Upcoming concert by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band

The MMCCB will perform Autumn Winds, celebrating the changing of the seasons with music of the seasons.  The concert begins at 3 PM on Sunday November 6 in Schwan Concert Hall on the campus of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

The MMCCB concerts are always fun and they are a great way to introduce students to the world of classical music.  And the concerts are free.

For more information, see the MMCCB web site.

Concert alert: Waukesha Area Symphonic Band

The Waukesha Area Symphonic Band will perform Music From The Heart at Shattuck Hall on the campus of Carroll University in Waukesha, on Saturday October 29.  The concert begins at 7:30 and will benefit Healing Hearts of Waukesha County.

The program will be quite varied and will feature two world premiere pieces by Music Director Rick Kirby.  The program will also feature the music of Alfred Reed and Freddy Mercury and trumpet soloist Kevin Hartman.

See the WASB web site for more information.

A bunch of concerts coming up, all at the same time

Saturday October 22nd is a busy day for a lot of local groups:

• The Menomonee Falls Symphony performs at the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center at 7:30 PM featuring the music of film scores
• The Concord Chamber Orchestra performs at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church at 7PM featuring music of the Halloween season
• The Milwaukee Festival Brass performs at St. John's Lutheran Church in Brookfield at 7:30 featuring music of animation.

Quite the list to choose from, and all look like great concerts.  be sure to take one in!

Concert Preview - Concord Chamber Orchestra

Join the Concord Chamber Orchestra on Saturday October 22 for an evening of spooky music and fun.  The CCO presents Things That Go Bump at St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa.

Maestro Jamin Hoffman has programmed great music of the season.  The concert includes:

• Danse Macbre (Saint-Saens)
• Valse Triste (Selelius)
• The Witch's Ride from Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck)
• Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev)
• Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky)

St. Matt's is at 1615 Wauwatosa Avenue, across the street from Tosa East High School, and just up the street from the Village center.

For more information or to order tickets online, please see the CCO web site.

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra

The Menomonee Falls Symphony will perform Film Scores through the Years on Saturday evening October 22.  The concert begins at 7:30 in the Hamilton Fine Arts Center at Sussex-Hamilton High School on Town Line Road.

Maestro Michael Kamenski has chosen a number of memorable movies, from which great music will be played.  Some of the titles include:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Apollo 13
• Psycho
• Gladiator
• Amadeus
• The Mission

In addition to this wonderful music, film clips will accompany a number of the selections.

Tickets are $15, $12 for Seniors, and $6 for Students.  You can get your tickets online by visiting the Fine Arts Center web site:  http://www.hamiltonfineartscenter.com/.  You can also call 800-838-3006 to order tickets.  Finally, tickets can be purchased in person one hour before the concert.

Missed yesterday's post

As you can see, I missed a post yesterday.  And the reason is two-fold:  first, I was out of town, and second, there is little information to pass on right now.  Most groups have begun rehearsals, but the programs have not yet been solidified.

I hope to have something for you this coming Sunday.  For now, stay tuned!

Season Preview: Milwaukee Festival Brass

I received a letter from the Milwaukee Festival Brass describing their 2016-17 season.  Maestro Mark Taylor did a nice job outlining the season and their ambitious goals.  I thought you would like to see it.  Be sure to mark their concerts on your calendar - they all look good to me.

Here is the letter:

Dear Friends of Milwaukee Festival Brass,

Welcome to the 32^nd Season of the Milwaukee Festival Brass!  After the excitement of bringing home another championship from the North American Brass Band Association (our first one was in 1991!), we are eager to continue our mission of making exceptional brass band music in Milwaukee and Southeast Wisconsin. 

We kick off the season with a concert sure to delight the young and the young at heart - “Brass Band Animated.”  Classic scores from animated movies and television cartoons will leap from the stage, and you will be transported back to those thrilling days of yesteryear.

Our traditional Holiday concert extravaganza will feature new selections as well as old favorites to welcome in a season of joy, gratitude, and family.  This year’s program takes on added significance, as the band embarks on a project to record its first-ever compact disc release.  The holiday-themed album will include selections from this year’s December program.

In February, the band’s winter program “Top Brass,” will provide a glimpse of the pieces we are preparing to perform in our return campaign to the North American Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as we highlight the brass band’s technical prowess.  Later that month, we invite you to join us in Milton, Wisconsin, for Brass at the Border III, featuring performances by our friends in the Madison, Illinois, and Chicago brass bands.

In April, “Impressions of New Zealand” will allow us to transport you to a land that served as a backdrop for “The Lord of the Ring” movies. It will feature traditional melodies as well as contemporary works by New Zealand composers.  This concert will once again provide a spotlight for our exciting High School Apprentice Program.

As Milwaukee’s only British Brass Band, we relish our role as musical ambassadors for this great and vibrant city. In keeping with our mission of supporting the musical education of our area’s youth, we will continue to travel to a number of area schools to perform as guest artists in their band concerts.

We look forward to seeing you soon.  You won’t want to miss a moment of this fantastic season!

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Taylor

Music Director