a keen reader of history, always looking for the dramatic impact of historical characters and events. His interpretation of those events and figures has shaped the way we think of them today. In this concert, we also welcome the winner of our annual Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition, who we hope will also go on to make musical history.

The program will include:

  • Richard III by Bedrich Smetana
  • Suite from Henry V by William Walton
  • Three Dances from Henry VIII by Edward German
  • Heather Beckman, the winner of the Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition, will perform the Violin Concerto of Samuel Barber 
I have enjoyed all of the CCO concerts that I have attended, and the sound in the St. Sebastian Church is excellent.  It is a great venue for classical music.  

For more information about the concert, or to order advance tickets, please see the CCO web site.  

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

Welcome to 2020.  The concert season is restarting.

The Kettle Moraine Symphony will perform a Classical Light concert on Sunday February 23 at 3 PM in the Kewaskum High School Theater.  The Symphony will use a smaller chamber orchestra for these pieces:


  • Mozart's Symphony No. 40, 
  • Strauss's Serenade No.7 for 13 Winds, 
  • Beethoven's "Little" Symphony No.8 in F, and 
  • Morton Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium"
All I can say is Wow, what a program.  All the pieces are wonderful.  

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

Advance tickets are available through the KMS web site.  Tickets can also be purchased in advance at: 
  • Horicon Bank in West Bend
  • White House of Music in West Bend and Germantown
  • Douglas Jeweler in Hartford.
Tickets will also be available at the door.

And don't miss the 2 PM pre-concert talk presented by Dr. Peter Gibeau, UWM-WC music professor and KMS principal bassist.