An upcoming concert

 The Racine Concert Band opens their Centennial Concert Season with a free performance at UW-Parkside's Bedford Concert Hall on Saturday January 29th at 7 PM.  The concert will feature the world premiere of Into Our Father's Arms, written by UW-Parkside Professor and Music Department Chair James Crowley.  And if you prefer to not be in a concert hall, the concert will be live streamed.  Click here for all the information including a link to the live stream and the link for free tickets.  

And congratulations to the Racine Concert Band on the beginning of their Centennial Season.  What a great way to begin the celebration!  

An update to the schedule for the Menominee Falls Symphony

 Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused the MFSO to cancel their Valentines dinner concert scheduled for February.  They are working to reschedule the event in May if possible.  The April concert is still scheduled.  Rehearsals will begin soon.  

The pandemic continues.  

More upcoming concerts

The posting of updates on this blog have been few and far between, just as the concerts they document have been, since the pandemic began.  I will be posting news as I get it, but I do not see a return to a regular schedule of posts on Sunday mornings, at least not in the near future.  Until then, I will post concert announcements that I am aware of.  

The Menominee Falls Symphony has 2 concerts scheduled for 2022.  The MFSO will host a Valentine's Day Pops Dinner Concert featuring vocalist Ellen Winters on Saturday February 12.  The event will be at Davian's in Menominee Falls beginning at 6:30.  Then on April 23, the MFSO welcomes Pianist and Composer Greg Hartman for their classical concert entitled Showcasing Showstoppers.  The concert will begin at 7:30 at the Hamilton Fine Arts Center in Sussex.  See the MFSO web site for more info.  

As far as the pandemic goes, I am not sure when, but I do believe that this too shall pass.

Menominee Falls Symphony Concert this Sunday

 Join the Menominee Falls Symphony this Sunday at 2 PM for A Jazzy Christmas, held at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center at Hamilton High School.  The special guests are vocalist Donna Woodall and bassist Ethan Bender.

From the MFSO web site: 
Christmas IS the season for family stories, food AND music! Join us to hear Donna’s own renditions of some of her childhood (and adulthood) holiday favorites. They characterize the style of the great jazz singers who inspired her yet contain her own unique style! Donna and Ethan are making a return engagement with the MFSO. They were the last artists at our Valentine’s show immediately before the COVID shutdown. Having received many requests from audience and orchestra members alike, we are proud and excited to have them back!!! If you missed our Valentine’s show of 2019, don’t miss this!

See the MFSO web site for more information.  

There may be summer concerts in Racine

 Summer concerts seem to all be cancelled due to the pandemic.  The good news is that I see that many community music organizations are planning on resuming operation in the fall.

But the Racine Concert Band is working toward summer concerts at the Racine Zoo beginning on July 4th.  Not all of the details have been set yet, so it may not occur on the 4th, or it might be delayed a bit.  However, this is the first indication of community concerts returning.  I will publish any news that I get regarding this series of concerts.  

More to come.  

It has been a while...

 The pandemic has cancelled performances of all of the community music groups that I monitor in the Milwaukee area.  But there is one virtual performance coming in January.

The Concord Chamber Orchestra is putting together a free virtual chamber music concert.  It is scheduled for January 31at 3 PM Central time for the initial performance.  Once completed, the concert will be loaded to You Tube so that you can enjoy the concert on your own schedule.  

For all the details, see the CCO web site.  

And note that Milwaukee Community Music blog will continue to monitor the situation and announce any performances that might be coming.  Maybe this summer?  

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

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

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

Another cancellation

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

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

We live in interesting times...

We live in interesting times

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

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

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

Stay safe!

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

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

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

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

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

COVID-19 Update

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

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

We will get through this. 

Upcoming concert: Menominee Falls Symphony

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

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

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

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

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

Concert Preview: Concord Chamber Orchestra

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

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

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

The program will include:

• Richard III by Bedrich Smetana
• Suite from Henry V by William Walton
• Three Dances from Henry VIII by Edward German
• Heather Beckman, the winner of the Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition, will perform the Violin Concerto of Samuel Barber 

I have enjoyed all of the CCO concerts that I have attended, and the sound in the St. Sebastian Church is excellent.  It is a great venue for classical music.  

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

Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

Welcome to 2020.  The concert season is restarting.

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

• Mozart's Symphony No. 40, 
• Strauss's Serenade No.7 for 13 Winds, 
• Beethoven's "Little" Symphony No.8 in F, and 
• Morton Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium"

All I can say is Wow, what a program.  All the pieces are wonderful.  

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

Advance tickets are available through the KMS web site.  Tickets can also be purchased in advance at: 

• Horicon Bank in West Bend
• White House of Music in West Bend and Germantown
• Douglas Jeweler in Hartford.

Tickets will also be available at the door.

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

Have a wonderful Holiday Season

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

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

A Holiday Favorite - Horns a plenty Christmas

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

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

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

Waukesha Area Symphonic Band Holiday Concert

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

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

For more information, see the WASB web site.

Menominee Falls Symphony upcoming concert

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

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

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

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

Concord Chamber Orchestra concert

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

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

• Lunatics and Lovers: Overture and Bacchanalia by Linda Robbins Coleman
• Overture to Twelfth Night, Op. 73 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
• Fantasia on Greensleeves by Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti with the Chorus from the Milwaukee High School of the Arts

And special thanks go out the Affiliated Dermatologists for their support for this concert.

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

 

Upcoming concert: Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

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

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