Milwaukee Community Music Blog

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra

2012-01-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

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

Enjoy!

2011-12-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

Whatever Holiday you keep at this time of year, may it bring you happiness.

The next posting on New Years Day will include the Concert Calendar for the rest of the season. See you then.

The last of the concerts

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

Don't forget the Milwaukee Festival Brass concert on Sunday December 18 at 3 PM. The Schwan Concert Hall will be full of good music of the Holiday Season in the British Brass Band tradition. My favorite is the Three Kings Swing...I'm hoping it is on the program.

But the last, and most important concerts of the Holiday Season, are the concerts that occur in your place of worship at this time of year. Be sure to enjoy the performances, and thank the musicians who (usually) volunteer their time for these performances. This is community music at its most basic level. And I think it improves the overall quality of life in our area! Enjoy!

The Holiday Home Stretch

2011-12-11T04:53:00.000-08:00

The last of the concerts are coming up. The Menomonee Falls Symphony performs it's concert tribute to Andy Williams on the 11th at 3 PM at the Hamilton Fine Arts Center in Sussex. The Milwaukee Festival Brass will perform their concert on the 18th at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Be sure to take in one of these concerts, they will both be fun and relaxing.

And don't forget the Horns A Plenty Christmas Concert in Appleton at the Fox Valley Lutheran High School on the 17th. Founder Don Krause was interviewed on the Philcast at the end of November, and just this past week was presented with an award of appreciation for his efforts in generating scholarship money for French Horn students. You can see Don's award from the Philcast Picture page. If you can, stop by the Appleton Horns A Plenty Christmas concert because (with a little luck) Phil will formally present the award to Don. And finally, be sure to tune into the Philcast, or at least enjoy the fun via the PodCast links.

Updates

2011-12-04T05:37:00.000-08:00

First, the Wauwatosa Community Band has a date for their annual Christmas concert. They will perform sounds of the season on Tuesday December 13 at 7:30 PM in the auditorium at Longfellow Middle School at the corner of 76th and North Avenue. If you are in the area, especially after some hectic shopping at Mayfair, stop by, relax, and enjoy the music. Check their web site for more details.

I have to mention that the Horns A Plenty Christmas Concert at the Marcus Center was very nice. The double octet performance was super, and it was very cool to see so many horn players on stage, from young middle school students to retirees. Bravo to all for a great concert. Here is a link to the You Tube video of one of the pieces, Christmas Horn Spirit.

Now with that thought in mind, I'll switch gears to talk about the Philcast. Phil Cianciola, late of Milwaukee radio and producer of the PhilCast podcast, is now back on the air in Appleton on WHBY. I mention this with Horns A Plenty Christmas because the HAPC founder, Don Krause, was interviewed on the Philcast on Wednesday November 30th. You can hear that interview by going to the Philcast page on WHBY, clicking the Podcast link, and choosing the 4 PM show segment. Many thanks to Phil and his producer Reggie for helping promote HAPC as it begins to go national!

Hope you had a wonderful Holiday

2011-11-27T05:50:00.000-08:00

I know I did. Now I get to hang the Christmas Lights, and provide some news.

First, the Suburban Concert Band Holiday concert has been moved to December 9 from December 16. Thanks to Jim S. for the heads up.

Also, members of the Knightwind Ensemble will perform at Wisconsin Memorial Park for their Holiday Open House on Saturday December 3. The open house will run from noon to 3 PM, with entertainment in the Chapel of the Chimes. The small groups from the Knightwind Ensemble will perform at 1 PM. Click here for more information.

I hope to see you at the Horns A Plenty Christmas concert at the Marcus Center on Tuesday the 29th. I'll be there taking pictures. I did learn that the HAPC concert will include a special piece of Holiday music performed by a French Horn double-octet. Wow - 16 horns! You don't want to miss that one. See you there.

Happy Thanksgiving and a Concert Preview

2011-11-20T05:30:00.000-08:00

Before I celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday, I will be selling tickets and working the lobby at the Knightwind Ensemble concert on the 20th. Hope to see you there.

And may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

On to the concert preview! A special performance of the Horns A Plenty Christmas will occur at 7:30 PM on Tuesday November 29 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. French Horn players from all over the area will perform Christmas and Holiday music in a free concert. The neat thing about this concert is that the proceeds generated from the concert (sales of music books and fees paid by the musicians) will provide scholarships for French Horn players. If you have not heard of Horns A Plenty Christmas, check out their web site. And take time out of your schedule to hear a wonderful concert to get you in the Holiday spirit.

And if you have a conflict on the 29th, another Horns A Plenty Christmas concert will be held in Appleton on December 17.

A look ahead to the Holiday Season

2011-11-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Here is the list of upcoming concerts to celebrate the Holiday Season. If you have others, send me an email or post a response.

CHRISTMAS / HOLIDAY CONCERTS

November
29 - Horns A Plenty Christmas in Milwaukee, 7:30 Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

December
3 - Knightwind Ensemble small groups performing at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 1 PM
9 - Suburban Concert Band, 7:30, Nathan Hale High School
11 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 3 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 6PM, Basilica of Holy Hill
17 - Horns A Plenty Christmas, 2 PM, Appleton, WI
18 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College

And a reminder that the final concert of the fall season is Sunday November 20 when the Knightwind Ensemble perform Masterworks for Winds at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. Check the web site for a special discount on tickets while helping the Hunger Task Force.

Concert Discount to help the Hunger Task Force

2011-11-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

Some news came in from the Knightwind Ensemble this week. They are teaming with the Hunger Task Force at their concert on Sunday November 20 at the South Milwaukee PAC. When you purchase a ticket at the door and bring in two non-perishable food items, you receive a $2 discount on that ticket. It's a great way to enjoy a wonderful concert and help the community. For more information on the Knightwind Ensemble concert, see their web site.

And speaking of the Knightwind Ensemble, a small group of players from the Ensemble will perform music in observance of Veteran's Day, beginning at 4 PM on Thursday November 10th in the Chapel of the Chimes at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 132nd and Capitol Drive. The program is open to the public.

And I also heard from one of the Directors of the New Horizons Band in the Ozaukee / Washington / Sheboygan County area. She wants to get the word out about this group that brings the love of making music to more people, and helps bring cheer to folks who may have some challenges (nursing homes, senior centers, and the like). The Directors not only program the concerts and rehearse the group, they also give lessons to improve the performance level of the members. The band is self-funding, collecting dues from members to pay the expenses for music and such. This is a great program that deserves more than just a mention: you should check out their web site. And if you haven't picked up your instrument in 40 or more years, and would like to but just don't feel comfortable joining an established band, the New Horizons band may be just for you.

Concert Announcement - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

2011-11-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

I just heard from one of the members of the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band. Their fall concert is Sunday November 13 at 7:30 PM in the Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University in Waukesha. Entitled Pulling Out All the Stops, the concert will feature music of old masters like Rimsky-Korsakov, Percy Grainger and Alfred Reed, music of the masters of today like Delafield resident and WASB Music Director, Rick Kirby, and music from the masters of tomorrow like Richard Saucedo and Dana Wilson.

As a special treat, three pieces will feature organist John Sheaffer who is organist at First United Methodist Church in Waukesha.

Tickets are only $5 and are available in the Shattuck Auditorium lobby on the evening of the concert.

A different concert

2011-10-30T05:44:00.000-07:00

Community music groups come in a number of different configurations: community bands, orchestras, church ensembles and the like. Every now and then a unique community group performs and I love to publicize it.

Such a group is the Oshkosh Horn Choir. The Choir is led by Professor Bruce Atwell at UWO and is made up of volunteer french horn players from all over eastern Wisconsin, with members driving to Oshkosh for rehearsals from as far away as Green Bay and Milwaukee. Many of these people also play in other community groups, but their love for the sound of the horn bring them together for this unique music making.

The Horn Choir's performance is at 7 PM on November 15 in the Music Hall of the Arts and Communications Center on the UWO campus. And I know that many of the musicians will gather at Fratello's after the concert. For those who may not know, Fratello's is located on the Fox River. The view in summer is spectacular. And Fratello's is the Oshkosh home of the Fox River Brewing Company. I can tell you from experience that the Scotch Ale is wonderful. After the concert, stop by and congratulate the group on the performance.

So, mark November 15 on your calendar. See you in Oshkosh. And say hi...I'll be taking pictures there!

And one more thing: it isn't often that I comment on concerts that I have attended, but I will take the space to mention the wonderful concert performed by the Menomonee Falls Symphony and the Daryl Stuermer band on SUnday the 23rd. The first half of the concert was made up of some light classics culminating with the finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The second half was a symphonic presentation of the music of Genesis, performed by the Stuermer band with the backing of the orchestra. The orchestrations were tight and it was fun to see the string section playing some of the rock rhythms. All in all, an excellent concert. I would love to see Mr. Stuermer take this show on the road with other symphony orchestras, and if a CD of this music was offered, it would be in my collection right away. Great job MFSO! Great orchestrations Mr. Stuermer!

Concert Announcement - Kettle Moraine Symphony

2011-10-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Join the Kettle Moraine Symphony for a salute to Veterans of our armed forces on Sunday Nov. 13 at 2:30 PM at the West Bend High School Auditorium. Veterans, their families and music lovers of all kinds will be treated to a celebration of United States servicemen and servicewomen, past and present. Local veterans groups are participating in the event which includes an honor guard, official service songs from the armed services branches, and special drum and dance features.

The program features Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, music from the television show Victory At Sea, the official songs of all the branches of the service, and a salute to the Big Bands, including Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, and others.

The KMS is also partnering with AT&T Pioneers for a Cell Phones for Soldiers drive; old cell phones brought to the concert will be recycled to provide calling cards for Wisconsin soldiers abroad.

You can find more information at the Kettle Moraine Symphony's web site.

Concert Preview: Wauwatosa Community Band

2011-10-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

But first a reminder that the concert by the Milwaukee Festival Brass is Sunday October 23 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Halloween Theme should be a lot of fun. For more information, see their web site.

The Preview is for the Halloween Kids Concert presented by the Wauwatosa Community Band. The fun begins at 7 PM on Tuesday November 8 in the Auditorium at Longfellow Middle School, corner of 76th and North Avenue. The concert will feature music from one of my favorite movies of all time: Fantasia. Featured will be The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas, and Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, both of which were featured in the film. And I have to say that both are great selections for a concert this time of year.

And in celebration of the success of the Brewers this year, the band will perform the favorite Casey At the Bat.

Tickets are $5 for Adults and $3 for Seniors and Children. And stick around after the concert for the Cookie Reception sponsored by the members of the band. For more information, check out the Tosa Band web site.

Just a reminder

2011-10-09T05:34:00.000-07:00

Best to order your tickets for the Menomonee Falls Symphony performance on Sunday October 23. The concert begins at 1 PM at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center and features rocker and Milwaukean Daryl Stuermer and his band, performing symphonic arrangements of the hits of Genesis. I wrote about this performance a few weeks back. It will be a good one.

Just a note that the concert is at 1 PM because the kickoff of the Packer game is at 3:15. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the concert and still make it home, or to your favorite place of Packer viewing.

The Menomonee Falls Symphony website has all the information. Since the seats for this concert are reserved, it is best to get yours soon.

See you there.

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Festival Brass

2011-10-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

Join the Milwaukee Festival Brass on Sunday October 23 at Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College for their concert entitled Ghosts and Goblins. Under the baton of Dr. Martin Rowden, the MFB will present original compositions and arrangements related to the Halloween Season.

The MFB will perform two British Marches: The Black Knight by William Rimmer, and Mephistopheles by Shipley Douglas. The MFB will feature the Euphonium in a piece entitled Midnight Euphonium, and the tuba in Marley's Ghost. Also on the program is Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.

The MFB has been performing for many years at a high level of musicianship and entertainment. The new Director's choice in programming seems to keep that level high in both categories. Mark you calendar for an afternoon of music to welcome the first new co-director of the Milwaukee Festival Brass.

New Directors: Milwaukee Festival Brass

2011-09-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

As you know, Dr. Patricia Backhaus completed her tenure as Music Director of the Milwaukee Festival Brass last June. The MFB now has announced two co-directors for the 2011-2012 season.

Dr. Martin Rowden of Milwaukee will direct the October 23 concert at the Schwan Concert Hall of Wisconsin Lutheran College. He is currently the Music and Arts Director for the Salvation Army's Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division. He has extensive brass band experience as a cornet player and conductor in the US and in Australia.

Dr. Mark Taylor, from Lake Forest IL, has most recently been Associate Conductor of the University of North Texas Brass, the Director of Bands at Loyola University, as well as a long time percussionist and Board Member of the Chicago Brass Band.

In addition to these two co-directors, the MFB announced it's new Director for the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass. He is Dr. Walter Rich of Brookfield. Dr. Rich conducts the Sheboygan Area Youth Symphony, the Oconomowoc American Legion Band, and is Principle Tubist with the Sheboygan Symphony.

To learn more of these appointments, or more about the Milwaukee Festival Brass, check out their web site. And more on the MFB October concert next week!

Season Preview: Knightwind Ensemble

2011-09-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to ask the Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble, Dr. Erik Janners, about his plans for the group's upcoming season. Dr. Janners was kind enough to write a nice preview of the fall and spring concerts for the Ensemble. Rather than try to interpret his information, I decided to post it directly to you. Here is the season preview, directly from Dr. Janners.

We are very, very excited to get down to work on the music for the Knightwind Ensemble’s upcoming season! Entering my second year as music director, I feel that I really know the ensemble now, as I gained an understanding of who they are and what they do over the course of my first year. Last year finished with a "BANG!" as well, with our performance of James Barnes’ Third Symphony on our spring concert. It was a fantastic performance of a truly epic work, and one that I will always remember.

This season promises to be an improvement over last year, good as it was, with the group welcoming in several extraordinarily talented new members. Our fall concert (Nov. 20, 2011) theme is “Masterworks for Winds” and will showcase some of the most important music from the band repertoire from throughout its history. We begin with Walter Piston’s Tunbridge Fair, one of the first commissions from the American Bandmasters Association in 1950 when they began to commission prominent orchestral composers to write for the wind band. It is Piston’s only band work, and was a tremendously important composition in the early years of the serious band movement in the US in terms of convincing other composers of the worthiness of writing for band. Next we will perform Maurice Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso, transcribed for band by Lawrence Odom. This is a real tour-de-force piece for winds, showcasing their technical brilliance and dynamic mastery. Our final piece on the first half is Karel Husa’s amazing Music for Prague 1968, which Husa wrote shortly after crushing of the “Prague Spring” movement in Czechoslovakia in 1968. This work captures all of the emotion and intensity of that time for the Czech people, and is regarded by most experts as one of the 10 most important wind band works of all time. The third movement of the work is for percussion only, and will highlight the skills of that excellent section of the Knightwind Ensemble.

The second half of our fall concert begins with Vincent Persichetti’s most important band work, Divertimento for Band. It was his first band work and dates from 1950, the same year that Tunbridge Fair was composed. The six movement of the Divertimento are like six miniatures – each is a short musical glimpse of a mood, thought or idea. Next is Philip Sparke’s Dance Movements. Commissioned by the US Air Force Band, it was premiered in 1996 and won the Sudler Prize that year as the best new band work of the year. A technical showcase for band, Dance Movements has two outer movements that frame a second movement written only for woodwinds and a third movement written only for brass. It was one of the most important works of the 1990’s and helped to introduce the British Band composers to American audiences. We close our fall concert with Shostakovich’s Folk Dances, a real crowd-pleaser and one of the most often-performed transcribed works in the repertoire. It will be a stunning showcase of a concert for sure!!!

The theme of the Knightwind Ensemble’s spring concert (April 1, 2012) is “Songs and Dances.” The concert opens with Julie Giroux’s wonderful overture To Walk With Wings, which is then followed by a 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 spring 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!

So that is a look at our upcoming season! We hope that you will join us for both concerts. Tickets can be purchased online in advance through the website of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

And you can learn more about the Knightwind Ensemble from their website.

Special Concert: Menomonee Falls Symphony

2011-09-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen the listing for the Menomonee Falls Symphony concert for October 23rd at 1 PM. The MFSO will be joined by none other than Daryl Stuermer, guitarist for Genesis. His group Genesis Rewired will join the MFSO for a symphonic look at the music of Genesis.

This is a special performance, and is a Thank You to the MFSO. Earlier this summer, the MFSO assisted Mr. Stuermer and Genesis Rewired in finalizing the symphonic arrangements. Now the Band is goining the Orchestra in performing this show here at the Sussex Fine Arts Center. I may be wrong, but I predict that Mr. Stuermer and the band will take this show on tour to play with many of the country's symphony orchestras. And the neat thing about this is that the MFSO had a key role in developing the arrangements.

Be sure to reserve October 23rd to join the Menomonee Falls Symphony and Genesis Rewired for an afternoon of wonderful music, from two very different genres: symphonic and rock!

Community Music Calendar for 2011 - 2012

2011-09-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

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 in their presentation of difficult music. 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

12 - Suburban Concert Band, 7:30 PM, Nathan Hale High School
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg PAC
23 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
23 - Menomonee Falls Symphony featuring Daryl Steurmer, 1 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC

NOVEMBER

20 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee PAC

DECEMBER

11 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 3 PM, Sussex Hamilton PAC
16 - Suburban Concert Band, 7:30, Nathan Hale High School
16 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 6PM, Basilica of Holy Hill
18 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College

JANUARY

No concerts

FEBRUARY

10 and 11: Menomonee Falls Symphony Dinner Concert, 6:30 PM, Silver Spring Country Club

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

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
15 - Milwaukee Festival Brass Youth Brass, 7 PM, Mount Mary College
20 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
28 - Knightwind Ensemble, 1 PM, Wisconsin Memorial Park

If you are interested in playing in a community band...

2011-08-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

Then this post is for you. Here is a list of some of the groups in the Milwaukee area listed by the evenings 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. 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. More information can be found at 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 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 end of the Summer Season

2011-08-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

The Racine Concert Band completes its summer season for 2011 with the 1433rd free concert. The Band welcomes soprano Ami Bouterse and trumpeter Eric Weiss.

Ms. Bouterse is an accomplished performer, having sung all over the country with Theater and Opera companies. She is an Assistant Professor of Music, teaching voice and directing the Opera Workshop. Unfortunately, I do not have the selections she will perform.

Trumpeter Eric Weiss will perform The Man With The Horn. No doubt it will be a lot of fun!

And keep in mind that there will be a special prize drawing tonight after every piece performed. And your entries are from your guesses in the Racine Concert Band Quiz turned in at the other concerts. It will be a fun evening for all, and a fitting end to the summer.

Concert Preview August 21

2011-08-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Summer Series for the Racine Concert band is winding down. On Sunday August 21, the Band welcomes Soprano Amie Miller. She will perform a number of selections, unfortunately they are not known at this time. However, she performed with the band last year and was a big hit.

Also on the program is a Clarinet Duet entitled Pepperino. It will feature Diane Kosmala and Graciela Baldwin.

The concert begins at 7PM. Be sure to attend and get more entries into the big prize drawing at the August 28th concert.

The Racine Summer Series Continues

2011-08-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Join the Racine Concert Band on Sunday August 14 when baritone Gregory Berg will join the band. Mr. Berg is an Assistant Professor of Music at Carthage College and a frequent performer in Southeast Wisconsin. He will perform serious works by Handel and Tchaikovsky, and later sing some tunes by the likes of Harold Arlen and the Gershwin Brothers.

Also on the program is the Albinoni Concerto for Two Oboes, featuring Katherine Radek and Alyssa Piela of the Band.

And it's always fun to hear the music of The Peanut Vendor!

The concert begins at 7:00. See you there.

Racine Concert Band August 7

2011-07-31T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Racine Summer Concert Series continues on Sunday August 7 at 7 PM, 30 minutes earlier than the concerts in July. This week, the Maestro Mark Eichner will perform a trumpet solo entitled Trumpet in the Night.

Later in the program, soprano Kathryn Thorson (of the flute section) will perform some wonderful tunes including I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

And don't forget to enter the Racine Concert Band Quiz, not only to win some nice prizes at the concert, but to be included in the big drawing at the last concert of the season. Any entries in the quiz at any concert this summer is included in the big prize give-away at the last concert of the season. It's the Racine Concert Band's way of saying Thank You for enjoying our music!

Concert Preview: July 31 in Racine

2011-07-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

The series by the Racine Concert Band continues on Sunday July 31 at the Racine Zoo when the Band welcomes Soprano and former Miss Racine, Ms. Jeannie Hatfield. She will perform music from Rogers and Hart, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, and Irving Berlin. Jeannie always puts on a good show, and this should be no exception.

Also featured on the program is Alto Saxophonist Margaret Schwingle performing a Tango by Issac Albinez. And, of course, Music Director Mark Eichner will end the concert with a Sousa march. Lots of fun for the whole family.

Keep in mind that this is the last concert beginning at 7:30. In August, the concerts will begin at 7 PM due to the setting of the sun.

The last summer concert in Shorewood for 2011

2011-07-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

This week will mark the closing of the 2011 summer season for the Shorewood Concert Band. Dr. Patricia Backhaus will present a program entitled Band Shell Classics. Dr. Pat always programs a fun concert, and this one will be no exception. I'll be there, and I hope you will be too!

And the summer season continues at the Racine Zoo on Sunday evening the 24th when the Racine Concert band welcomes mezzo-soprano Allison Hull. Ms. Hull is a faculty member at UW-Parkside who has performed with the Skylight and Florentine Opera companies in Milwaukee, and the Seattle Opera nationally. She is a frequent guest with the Racine Concert band.

Also on the program is music featuring the saxophone section.

It looks to be a wonderful concert. Hope to see you there!

The second summer season begins

2011-07-10T05:11:00.000-07:00

Some community bands begin their summer season right after school let's out, and finishes usually in mid-July. Others begin for their community's celebration of July 4th, and run to the end of August. Such is the case in Racine, where the Racine Concert Band has begun their summer concert series. From now to the end of August, you can hear the Racine Concert Band every Sunday evening at the Racine Zoo. Check out their web site for more details.

And let me make a special mention for the concert on July 10, dedicated especially for kids - of all ages. The children's concert is always a lot of fun and well worth attending. If you are checking your calendar a week farther out, the Band will feature the Horn section on the 17th.

The concerts begin at 7:30 in July and at 7:00 in August. And, to attend the concert, there is no Zoo admission (assuming you are arriving about 7:00 for a 7:30 concert. Be advised that if you arrive mid-afternoon, you will be charged the normal admission to the Zoo, even if you stay for the concert.

Be sure to check their web site and mark a date or two, or more, on your calendar for the Racine Concert Band. I'll be at many of them. Hope to see you there.

Coming up

2011-06-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

Not much to tell you about this week. Keep in mind that just about every community band will be performing on or around Monday July 4th. Some will be in parades, some will be performing before the fireworks, and others will be performing during the day's celebrations. Be sure to take in their concert and cheer for your fellow citizens, who are volunteering their time for your enjoyment.

Music is the best because both the performers and audience enjoy it so much. Be sure to enjoy some yourself this upcoming holiday.

Because of the holiday on the 4th, no post next Sunday.

In closing, be sure to attend the concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band on Tuesday July 5 in Humboldt Park at the Chalet stage. It's a Milwaukee tradition!

Upcoming concert: Shorewood Concert Band and a contest

2011-06-19T05:04:00.000-07:00

The Shorewood Concert Band performs in Atwater Park this Thursday June 23rd at 7 PM. Led by Dr. Patricia Backhaus, the group performs 4 concerts per summer in the park. This Thursday's concert theme is "water music". And this week's concert will have a guest conductor: Mr. Jamin Hoffman of the Concord Chamber Orchestra. Should be fun!

So, bring a blanket or a lawn chair and be ready for a good time. The fun begins at 7 PM. Hope to see you there.

One other thing: I have to mention a special contest held by my favorite podcast. The Philcast, the daily podcast of local personality Phil Cianciola, is giving away a week at camp to a kid in the Milwaukee area. Log on to http://thephilcast.com/ for all the details. All you have to do is send an email to Phil at phil@thephilcast.com, telling him why you nominate your camp kid. If your entry is selected, your nominee gets a free week this summer at Camp Timber-lee. What a cool offer!

And while you are there, bookmark the page and listen to all the podcasts. Great fun, and you may hear email comments from Bruce from Greenfield...that would be me. Keep up on the podcasts and you can meet Phil at the State Fair, learn about the bacon explosion, and other earth shattering things. And be sure to tell a friend. More people need to listen to this daily dose of fun! There is made-up scientific proof that road rage would be reduced if everyone listened to Phil. Cause I just made it up! So there!

The Tradition Continues

2011-06-12T04:16:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, this local community band has played a summer concert in the park. This year the tradition continues. The Milwaukee American Legion Band will perform on the Chalet stage in Humboldt Park this year on Tuesday July 5. The program begins at 6:30 with a performance by the Daley Debutantes Baton and Drum Corps. The American Legion Band, under the direction of Mike VanPelt, then follows with a traditional band concert in the park. Unfortunately, I do not have any information about the program just yet. But the Legion Band concerts are always fun and full of tradition. For instance, the band always begins with a march The Champions, which was written for the band many years ago. And the band always completes the program in the same way.

I suggest you mark July 5 on your calendar for an annual event: the summer concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band in Humboldt Park. It's been going on for as long as I can remember!

First summer band concert

2011-06-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Join the Shorewood Concert Band for the first summer band concert this Saturday, June 11. The concert is a part of the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Barbecue, held all day at Atwater Park, corner of Capitol Drive and Lake Drive in Shorewood. The Band begins its performance at 12:30 and will feature music with Wisconsin ties.

I'm looking forward to the concert, not only because it officially starts the summer band concert season, but because I love the Rupena's Chicken dinner, cooked fresh right in Atwater park. I'm going to enjoy the concert and then grab some chicken for a late lunch. The funds raised by the Men's Club go to a number of Shorewood groups, including the Concert Band.

So, see you at Atwater Park on Saturday, about 12:20 or so. Bring a lawn chair, relax, and enjoy the show. And then enjoy some chicken!

Two reminders

2011-05-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

This Monday is Memorial Day, when we remember those who served in the military and gave their lives for our freedom. It is a day of remembrance, especially for those families immediately affected by such a sacrifice.

Please keep the solemnity of the day in mind. Take a moment to honor those who gave their lives. And also honor all who served. It is because of their service that we enjoy the freedoms that we have.

I hope to see you at the Knightwind Ensemble concert at Wisconsin Memorial Park at 1 PM in the Chapel of the Chimes.

The second reminder is that Dr. Patricia Backhaus will conduct last concert as Music Director of the Milwaukee Festival Brass on Saturday June 4 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall of Wisconsin Lutheran College. It will be a memorable concert for sure, mixing Beatles music, 50's Rock and Roll, the music of Gustav Holst, and music from the Lord of the Rings. WOW! Let's fill the hall for this one!

First event of the summer

2011-05-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a sign that summer is almost here: the first summer band concert announcement!

Announcing: The Shorewood Concert Band will perform at the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Barbecue. It will be held at Atwater Park, corner of Lake Drive and Capitol Drive in Shorewood on Saturday June 11th. The Band concert will begin at 12:30. The Chicken Barbecue begins at 11:30 and goes to about 7 PM.

As usual, the Shorewood Concert Band, under the baton of Dr. Patricia Backhaus, will present a light program of show tunes, marches, and band favorites. This year, the program for the Chicken Barbecue is On Wisconsin: Music with Wisconsin Ties. The program will last about an hour, so come for the concert and grab some delicious chicken to take home. The money helps fund a number of groups helped by the Men's Club, and one of those groups is the Band.

Hope to see you there!

A Change for Memorial Day

2011-05-15T05:08:00.000-07:00

There are two Memorial Day concerts this year, one in the early afternoon and one in the late afternoon. The late afternoon concert is downtown at the War Memorial Center, Wisconsin Avenue at the lake, at 5 PM, performed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. The MMCCB has performed at the War Memorial Center for a number of years, and always presents a nice concert. There is no admission.

The change is in regards to the early afternoon concert performed by the Knightwind Ensemble. For 21 years, the Ensemble has performed their annual Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This year, the concert venue has changed to the Chapel of the Chimes in Wisconsin Memorial Park, 132nd and Capitol Drive in Brookfield. This year the Ensemble will perform music of the Civil War in commemoration of its 150th anniversary. Selections include The Blue and The Gray and American Salute, a wonderful arrangement of When Johnny Comes Marching Home. And no Memorial Day concert would be complete without the Armed Forces Salute.

The concert begins at 1 PM, but you may want to arrive early. The Brookfield Civic Chorus performs a Memorial Day program at noon. You can also browse the many hallways filled with wonderful artwork. Also, Wisconsin Memorial Park will be flying 1500 U.S. Flags, called their Avenue of the Flags, beginning at 9:30 AM. This is truly an impressive site you don't want to miss.

So, be sure to take in one of the Memorial Day concerts. I'll be at the Knightwind Ensemble concert, and I hope to see you there.

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony

2011-05-08T05:52:00.000-07:00

The Menomonee Falls Symphony presents a whopper of a concert on Saturday evening May 21 at 7:30 PM in the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center. Two major works will be performed.

The symphony will reprise The Armed Man of Karl Jenkins, a multi-movement work for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. The MFSO performed this piece a number of times at the anniversary of September 11th. The theme of the concert is the devastation of war and the need for peace. The timing of this performance is especially interesting given the events of the last few days.

The MFSO will also perform the First Symphony of Gustav Mahler. The dramatic four movement symphony is sometimes called the Titan, as Mahler originally conceived the symphony as a tone poem loosely based on the Jean Paul novel of the same name. Instead of trying to summarize such a work, I think I can best describe the symphony as dramatic and wonderful, and leave it at that. This is one you don't want to miss.

You can get more information, or order tickets, by visiting the MFSO web site.

Just a few concerts left this season

2011-05-01T05:54:00.000-07:00

The spring concert season is nearly completed. Here's a list of upcoming concerts as I have them right now.

May 15 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center, 3 PM

May 15 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 3 PM

May 22 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performing the First Symphony of Gustav Mahler, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center, 7:30 PM

May 30 - Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band, Milwaukee War Memorial Center, 5 PM

And I'll have a concert preview of the Menomonee Falls Symphony concert for you next week!

Time for reflection and an event in Oshkosh

2011-04-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

This is the time of religious holidays: Easter and Passover are the two that come to my mind immediately because I have many good Christian and Jewish friends. If you celebrate a holiday at this time of year, I wish the very best for you.

One note for people in the Fox Valley for Tuesday evening April 26. The Oshkosh Horn Choir under the direction of Dr. Bruce Atwell will perform at the First Congregational Church in Oshkosh beginning at 7 PM. This group is made up mostly of community horn players from all over eastern Wisconsin, from Green Bay to Milwaukee. Of course, there are a few horn students of Dr. Atwell performing as well. The Choir will perform a wide variety of music for about an hour or so. There is no charge for the concert, so don't miss it.

We're in that in-between period

2011-04-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of news to report on the Milwaukee Community Music scene this week. So, let me pass on a real gem of the Internet that I've been listening to since last fall. It's called The Philcast - a daily podcast you can find at OnMilwaukee.com and ThePhilcast.com. ThePhilcast is the brainchild and work of former AM News radio guy Phil Cianciola. Ever since he was shown the door at WTMJ (about a year and a half ago), he has been working on a local Internet talk show. Every show is a lot of fun...where else can you can you hear about Bacon Cologne (Wednesday's podcast, or Show-gram as Phil calls it). So I encourage you to give ThePhilcast a try. And patronize his sponsors. I would hate to see this wonderful bit of Milwaukee culture go away. One other tidbit: the Tuesday shows have a segment called Tell-A-Friend Tuesday. So be sure to call in the the Phil Phone (888-414-PHIL) and mention that you heard about the PhilCast from the Milwaukee Community Music Blog, which is written by Bruce from Greenfield (that's how they know me on the PhilCast).

Concert Preview - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

2011-04-10T05:42:00.000-07:00

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band on Sunday April 17 at 7:30 PM for a concert entitled Commemoration. The concert will feature the winner of the 2011 WASB Concerto Competition, flautist Elyse Brotzman, and will benefit the Adaptive Community Approach Program of Waukesha. Ms. Brotzman is a home schooled Senior in Glendale and has been playing the flute for 10 years. She is currently studying with Judith Ormond. She is a member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the Milwaukee School of Engineering Symphony Orchestra. She will perform the first movement of Jacque Ibert's Concerto for Flute. Also on the program are works by Norman Dello Joio, Edward Elgar, Rick Kirby, John Williams, and a special centennial celebration performance of Gustav Holst's Second Suite in F for Military Band. As previously mentioned, the concert is a benefit for the Waukesha ACAP, which serves adults with physical disabilities in the Waukesha area. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, see the WASB web site, or call 262.370.6129.

Sad News

2011-04-03T05:23:00.000-07:00

I received news that long time community band director Bob Awe passed away. Bob was a band director in the South Milwaukee School District, and for a long time was the director of Lake Band and the founder of the Lake Shore Wind Symphony. You can see more information here. Keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Today is the Knightwind Ensemble concert, and I am preparing to sell tickets and perform the other duties in the lobby. So, not much of a post today. Hope to see you at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. For more information, check the Knightwind Ensemble site.

Spring is here

2011-03-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

At least on the calendar. As I write this, northern Wisconsin is under a Winter Storm Watch with a foot of snow predicted. I'm glad I go up there in the summer and not now!

And the calendar of concerts shows a few that are coming up. I wanted to bring them to your attention and convince you to attend at least one of the concerts.

There are two concerts on Sunday April 3rd. The Milwaukee Festival Brass perform at 3 PM at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The Knightwind Ensemble also performs at 3 PM but at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center. If it makes a difference, I will be volunteering at the Knightwind Ensemble concert, selling tickets in the lobby before the concert. If you decide to attend, be sure to visit the Knightwind web site and print the page with the concert description, where you will receive $1 off every adult ticket in your party.

However, whichever concert of those you attend, you will enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music.

On April 17 at 7:30 PM, the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band will perform at Shattuck Auditorium at Carroll University in Waukesha. The concert will feature the winner of the February Concerto Competition.

Stay warm, think spring, and as Obie Yadgar used to say on WFMR, Find a Concert and Go To It!

Concert Announcement

2011-03-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

I received information from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band announcing their upcoming concert. It will be held on Saturday April 2 at 7 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Director Karen Lippert has chosen the concert theme Just Add Water. The concert will include a sprinkling of composers from Tchaikovsky to The Beatles. If you'd like more information, please email them at kmlippert@wi.rr.com.

There is also an interesting article online at bachelorsdegree.org reviewing 20 important benefits of music in our schools. In this time of budget cutting, these reasons are sometimes lost in the shuffle. Here is the link to the article.

Director Vacancy

2011-03-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

I just received word that the Milwaukee Festival Brass is looking for a Music Director beginning next season. The MFB is Milwaukee's only British Style Brass Band. They have been under the direction of Dr. Patricia Backhaus for a number of years (sorry, I don't know just how many), and are much improved under her baton (and that I know from attending concerts over many years).

First, we all wish Dr. Pat the best in her new endeavors. Hopefully, I will be able to have a post in the near future with comments from Dr. Pat on those endeavors.

But the MFB needs help getting the word out to prospective brass band directors. All the details on the Music Director position, as well as the position of Music Director for the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass (very possibly separate positions), are at the MFB web site: http://www.mfbrass.org/. If you are interested or even just curious, take a look. And if you know someone who would be interested, please pass this information on.

And one more thing: the MFB has two remaining concerts under Dr. Pat's baton: one on Sunday April 3 at 3 PM and the final concert on Saturday June 4 at 3 PM, both at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I think it would be great for Dr. Pat to receive a rousing audience for both concerts. Unfortunately, I have a conflict in April, but I've saved the June 4th date. I'll definitely be there!

Want to play in a group?

2011-03-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

This time of year there is not a lot of news from the different community bands that I can post. A bit slow if you will. But I noticed that there are a few groups looking for members in the Milwaukee area.

I always scan the Auditions list in the Friday Journal-Sentinel Cue section just to see what is going on. Usually at this time of year, the listings are for theater groups. However, I saw listings for a number of community bands including the Milwaukee Concert Band and the Greendale Village Band. They are looking for help to finish the season as well as perform during the summer.

So, if you procrastinated and still haven't picked up the horn, you still have a chance to join a group. Take a look at the Auditions section to see if one might be right for you. You can also find out a lot about the community bands in Wisconsin by checking the Wisconsin Music Group page: http://my.execpc.com/~regent/

Time to get the chops back into playing shape!

Support music education in our schools

2011-02-27T05:40:00.000-08:00

The week of March 6 to 10, Barnes and Noble will be supporting music education in our public schools. A portion of the proceeds of eligible sales will be donated to music education.

This is a great deal - not only do you get to do some shopping, but music education in Wisconsin gets a helping hand as well. For all the details, see this site: www.foundation4schoolmusic.org.

Time to add to your library!

Congratulations are in order

2011-02-20T05:10:00.000-08:00

Congratulations go out to Dr. Bruce Atwell, Professor of Horn at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, for a successful Horn Day on Saturday the 19th. It was the first Horn Day at UWO, with many more to come.

Besides providing seminars on technique and performance for the attendees, there were two special events. The first was the appearance of the American Horn Quartet, one of the best chamber music groups in the world. Not only did they perform in concert in the evening, but they instructed a Master Class in the afternoon for the Horn Day attendees.

I love to see these events well attended because they promote music within the community, and allow amateur musicians to learn from the very best at an extremely low cost. What a great event for Horn students in the Oshkosh and Fox Valley areas. And I know of adults from the Milwaukee area that attended as well.

But I mentioned before that there were two special events. The second event occurred in the afternoon when the American Horn Quartet joined the Fox Valley Horn Club in a performance of the March from Raiders of the Lost Ark by John Williams. The Fox Valley Horn Club is made up of mostly middle and high school students learning the horn, with some adults to help out - especially with the bass clef parts. This arrangement of Raiders is for 12 voices, all French Horns, and it is great. If you missed seeing the performance live, it will be on YouTube very soon. And I'm sure the members of the Horn Club will remember performing with the American Horn Quartet for many years!

As I said, congratulations are definitely in order for both Dr. Atwell and for Don Krause. Well done!

Upcoming concert: Milwaukee Festival Brass

2011-02-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will perform on Sunday April 3 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. In the early spring each year, the MFB perform their festival concert, music saluting one of the many ethnic festivals in the Milwaukee area. This year, the concert will feature music with a French flair.

The MFB is the only British Style Brass Band in the area. The instrumentation gives a unique sound to the music, especially to familiar tunes. If you have never heard a brass band performance, you will be very surprised at the difference in sound.

Included on the program are Gershwin's An American in Paris, Bizet's L'Arlesienne, a suite from the opera Carmen, and of course, the music of the can-can. Dr. Patricia Backhaus always programs at least one piece written specifically for brass band, and for this concert the MFB will perform Blitz by Derek Bourgeous.

You can also receive a discount on your tickets if you bring two or more non-perishable food items to benefit the Hunger Task Force. So you get the best of all things: help those less fortunate in our community, get a discount on your ticket, and enjoy a great concert. It doesn't get much better than that...

For more information, please see the MFB web site: www.mfbrass.org

Upcoming concert: Knightwind Ensemble

2011-02-06T05:44:00.000-08:00

My guess is that many of you are not familiar with the music of James Barnes, from the University of Kansas. His Third Symphony will be featured by the Knightwind Ensemble at their concert on Sunday April 3rd. The theme for the concert is Music From the Heart, and the Third Symphony is exactly that!

Commissioned by the United States Air Force Band in Washington DC, Barnes composed this major new symphony for band shortly after the death of his infant daughter. Constructed in four movements, the work begins in a mood of darkest despair and bitterness, then slowly progresses all the way to a feeling of joyous reconciliation and a renewal of spirit.

The Ensemble has begun rehearsing the piece and even the early rehearsals are sounding wonderful. I suggest you mark April 3 on your calendar just to hear this piece. It will take your breath away!

And you can check their web site for more information: www.knightwind.org

Reminder

2011-01-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

Just a note this week to mention the Dinner / Concert / Fund Raising event for the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra is coming up on February11 and 12 at the Silver Spring Country Club.

I did find out this week that the ever-popular basket raffles will be available again this year. For those of you who are not familiar with these, each section of the Orchestra donates a basket of goodies. Those who attend the dinner / concert can purchase raffle tickets for the baskets. And yes, there are separate baskets for both the Friday and Saturday events, so if you win, you get to carry it out that night!

The food is very good and the concert is always a lot of fun. It's a great way to celebrate Valentine's day with your special someone. For more information, see the MFSO web site at http://my.execpc.com/~regent/mfso.htm.

A community music resource

2011-01-23T05:44:00.000-08:00

There is a web page devoted to all types of music groups all over Wisconsin. It's called Wisconsin Music Groups (catchy name!) and it is at this link: http://my.execpc.com/~regent/

Wisconsin Music Groups is a web site listing of different music groups in the state, maintained by Rich Regent. The list includes community bands, orchestras, choral groups, drum and bugle corps, ensembles, and just about anything else. The list includes information about rehearsals, contacts, and web links. So, if you were looking for a community music group in a certain area of Wisconsin, or you were looking for just a listing of community bands, this site will have a lot of information for you.

I suggest you stop by the Wisconsin Music Groups site and take a quick look. But don't forget about WisconsinCommunityMusic.blogspot.com. Keep visit here as well!

Fox Valley / French Horn News

2011-01-16T05:42:00.000-08:00

For those who play the French Horn or who live near the Fox Valley, there is a special event happening on Saturday February 19th. Dr. Bruce Atwell from UW-Oshkosh has organized French Horn Day: a full day of activities for those playing the French Horn.

Students can get help preparing for solo and ensemble competitions. The attendees are invited to perform in a Horn Choir concert at 4PM. And this just in: The Fox Valley Horn Choir will perform the theme from Raiders Of the Lost Ark at the evening concert. The performance will be recorded and posted on You Tube following the concert.

Special guests for Horn Day will be the world renowned American Horn Quartet. They will conduct a master class in the afternoon, and perform in concert in the evening. They will also sit in with the Fox Valley Horn Choir for the performance of Raiders.

This is a great opportunity to hear one of the worlds best chamber ensembles. And if you have a student (or are a student) studying horn, here is a great opportunity to receive a critique on the solo or ensemble piece they/you have been working on.

For more information, or to get a registration form, here is the link: ww.uwosh.edu/music/festivals-camp-1/french-horn-day

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony

2011-01-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

The first post of the year is a preview of a special concert: the annual fund-raising dinner for the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra. The MFSO is one of only a few community orchestras in our area. I find that fact surprising because we have so many successful community bands in the area.

Every year, the MFSO hosts a special Valentine Dinner / Concert at the Silver Spring Country Club. This year the event will be held on two evenings: Friday February 11 and Saturday February 12. Dinner begins at 6:30 while the concert begins right after dessert is served.

This year is the 20th Season of Music Director Michael Kamenski, and the theme for the dinner / concert is Creative Expressions from Mike. The concert will feature compositions and arrangements by Mr. Kamenski, and will include favorite soloists from the past. I know you'll have a great dinner, a wonderful time, and the money you spend will go to a great cause.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit the Orchestra's Website.

Calendar for the Spring 2011

2011-01-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2011. All of the community groups get back together in the cold of winter to work on one or more concerts in the next 5 months or so. Here is the list of concerts as I have it.

January - no concerts

February - 11,12 Menomonee Falls Symphony Valentines Celebration, Dinner at 6:30, Dessert and Concert at 7:30

March
6 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center

April
3 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (location change)
3 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
17 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University

May
15 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
15 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
21 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center
30 - Knightwind Ensemble, 1 PM, Peck Welcome Center, Milwaukee County Zoo

A very Merry Christmas To You!

2010-12-19T05:44:00.000-08:00

It's the 19th of December. The concerts have been played. People are just finishing their list of things to do before the Holidays arrive (or maybe not).

I wish you a wonderful Holiday Season, regardless of the Holiday you keep. I'll be back in early January with a calendar of concerts for the beginning of 2011.

Until then, all the best to you and yours!

Horns A Plenty Christmas in the Fox Valley

2010-12-12T05:36:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in the last post, the Horns A Plenty Christmas concert for Milwaukee happened on the 10th. However, you can still participate in the one to be held in the Fox Valley on Saturday December 18. All of the events will be held at the Communication Arts Center on the Campus of the University of Wisconsin - Fox Valley in Menasha, Wisconsin.

The special guest this year is Randall Faust, Professor of Music at Western Illinois University, and host of last year's International Horn Society Symposium. The day begins with a Master Class taught by Dr. Faust at 11 AM. At 1 PM, all horn players will assemble for the rehearsal. Finally, the concert begins at 2 PM.

If you are in the Fox Valley, be sure to set some time aside for this wonderful event. For those of you in the rest of Southeastern Wisconsin, you might want to take a road trip to witness this wonderful concert. Horn players of all ages and skills playing the music of the season. A lot of fun and a great experience for horn players, young and old alike.

For more information, here is the Horns A Plenty Christmas web site link: http://hornsaplentychristmas.com.

Horns A Plenty Christmas in Milwaukee

2010-12-06T06:32:00.000-08:00

Attention all Milwaukee Area horn players: Horns A Plenty Christmas will perform at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on Friday December 10 before the Milwaukee Ballet performance of the Nutcracker. For those of you who may not know, the Horns A Plenty Christmas concerts started in the Fox Valley about 10 years ago, and they raise money for scholarships for high school French Horn players. Anyone can play (the music is fairly easy), just show up, pay the fee, don the T-Shirt, and play!

For more information, see the web site: http://hornsaplentychristmas.com

Holiday Concert Preview - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

2010-12-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band for their annual Holiday concert, this year on Friday, December 10, at 7:30 PM in Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University.

Who can resist the majestic sound of brass playing holiday music? Or maybe some jazzy woodwinds? What would your holiday season be without hearing Sleigh Ride, or Silent Night? All of this will be include in the concert. And the special arrangement of Silent Night, by Music Director Rick Kirby, has become a tradition on this concert. The performance will feature holiday music performed by smaller ensembles from within the band, as well as the full band.

Admission to this concert is $5, or is free with a donation of 5 non-perishable foods items that will be donated to the Waukesha Food Pantry. Examples of especially needed items include peanut butter, canned chili, stews and meats, canned vegetables, pastas, rice and soups.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the evening of December 10, and maybe pack up some food as well. You'll get a great deal, enjoy a fun concert, and do a great deal of good!

Calendar of Holiday Concerts and something for those in the Fox Valley

2010-11-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

First, if you live in the Fox Valley, be sure to attend a special free concert of the Oshkosh Horn Choir, next Sunday December 5 at 7PM in the concert hall. This group is made up of volunteer horn players from all over eastern Wisconsin, from the Fox Valley to Green Bay to Milwaukee. The sound of a choir of french horns is unique. If you have never heard that sound, I encourage you to attend. Dr. Bruce Atwell has prepared the group with a wide variety of music, from classical to fun. I know you'll enjoy it.

And as promised, here is the Calendar of Holiday Concerts in December. Clicking on the band's name will take you to their web site for more information. Or print the page and tape it to your refrigerator door!

5 - Hartland Community Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill Basilica
10 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
11 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30 PM, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center
12 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
19 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
19 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill Basilica

The Knightwind Concert and the Holiday

2010-11-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

When I started on this post and entered the title, I thought it sounded like the title of a fable. Instead, it is a reminder and a wish.

First the reminder: be sure to attend the Knightwind Ensemble concert at 3 PM today, November 21, at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I'll be selling the tickets in the lobby, so stop by and say hello.

Second is the wish: I wish you all a wonderful, peaceful, and happy Thanksgiving Holiday. We have so much to be thankful for here in the Milwaukee area. Sometimes life moves so quickly that we forget the wonderful things we do have. Let's reflect a bit this holiday about all the blessings we have and not concentrate on the things we'd like to have.

Next week's post is the calendar of Holiday concerts, ready for your refrigerator door!

The fall season is winding down

2010-11-14T05:35:00.000-08:00

Not as much to write about this week.

Don't forget the concert by the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band at Carroll University at 7:30 PM, today, November 14.

And be sure to attend next week's concert by the Knightwind Ensemble, at 3 PM at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Be sure to visit the Knightwind web site (www.knightwind.org) and print the page with the concert preview. Bring it to the concert for $1 off the adult ticket price for everyone in your party. (Sorry, but the Senior and Student ticket price is as low as we can go already. We just cannot discount those tickets any further.)

And when you buy your tickets to the Knightwind Ensemble concert, be sure to say hello to Yours Truly, who will be taking care of all the details in the lobby during the performance, including selling the tickets.

Concert Preview - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band presents a World Premiere

2010-11-07T05:05:00.000-08:00

Join the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band on Sunday (new day) November 14 at 7:30 PM for a World Premiere. The Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University will be the site for Remix, a new piece by Music Director Rick Kirby. Mr. Kirby is a retired band director from Waukesha West High School, and, besides his composing duties, he is currently directing the Carroll University Jazz Ensemble and is also Associate Director of the Youth Wind Orchestra of Wisconsin.

The concert will also include a fanfare by Julie Giroux, the famous Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett, and an anthology of Leroy Anderson tunes. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. For more information or to pre-order tickets, please call 262-370-6129.

One neat piece of trivia I learned about this concert is that, performing in the band for this concert, is a husband, wife, and son. The Eisenmann family will be well represented in the ranks of the musicians on that evening. That's one of the great things about community music groups: the love of music can be passed down through the generations, and we all benefit from that love.

And the Packers have a Bye week. No game to get in the way of concert attendance! Hope to see you there!

Concert announcement and a possible Christmas Gift

2010-10-31T05:29:00.000-07:00

First, today, is the concert announcement. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band will perform a concert saluting our Veterans on Saturday November 6 at 5 PM in Memorial Hall at the War Memorial Center in downtown Milwaukee, where Wisconsin Avenue meets Prospect Avenue, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive). The MMCCB performs patriotic concerts recognizing Veterans Day every year, and it is always good concert: a nice mix of remembering the fallen and saluting those still with us. If you go, I know you will enjoy the concert. The band will also perform the concert on Veterans Day at the Zablocki Hospital.

And here is some news from the Racine Concert Band that might help you with your Christmas shopping. The Business Manager of the Racine Band, and former Music Director Del Esich, has written a book on the history of the Racine Band. The book is called And The Band Played On. He traces the beginnings of the band back to the 1850's and discusses the contributions of Henry and Fred Schulte in the 20's through the 40's. Of course, he outlines the years he was at the helm, including the band's performance with Barbra McNair in 1987 at the Grand Dedication of Racine's Festival Hall, and the awarding of the Sudler Silver Scroll to the Racine Concert Band by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation in 1995. The band is one of the best in the nation with the history to show for it.

It is a fascinating read. If you are interested in community bands, this book is a must for your library. It is available at Wilson's Coffee Shop in Racine: 3306 Washington Avenue, 262-634-6611. Give them a call or stop by for a coffee or tea when you pick up your copy. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, some of the photographs used in the book were taken by yours truly. But that is not the reason to buy the book. OK, maybe it is a small reason...

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony

2010-10-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Mike Kamenski, presents The Elements of Music on Saturday October 30th at 7:30 PM in the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center.

This concert for young people will feature a number of works as examples of the essence of music, and the process of creating it. Included on the program will be some selections from Moussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, Richard Wagner's opera Die Miestersinger, and the Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. Some great music and a lot of fun. And maybe some learning as well.

As a special treat, students who are interested can come up on the stage and sit in with the Orchestra during the performance. For that young aspiring musician, that can be a great thrill.

For more information on the concert, including ticket purchases, please check the Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra's web site: http://my.execpc.com/~regent/mfso.htm

Concert Preview - Milwaukee Festival Brass

2010-10-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Join the Milwaukee Festival Brass on Sunday October 24th at 3PM for Traditions, to be held in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Maestra Dr. Patricia Backhaus has programed musical traditions in a number of different ways.

First, here's some background information in case you are not familiar with the group. The Milwaukee Festival Brass is a British Style Brass Band (see their web site at http://www.mfbrass.org/ for more information on that). Besides using all brass instruments (and slightly different ones at that), British Brass Bands perform in competitions, and in the autumn the winners of the regional competitions converge on London for the British Brass Band National Championships, held at the Royal Albert Hall.

Dr. Backhaus has chosen two pieces for the program that were used to test the participating bands. The first one is from 1952, and is entitled Fantasia: In Switzerland, composed by Eric Ball. The second piece, which tested bands in 2009 in competitions throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, is called Torchbearer and it uses a theme from the music of Eric Ball, but is devilishly hard to play. It was written by one of the Brass' favorite composers, Peter Graham.

The program also features the Brass' lead Euphonium, Dave Meyer, as well as music from Fiddler On The Roof. It should be a lot of fun...the MFB concerts always are.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for Seniors and Students, and can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit http://www.mfbrass.org/.

Concert Preview - Wauwatosa Community Band

2010-10-10T05:31:00.000-07:00

Join the Wauwatosa Community Band for an early Holloween Celebration on Tuesday October 26 at 7 PM at Longfellow Middle School, at the corner of 76th Street and North Avenue. And be sure to come in costume!

Music Director Donna Kummer has chosen a mix of musical styles. From Broadway and the Movies comes music from The Sound of Music and from The Lion King. The trombone section is featured in a fun selection called Slippery Slides. Every children's concert needs a classical warhorse, and in this concert you'll hear Rossini's William Tell Overture.

I have to mention that Tosa Band will perform one of my favorite pieces: Norman Dello Joio's Scenes From The Louvre. The piece is a five movement work depicting the development of the Louvre during the Renaissance. It was originally written for the 1964 NBC television series on the Louvre, and it won the Emmy for outstanding television score that year. The band version was premiered in March of 1966 by the Baldwin-Wallace College Wind Ensemble conducted by the composer. It is a wonderful piece of music depicting not only the wonderful works of art within that museum, but the stateliness of the museum itself. I'm sure you will enjoy it, just as I am sure that the band will be challenged by it!

Finally, there has to be some scary music. Maestra Kummer has chosen two pieces to fill the bill: Thrillers and Chillers and Ghosts in the Graveyard. Just in time to get you in the mood for the upcoming weekend!

Snacks and drinks will be served after the concert for little goblins looking for a treat! Bigger goblins can enjoy them as well.

Tickets can be purchased in the lobby before the concert. Don't miss this one, it is guaranteed to be a lot of fun!

Concert Preview - Knightwind Ensemble

2010-10-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

The new Music Director for the Knightwind Ensemble, Dr. Erik Janners of Marquette University, has passed on some of the music the Ensemble will perform at their November 21 concert. For the record, the concert will be in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. The entrance to the Concert Hall is about 88th and Wisconsin Avenue. The concert will begin at 3 PM.

Two favorite orchestral transcriptions will be included in the program: the movements Mars, The Bringer of War and Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity from Gustav Holst masterpiece, The Planets. It has been many years since Knightwind performed either of these two movements, and yet they remain a favorite of both the audience and the musicians.

It would not be a Knightwind Ensemble performance without some music from a contemporary composer. For the November concert, that composer is Martin Ellerby, and the music is his Dreamscapes. The music is impressions of areas outside reality, including Shangri-La and Xanado. The Ensemble has performed Mr. Ellerby's Paris Sketches in November of 2005.

Also on the program is Aspen Jubilee from composer Ron Nelson. His aim with the music was to show "...the stupendous beauty of the Rockies, in general, of blinding sunlight, of snow-covered peaks; of the frontier spirit of old Aspen with its brash, funny dynamism, its corny ragtag Fourth of July parades and firework displays."

You can reach the Knightwind Web Site at www.knightwind.org. By printing out the page for the next concert, you can receive a discount on concert tickets. Be sure to check it out. And be sure to mark your calendar for November 21. The concert will be a good one!

News from the Fox Valley

2010-09-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, the founder of the Fox Valley Horn Choir, Don Krause, has organized a special event to raise scholarship money for students playing the French Horn. He calls it Horns A Plenty Christmas. For a number of years, the event occurred in Appleton. Last year, there was one in Milwaukee as well. He and his partner, Dr. Bruce Atwell who teaches Horn at UW Oshkosh, have been promoting the event nationwide.

I learned recently that Don can add another city to the list hosting Horns A Plenty Christmas: Washington DC. The date is Saturday December 4 and the location is the National Gallery of Art. Rehearsal begins at 12:30 PM with the concert to be held at 2 PM. All horn players are welcome to participate. The music is easy and the cost is low. Don's goal is a minimum of 100 horn players. And there is a rumor that the horn sections from some of the Service Bands will be attending. WOW!

The details will be posted on the Horns A Plenty Christmas web site once they are all worked out. But I bet there are a number of Milwaukee area horn players that are thinking ROAD TRIP!

News from the Western Suburbs

2010-09-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

I learned this week that the schedule for the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band has been set. The fall concert is Sunday evening November 14 at 7:30 PM at Shattuck Auditorium on the campus of Carroll University. WASB will celebrate the Holidays on Friday December 10 at 7:30, also in the Shattuck Auditorium. The Spring concert is set for Sunday April 17, also at 7:30 PM in Shattuck.

Their annual Concerto Competition auditions will be held on Saturday February 5. More details will come after the first of the year.

And for those of you in Wauwatosa, the first concert of the Wauwatosa Community Band will celebrate Halloween! Music will include Thrillers and Chillers and Ghosts in the Graveyards. More traditional selections will include The William Tell Overture and music from The Lion King. Unfortunately, the date has not been finalized. Once it is, I'll get it posted.

Not much news this week

2010-09-12T05:19:00.000-07:00

The season is just underway. I'm working on getting more dates for the calendar, but nothing to add just yet.

However, I did get some news on the November concert by the Knightwind Ensemble. The new Music Director, Dr. Erik Janners, will be programming two movements from The Planets by Gustav Holst: Mars and Jupiter. Just based on that, it will be a great concert!

2010 - 2011 Community Music Calendar

2010-09-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

With the new concert season beginning, I've assembled a list of the concerts by the different community groups that I get information from. At this time, there are three groups that have not set their concert dates: the Milwaukee Concert Band, the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, and the Wauwatosa Community Band. When I get those dates, I'll post the information and add it to this calendar. If you have concert information for community groups not on the calendar, send me an email at mulwaukeecommunitymusic@yahoo.com and I'll post the information. Thanks in advance.

September - No concerts

October
17 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3pm, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
24 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
24 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
30 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30 PM, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center

November
11 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 10 AM, Chapel at Zablocki Hospital
14 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
21 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College

December
5 - Hartland Community Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill Basilica
10 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University
11 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30 PM, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center
12 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
19 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
19 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Holy Hill Basilica

January - No concerts

February
11, 12 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 6:30 Dinner and 7:30 concert, Silver Spring Country Club

March
6 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center

April
3 - Knightwind Ensemble, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
3 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College
17 - Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, 7:30 PM, Shattuck Auditorium, Carroll University

May
15 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, 3 PM, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center
15 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, 3 PM, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center
21 - Menomonee Falls Symphony, 7:30, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center
30 - Knightwind Ensemble, 1 PM, Milwaukee County Zoo

June
4 - Milwaukee Festival Brass, 3 PM, Wisconsin Lutheran College

If you have dates for other community groups, please email them to me and I will add them to the list. Please remember that this blog is geared for adult, community oriented (volunteer) groups. I cannot post concert dates for professional or childrens groups. Thanks for you cooperation.

Would you like to play?

2010-08-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

Last year at this time I posted a list of different community music groups in the area, organized by the night of the week that they rehearse. Time to reprise that posting. If you have an instrument, and would like to play in a group, there are many to choose from in the Milwaukee Metro area. Here are some of the groups. And all of them would love to have a new member!

Sunday: There is one group rehearsing on Sunday evening, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. The band is always looking for new members. If an audition is needed, it is in order to determine where a person would sit. The group performs a more traditional concert band repertoire, and performs most of the year. The group is lead by conductor Karen Lippert. Unfortunately the group does not have a web site at this time. If you're interested in more information, please send me an email and I'll forward it to the conductor.

Monday: There is a community orchestra rehearsing on Monday evenings, the Menomonee Falls Symphony, directed by Mike Kamenski. Auditions are required. The group performs traditional symphony orchestra works. To get more information, see the web site: http://my.execpc.com/~regent/mfso.htm.

Tuesday: There are three groups rehearsing on Tuesday evening: the Wauwatosa Community Band, the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band, and the Milwaukee Festival Brass, the area's only British style brass band.First, the Wauwatosa Community Band is sponsored in part by the Wauwatosa Parks and Rec department and welcomes any and all players. Their concerts are lighter in nature with some more serious works for band. They also have a jazz ensemble, with many players performing in both groups. See their web site for more information: http://www.arcfile/com/tosaband/

Also on Tuesday is the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band. WASB performs more serious works and more difficult works for band. Auditions are required. Their web site is http://www.wasband.org/.

Finally on Tuesday is the Milwaukee Festival Brass directed by Dr. Patricia Backhaus, one of my favorite groups. If you are a brass or percussion player, this group offers something different from most community groups as the instrumentation is that of a traditional British Brass Band. The music is a wide variety from Pops favorites to very difficult brass band competition pieces. Auditions are required. See the web site for more info: http://www.mfbrass.org/.

Wednesday: There are three groups rehearsing on Wednesday evening: the Sudler Award Winning Knightwind Ensemble, the Lakeshore Symphonic Band, and the Milwaukee American Legion Band. The Legion band is modeled on the traditional patriotic military band. Not sure if they require auditions. Please see the web site for more information: http://milwakeeamericanlegionband.com/home.htm

The Lakeshore Symphonic Band is located in Ozaukee County in Grafton. Their performances are at the Cedarburg Arts Center. You can get more information from their web site: http://www.lakeshoreband.com/.

The Knightwind Ensemble also rehearses on Wednesday evening. The Ensemble specializes in performing newer works for band and wind symphony. Their web site has the list of the pieces performed in concert over the past 10 years plus, and it includes international award winning pieces. Auditions are required, and the band will add you to the waiting list if the section is full. See the web site for more information: http://www.knightwind.org/. The Ensemble received the Sudler Silver Scroll from the John Philip Sousa Foundation in December of 2005. Of the tens of thousands of community bands eligible for the award, the Knightwind Ensemble is one of 37 groups to EVER receive the award. Quite the accomplishment!

Thursday: Three groups rehearse on Thursday evening. The first is the Milwaukee Concert Band. As they do not have a web site, it is difficult to get information about the group. However, if you are interested in a Thursday rehearsal, send me an email and I will make sure that the director receives it.

Also rehearsing on Thursday is the Suburban Concert Band in West Allis, and the Greendale Village Band. The Suburban Concert Band's site is at http://www.suburbanconcertband.bravehost.com/. This group, like Tosa Band, also has a jazz ensemble.

The Greendale Village Band does not have a web site. However, the Wisconsin Music Group Band list at http://my.execpc.com/~regent/band.htm has contact information for them.

And that wraps up the list of community music groups in the Milwaukee area. If I missed one that you know of, please email me or add a comment to the post. I'll be sure to add it to the list.

The summer is winding down

2010-08-22T05:19:00.000-07:00

Other than the final concerts by the Racine Concert Band at the Racine Zoo (see last week's post for details), the summer concerts are now a thing of the past. It was a very good summer with many wonderful concerts. I hope you were able to enjoy many of them.

I will be working to assemble the calendar of concerts for the 2010-2011 season for the community bands in the area. I hope to publish the calendar on Sunday September 5. Next week is a list of the community bands in the area, for those who would like to join a group and play.

Final concerts in Racine

2010-08-15T05:05:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder this week that the last of the summer community band concerts is being offered on Sunday evenings at the Racine Zoo. The Racine Concert Band is completing another summer series of concerts at the Zoo amphitheater right on the lake. Bring a chair or a blanket, maybe a snack or a beverage, and enjoy a concert under the stars. Don Rosen from WRJN is your host!

On August 15, the band welcomes mezzo soprano Allison Hull, who will perform tunes by George and Ira Gershwin. And Eric Weiss will solo on Leroy Anderson's Trumpeters Lullaby.

The music of the Big Bands will be featured on August 22, featuring the jazz stylings of Jeannie Hatfield, former Miss Racine and Miss Wisconsin.

Finally, on August 29, soprano Aimee Miller joins the band to perform Bless This House and Who Will Buy My Lavender. Saxophonist Margaret Schwingle will perform Come Sunday by Duke Ellington.

Don't miss these final concerts in the 2010 Summer Series by the Racine Concert Band.

Last two concerts in Lake Country

2010-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

This week's post is a reminder that there are two concerts left in the summer season for the Hartland Community Band.

The first is Wednesday August 18 at 7:30 PM at the Band Shell in Oconomowoc. The other concert is the next evening, Thursday August 19 at 7:00 PM in Nixon Park in Hartland.

Then the Hartland Community Band takes a break until their Christmas Concert in December at Holy Hill. More on that later.

For all of you in the western suburbs, be sure to take in one of these two concerts. And for more information, see the band's web site: http://hartlandcommunityband.com

State Fair to feature State Marching Bands

2010-08-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Wisconsin State Fair will showcase a number of Wisconsin's top marching bands on Sunday August 15 at 3 PM. This years show marks a continuation of the partnership between the State Fair and the Wisconsin School Music Association.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find the list of the different bands that will be performing that afternoon. If I can get that information, I'll post it as soon as I can. UPDATE 8/3: The poster for the event can be found at this link: www.wsmamusic.org/programs/marching_band/documents/MBposter.pdf

However, a Sunday afternoon with marching bands and cream puffs seems like a day in heaven to me. Be sure to mark you calendar. If you'd like to order tickets, here is the link: www.wistatefair.com/2010_wsf/mainstage.html

And if you are not able to attend the state fair that day, be sure to support the school bands performing throughout every day at the fair. Those musicians are the future of our community bands and orchestras.

Q and A with Dr. Erik Janners - Part 2

2010-07-25T05:32:00.000-07:00

Here are the last 5 questions I posed to the new Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble.

MCM: What is your favorite: symphonic band piece? orchestral piece? popular piece? other?

EJ: This is like asking me to name my favorite star. I love them all! OK, OK, if you want me to pick just one piece for a favorite wind band work it would be...Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed. There are many others that I love, of course, but that is a work that, to me, will never go out of style - it will always powerfully affect students, performers, and audience members every time. Favorite Orchestral work: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Among all the wonderful musical elements, and its colossal position at the top of the cannon of western art music, I also just love that the various companies who got together to standardize CD technology in the 1990s could only agree that the new CD format should contain a full performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony - the average performance being 74 minutes in length. If you ever wondered where the 74 minutes came from, there you go! For another favorite piece - gosh, I don't know. I know what I like in ANY piece of music, though - interesting melodic and harmonic lines, and the chance for players to really dig into the music and play. That is how I decide what I like in virtually all music, I guess.

MCM: During your career, did you play in any pop or rock groups?

EJ: Yes...can I just leave it at that? No, I guess not. OK fine. All through my high school years, I was the drummer and lead singer for a rock band which went by the hideous name of Burnt Toast and Jam. We did cover tunes mostly, and some original tunes in our later years (17 and 18!). Yes, I was the lead singer, no kidding. I was the Phil Collins of that band. It was a lot of fun and I wouldn't trade it for anything. However, last time I moved, I found some old recordings of that band, and after listening for about 2 minutes decided that those tapes should be permanently misplaced!

MCM: American or Canadian?

EJ: American - I guess the better phraseology would be United Statesian. To say one is American does not narrow it down very much - North or South American? I was born in San Antonia Texas and grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The only time I spent in Canada was three years I spent there in my first teaching position from 2001 to 2004. One of the things I would say, however, is that living outside the US is a very eye opening experience and one I would recommend to anyone. Even simply being in Canada, which most US citizens feel is the 51st state or something, you get a very different perspective of the world, and on what other countries think of the US. Very enlightening.

MCM: What do you enjoy most that is not music?

EJ: I love dogs - my wife and I have 2 dogs - a German Shepherd mix named Jesse, and a Dachsund named Oscar (Oscar the wiener dog). I also very much enjoy sports - football and college basketball (of course) and cycling. Yes, I am a Packers fan in case anyone is wondering and I am a true Packers fan. I started rooting for them when I was a kid in the UP of Michigan, when the quarterbacks were Lynne Dickey and David Whitehurst!

MCM: What are your goals for the first few years of your tenure as Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble?

EJ: My goals for Knightwind are to: 1) bring more exposure to this wonderful ensemble, and 2) continue to select and perform wind band music of the highest quality to challenge the players. Sounds pretty simple, right? I would like to see if the Knightwind Ensemble can get invited to the Wisconsin Music Conference in Madison, and I would like to look into putting together a CD for sale by the group. Lastly, I plan on talking with the Board of Directors about the possibility of some sort of holiday pops concert - it seems like a natural event that we are missing out on as a part of our calendar.

There you have it! Q and A with Dr. Erik Janners, Director of Music at Marquette University and the newly appointed Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble.

Q and A with Dr. Erik Janners, part 1

2010-07-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

I promised some questions and answers with the new Music Director of the Knightwind Ensemble. Here are the first 5 questions and their answers. The next 5 will be posted next week.

Milwaukee Community Music: How did you first get involved with music?

Dr. Erik Janners: My mom and dad enrolled me in Suzuki violin at the age of 4 or 5 - I don't remember my exact age. I did violin, guitar, and piano on and off before finally deciding on percussion in about grade 8.

MCM: What convinced you that music was a calling and not a hobby?

EJ: I loved to play, I loved to perform, I was never bored by it, and I was continually challenged by music. That last point, really, is what is still true today - there is always something new, something more to learn or to get out of a piece. I also really enjoy the interpersonal aspect of music making - as a player I much prefer chamber music to solo work, and as a conductor I love the interaction between the ensemble and the conductor. The special dynamic that it brings to what we do is a constant source of energy and fascination for me.

MCM: What music other than "symphonic" or "classical" are you especially interested in, and why?

EJ: Jazz music or rock music up until 1990. I find much of what is played on the radio today as "pop" or "rock" to be utterly vacuous - the performers did not even write their own lyrics or their own music, and they are sampling someone else's guitar riff or something - usually from that time in the 1970's or 1980's when hard rock music had melody (Queen, Van Halen, etc.). I find much of the current pop music unlistenable for that very reason. Jazz, of course, is an art form all its own, and is a lot of fun to play and to direct as a conductor. Jazz is one of those musical styles where the more you know about the style, the more you like it. Of course, for many people who know nothing about jazz, they like it less.

MCM: What is on your iPod or CD Player?

EJ: Van Halen, Queen, Led Zepplin, Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck, Miles Davis (Sketches of Spain album is a must have for every musician), Charles Mingus, John Coltrane. Unless I'm listening to wind band music - I have a collection of over 2500 CDs of wind band music.

MCM: Things sometimes go wrong at concerts. Can you share an interesting or amusing "something gone wrong"?

EJ: For one that involves me personally, I remember a time when I was still an undergraduate and we were at the dress rehearsal for a concert. I think we were doing the 1st, 4th, and 5th movements of something and the 5th movement was the slow movement. So at the dress the conductor told us to be ready to perform the movements in the order 1/5/4 so we would end on a fast movement rather than a slow. At the concert we finished the 1st movement and all of us percussionists continued to sit quietly in the back as the 5th movement was next and involved no percussion - all of us that is except for the young lady playing cymbals. She got up and walked to the cymbals. None of us noticed right away - well, the 4th movement if it HAD been next, began with an ff cymbal crash, and so this girl picks up the cymbals and WHAM!!!!! Plays the loudest solo cymbal crash ever to start a slow and lyrical movement. We all forgot to tell her about the switch - she had missed the dress rehearsal. The conductor, to his everlasting credit, did not stop and kept right on going with the slow movement. He was, however, turning purple - not from anger but rather from trying to hold back his laughter, as we all were as well. The young lady, to her credit, stood there holding the cymbals high in the air, letting the sound die away, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and the composer had written his slow movement that way. Needless to say, the rest of us percussionists got an earful from that cymbal player after the concert, for forgetting to tell her about that change.

Questions 6 to 10 are next week.

Summer Concert Series - The Racine Concert Band

2010-07-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday July 11 is the first in a series of Sunday evening concerts presented by the Racine Concert Band under the direction of Mark Eichner. Concerts begin at 7:30 in July and at 7:00 in August. All concerts will be at the amphitheater on the grounds of the Racine Zoo on Main Street. While the Zoo does charge admission during the normal hours, admission to only the concert is free (starting at about 30 minutes before the concert).

The Racine Band has a long history of free concerts and quality performances. They were a key part of the centennial celebration for the City of Racine, and they were awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. And, as a person who has seen many performances by the group, they are very enjoyable.

This Sunday's performance (the 11th) includes a trumpet solo by the Director Mark Eichner, a clarinet duet, and the ever popular Light Cavalry Overture. And, of course, every concert ends with a march by John Phillip Sousa.

So, for the rest of the summer, you have another option instead of reruns on TV or housework. Enjoy the summer concert series by the Racine Concert Band.

UPDATE July 12: Here is a list of the guests that will perform with the Racine Concert Band this summer:

July 18 - Greg Berg from WGDT radio will sing an aria from The Marriage of Figaro as well as some popular songs.

July 25 - Featuring a saxophone quartet and an oboe soloist

August 1 - The annual children's concert featuring Michael Snider narrating Casey At the Bat

August 8 - Featuring flute and alto sax soloists

August 15 - Mezzo soprano Allison Hull from UW-Parkside will sing some Gershwin standards

August 22 - Will feature the music of the Big Bands

August 29 - Soprano Aimee Miller will sing a number of selections and another saxophone feature

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

Community Bands everywhere are busy today and tomorrow. Be sure to enjoy the parades and concerts in and around your area. What a great way to celebrate our independence by attending a concert in the park performed by your friends and neighbors!

For those of you near Greenfield, you may want to take in their 4th of July Parade. Their parade line up includes the Wisconsin Badger Band. While it's not the entire group, the Badgers will be there with the best pep band music in the world. And to top it off, at the end of the parade in Konkel Park, about 1:30, the Badgers will perform the famous 5th Quarter. So join in the fun, clap along, and maybe even do the Chicken Dance!

For those of you in and around Racine, the Racine Concert Band begins their summer concert series on the 4th. More information on that series soon.

Knightwind Ensemble Announces a New Music Director

2010-06-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

At their March 21st concert, the Knightwind Ensemble announced the appointment of a new Music Director: Dr. Erik Janners, Director of Music at Marquette University. Dr. Janners begins his duties with the Knightwind Ensemble in the fall of 2010.

Dr. Janners comes to Milwaukee from St. Xavier University in Chicago, and the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada. At both of those Universities, he created conducting workshops to provide further conducting training opportunities to high school teachers and music students. In Canada and at Marquette, he expanded the band programs to two bands and founded University Wind Ensembles. And if that isn't enough, while in Saskatchewan, he created a television show entitled For The Love Of Music, which featured the music of concert bands and wind ensembles.

At Marquette, Dr. Janners conducts the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Pep Band, all the while supervising the overall Music Program. He also teaches courses in the University's Music Minor program, including music theory, conducting, and music history. He is a published author and has served as a featured clinician, not only at state music conferences, but also the Midwest Clinic.

In a future post, I'll do a Q and A session with Dr. Janners. If you have questions you'd like to ask, send them to the blog email address: milwaukeecommunitymusic@yahoo.com. I'll add them to my questions, and we can inundate Dr. Janners together!

Milwaukee Tradition Continues

2010-06-20T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee American Legion Band has performed summer concerts in Humboldt park as long as I can remember. They will perform again this year on Tuesday June 29 at 6:30 PM at the Chalet stage in Humboldt Park.

The concert begins with a small Dance Band performing standards, just to get you in the mood for an old fashioned band concert in the park. Then the entire concert band will perform one of their traditional patriotic concerts. No one follows that formula of programming more than the Milwaukee American Legion Band.

The concert is a part of the Chill On The Hill series, sponsored by the Bay View Neighborhood Association. Food vendors will be there for your snacking enjoyment. Their series is always a nice way to spend a pleasant summer evening.

So, pack your lawn chairs and your cooler and come to Humboldt Park, in Milwaukee's Bay View Neighborhood to hear a Milwaukee tradition: a summer concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band. See you there on the 29th.

Shorewood Concert Band Summer Schedule

2010-06-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

The Shorewood Concert Band will perform 4 concerts this year, including the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Bar-be-cue Saturday the 12th (yesterday, and it was a great concert...and the chicken was great, too). Here are the other dates:

June 24, 7 PM at Atwater Park featuring Music from the Movies
July 4 at 6:30 PM as a part of the Shorewood 4th of July Celebration, A Red White and Blue Spectacular
July 15 at 7 PM at Atwater Park featuring a Salute to the Music of the Big Bands

Atwater Park is just north of Capitol Drive on Lake Drive. Street parking can sometimes fill up, so best to get there a little bit early and have your pick of the lawn. Remember to bring a chair or blanket for a comfortable seat.

If there is music you would like the Shorewood Concert Band to play, send your request to this email address: shorewoodcncrtband@sbcglobal.net. And for more information, you can also check the blog of the President of the Shorewood Concert Band at this link for more information: http://capnfrank.blogspot.com/. He tells me that his blog will include pictures, videos, and previews of upcoming concerts, so check it out!

Hartland Community Band Summer Schedule

2010-06-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

I received a nice note from the folks at the Hartland Community Band with their summer schedule. For those of you not familiar with the group, the Hartland Band performs a summer series of concert in and around the Hartland area, as well as a Christmas Concert every year at Holy Hill. Here is the schedule for this year's summer series.

June 25 - The first summer concert at Nixon Park in Hartland at 7 PM
June 27 - The band performs on a bandwagon through Hartland beginning at 1 PM
July 12 - A joint concert with the Fort Atkinson Community Band at the band shell in Barrie Park in Fort Atkinson at 7:30
August 18 - A special performance at the Band Shell in Oconomowoc at 8 PM
August 19 - The final summer concert at Nixon Park in Hartland at 7 PM

If you are in the area, be sure to look them up this summer. Sounds like a lot of fun.

And for those who like to plan ahead, the Hartland Community Band Christmas Concert at Holy Hill is set for December 5 at 3 PM.

First Concert of the Summer Season

2010-05-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

The first Summer Band concert is always in Shorewood. The Shorewood Concert Band kicks off the season performing in Atwater Park during the annual Chicken Barbecue hosted by the Shorewood Men's Club. So mark your calendar for Saturday June 12 for Barbecue Chicken prepared by Rupena's, and music by the Shorewood Concert Band.

This year, the Band begins the entertainment in the park at 12:30. It's still a bit early so I do not yet have a concert preview. As soon as I get info from the Director, Dr. Patricia Backhaus, I'll post it. But Dr. Pat's concerts are always fun and she prepares her groups well.

And if you've never had Rupena's chicken, you are in for a treat!

Atwater Park is at the corner of Lake Drive and Capitol Drive. But be aware that Capitol Drive is under construction and you might run into delays. If you are coming from the south, best to take Hampton Avenue east to Lake Drive and then go north. Similarly, if you are coming from the north, take Silver Spring to lake Drive and go south.

And if you take in the concert, stop by and say hello...I'll be there with a red Wisconsin Badger Band baseball cap!

Concert Preview - Milwaukee Festival Brass

2010-05-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Milwaukee Festival Brass, Milwaukee's only British style brass band, performs music of a spiritual nature on Sunday June 6 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

His Eye on the Sparrow features long time MFB member Brian Bolling on Flugelhorn. A trio of concert master Tom Traugott, soprano cornetist Dave Magoon, and Dave Mayer on Euphonium perform the World Premiere arrangement of The Prayer. Joshua Swings the Battle is a great piece by Stephen Bulla and will feature Andrew Sowatzke on Trumpet. Andrew is one of the members of the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass, and is a student at Waukesha South High School.

The feature piece for the concert is Crusade by Reiks Van Der Velde. It is a programmatic work telling the story of a young man who leaves home to fight for his religion, but also in search of fame and glory. This may be the most difficult piece the MFB has programmed. Should be a good one.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for Seniors and Students and can be purchased at the door. Be sure to leave plenty of extra time to get there because parking will be at a premium because of a graduation ceremony. The MFB has made arrangements for off-site parking and transportation to the concert hall. Click here for more information.

Memorial Day Concerts

2010-05-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

There are three concerts on Memorial Day that you might want to attend, one by the Knightwind Ensemble, one by the Wauwatosa Community Band, and one by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band.

First up is the Wauwatosa Community Band. They are a part of the Memorial Day observance for the City of Wauwatosa. It will be held at Longfellow Middle School on the corner of 76th and North Avenue beginning at 10 AM. The band will provide patriotic music to accompany the ceremonies. See the Tosa Band site for more information.

In the afternoon, the Knightwind Ensemble will present its 21st Annual Memorial Day Pops Concert in the Peck Welcome Center at the Zoo at 1 PM. Besides some light classics, the Ensemble will perform music of Broadway, including selections from Les Miserables and the Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein. Of course, there will be a march or two. And the concert will conclude with the annual Salute To The Armed Forces. The concert is free with your Zoo admission. Click here for Zoo information.

Later in the afternoon at 5 PM, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band will perform a concert observing Memorial Day at the War Memorial Center downtown. The program will include light classics, show tunes and marches. If your day is busy early on, this might be a nice way to end the weekend. Here is more information on the concert.

And be sure, however you spend your weekend, to spend some time on Monday May 31 honoring our veterans, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is because of their sacrifice that we have our freedom.

For the neighbors in/near Pewaukee

2010-05-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of information about this concert, but I found out that the Hartland Community Band will be performing at a special Holiday event on Saturday May 29th at the Veterans Bell Tower Memorial, highway 164 and Capitol Drive.

The Hartland Community Band performs during the summer, so this is a bit early in the season for those folks. They'll be providing patriotic music for the ceremonies. If you are going to be in the area, be sure to take in the program, and enjoy the music of the Hartland Community Band. For more information, see the web site: www.veteransbelltower.com.

For those of you to the South

2010-05-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

I received word that the Racine Concert Band will be performing at Case High School in Racine, with the Case High School Band, on May 20th. I do not yet have information about the program, but I will post an update as soon as I have that information.

Just a word about the Racine Concert Band...the group is best known for their Summer Concert Series at the Racine Zoo on Sunday evenings. That series has been going for a very long time. The Racine Concert Band (RCB) was recognized by none other than the John Phillip Sousa Foundation as one of the best Community Bands in North America, when it awarded the band its Sudler Silver Scroll. That is a true honor as only the very best community bands receive that award.

So, be sure to see the Racine Concert Band with the Case High School Band on the 20th at 7:00 PM. And be sure to mark your Sunday evenings for Summer Concerts by RCB beginning on Sunday July 4th. What a way to kick off the concert season!

Concert Preview: Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra

2010-04-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

First, don't forget the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band concert this Friday April 30 at Carroll University. See their web site for all the details: http://www.wasband.org/

The Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra presents National Treasures on Saturday May 8 at 7:30 PM in the Hamilton Fine Arts Center in Sussex. Featured on the program are the First and Second Place winners of the MFSO Young Artist Competition, harpist Christina Brier and violinist Ari Lipchik.

The program begins with the Sebelius masterpiece Finlandia, a treasure of Finland. The first half concludes with the performances of the soloists. Unfortunately, I do not know the works that will be performed by the soloists (not much help, I know). The concert concludes with the Dvorak Symphony #9, From The New World, one of our national treasures.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for Seniors, and $6 for Students and can be purchased at the door. For more information, you can visit their web site: http://my.execpc.com/~regent/mfso.htm.

The MFSO just recently moved their rehearsals and concerts to the Hamilton Fine Arts Center in Sussex. The hall is wonderful for concerts, and the MFSO sounds very full and balanced there. When the MFSO played at the middle school in Menomonee Falls, the sound was not nearly as clear and full. They have found a new home for their concerts and we are the benefactors: better sounding concerts by a quality group. See you there!

Concert Preview - Wauwatosa Community Band

2010-04-18T05:05:00.000-07:00

First, don't forget about the Dallas Brass coming to Wisconsin Lutheran High School on Sunday April 25th. You can order your tickets online at: http://www.wisconsin-lutheran-high-school.ticketleap.com/. Advance tickets are $15, at the door the price is $18. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band is expecting a sellout, so you better get your tickets early.

Also, if you are in the Fox Valley, the Oshkosh Horn Choir performs on Tuesday April 20 at 7 PM in the concert hall of the Music Building. The program includes classical favorites arranged for Horn Choir including Procession of the Nobles, and some movie music from Titanic. The best part is that the concert is free.

Now on to the concert preview. The Wauwatosa Community Band presents an evening of Patriotic Music on Tuesday May 4th at 7:30 PM in the auditorium of Longfellow Middle School, corner of 76th and North Avenue. Music Director Donna Kummer has chosen some favorites just in time for Memorial Day.

The feature piece on the program is an evergreen band classic: Gustav Holst's Second Suite in F. This suite is based on English folk songs, and is one of the cornerstone pieces of modern band music. For those of you who are not familiar, I suggest you attend the concert just to hear the last movement of this suite. Holst wanted to have two tunes played on top of each other, and he got that wish in the fourth movement when he juxtaposed the Fantasy on the Dargason and Greensleeves. The effect is wonderful.

Also on the program is Their Finest Hour by John Cacavas, George M. Cohan's Star Spangled Salute!, God Bless America, and The Ultimate Patriotic Sing-Along. Better warm up those vocal chords!

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Students and Seniors are $3. The concerts are always a lot of fun, so if you haven't heard Tosa Band yet, this would be a great concert to attend. And if you have heard Tosa Band, then you know that this will be a fun evening.

Concert Preview: Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

2010-04-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band (WASB) will present Luminescence, their spring concert, on Friday April 30th at 7:30 PM in Shattuck Auditorium on the Carroll University campus. The concert is a part of the Waukesha Works For People series, and will benefit the Adaptive Community Approach Program (ACAP).

Featured on the program is clarinetist Sabrina Pruszka, the winner of the WASB 2010 Concerto Competition earlier this year. Sabrina is a Senior at Franklin High School and is studying with Linda Jones at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She is also a member of both the UW-Milwaukee Youth Wind Ensemble, and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. She will perform the final movement (Rondo) from Carl Maria von Weber's Concerto Number 1.

Also on the program is Luminescence by David Biedenbender, the Adagio of Samuel Barber, and a Roger Cichy piece that I am not familiar with: Bugs. (Looks like a fun piece with movements entitled Dragonfly and Army Ants!)

The Waukesha Works For People is an annual concert event produced by WASB to help support other charities in and around Waukesha. Enjoy a wonderful concert and help support ACAP. (And besides, you don't want to miss music from the Star Wars Trilogy also on the program...)

Here's something different

2010-04-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

There is an upcoming concert that is unique in community music. It is happening on the campus of UW-Oshkosh. On Tuesday April 20th, the Oshkosh Horn Choir under the direction of Dr. Bruce Atwell will perform in the Music Hall on Campus (800 Algoma Blvd.) at 7 PM. Admission is free.

The Choir is made up of french horn students studying with Dr. Atwell as well as volunteers from the community. The quality of the group is very good and Dr. Atwell attracts a lot of very good community players from all over eastern Wisconsin, coming from both the Milwaukee and Green Bay areas, as well as the Fox Valley.

If you've never heard a choir of french horns playing classical and popular music, I suggest you attend this concert. You will enjoy it immensely!

MMCCB Welcomes the Dallas Brass

2010-03-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Good news!

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band, in conjunction with Wisconsin Lutheran High School, welcome the Dallas Brass on Sunday April 25th. The Brass will perform in the High School Auditorium beginning at 6 PM. Wisconsin Lutheran High School is on 84th Street, just south of Bluemound Road.

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of details available at this time. I have heard rumors of a possible master class, but those are only rumors. The information I have been able to confirm is that tickets will be $15 and are available at the door.

However, the Dallas Brass is a top notch group and the cost is very low. Having them here in Milwaukee is a treat you don't want to miss. As I get more information confirmed, I will post it. Until then, mark April 25th on your calendar!

Also, don't forget this Tuesday evening is a concert by the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass at the Lincoln Center of the Arts at 7 PM.

A reminder and an audition notice for students

2010-03-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

Be sure to attend the Knightwind Ensemble concert today, March 21, at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall of Wisconsin Lutheran College. If you'd like a discount on the adult priced tickets in your group, see the website: http://www.knightwind.org/, and click on the Next Concert link. If you print the page, you'll get $1 off the adult priced tickets for everyone in your party.

And say hello. I'll be selling the tickets!

Also, the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass will be holding auditions on April 23 and 24. The Youth Brass, also directed by MFB Maestra Patricia Backhaus, welcomes brass and percussion student musicians from age 10 through 17. For the audition, students will be asked to perform a three to five minute solo or etude, scales, double and triple tonging and sight reading. Percussionists will be asked to play drum set, tympani, and mallet instruments.

Rarely can a student in that age range participate in a British style Brass Band; truly a unique experience.

And you can see the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass perform on Tuesday evening March 30th at 7 PM, at the Lincoln Center of the Arts, 820 E. Knapp St. If you'd like more information regarding the auditions, please contact Maestra Backhaus at Director@mfbrass.org. Or see the web site for more information: http://www.mfbrass.org/.

Concert Preview: Wauwatosa Community Band

2010-03-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

The Wauwatosa Community Band, better known as Tosa Band, performs on Tuesday evening March 16 at 7:30 in the Longfellow Middle School Auditorium, corner of 76th and North Avenue. Music Director Donna Kummer has chosen an Irish Music theme for the concert in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

While I do not have the details of the concert, their performances are always fun. You can follow Tosa Band, and their sister group Tosa Jazz, on the web site: www.arcfile.com/tosaband/. And they are now on Facebook. See the link from their web site.

And don't forget the Knightwind Ensemble concert on the 21st at 3 PM at Wisconsin Lutheran College.

Concert Preview: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

2010-03-07T05:48:00.000-08:00

First a reminder: The Milwaukee Festival Brass performs today at 3 PM. Don't miss it.

Now on the the concert preview. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band (MMCCB) will perform on Saturday March 27 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. The theme is Adventures in Music, and the program has many different styles of music aimed for younger students.

The program includes two classical standards. First, the band will perform Ravel's Bolero, an orchestral favorite that transcribes nicely for band. Also on the program is The Pines Of The Appian Way, the last movement from Respighi's Pines of Rome.

Featured on the program is the conductor, Karen Lippert, performing a fun clarinet piece called Pepperino. Also included is music from The Lion King. And a surprise special guest will make an appearance.

As I mentioned above, the program is aimed at introducing younger students (grade and middle school students) to classical music. A special treat will be intermission refreshments of cookies and milk! Kids of all ages will enjoy that.

So, mark your calendar for Saturday March 27th. The MMCCB concerts are always fun. Be sure to attend, and be sure to bring your kids. They'll have a great time, enjoy some cookies and milk, and learn about classical music.

And a note for April: the MCCB will welcome the Dallas Brass. The Brass will perform on Sunday April 25 at 6 PM at the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Auditorium. More information upcoming!

Check this out!

2010-02-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

Maybe I should say, check out this quilt!

First a reminder that the Milwaukee Festival Brass will present Italia on Sunday March 7 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College. Don't miss their performance of Pines of Rome. It will be something special.

But you also have a chance to win something special. The MFB is holding a raffle for this wonderful quilt. I love the motif: covered with eighth notes! Really something unique. The Brass will be selling tickets for $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. And you can get your raffle tickets at the concert.

So, be sure to attend the Milwaukee Festival Brass concert on March 7, not only for the great music - Pines of Rome - but to get your raffle tickets for this unique quilt! (If I win, I'm not giving it as a gift...I'm keeping it for myself!)