Time for reflection and an event in Oshkosh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!