Upcoming concert: Kettle Moraine Symphony

The Kettle Moraine Symphony will present America!, a concert dedicated to veterans, on Sunday November 3.  The concert begins at 3 PM, with a pre-concert presentation beginning at 2 PM, at the Silver Lining Center in West Bend High School.  Veterans are admitted to the concert free. 

On the lighter side, the orchestra will perform the Armed Forces Salute of Bob Lowden, and Gershwin's An American In Paris.  The second half of the concert will be Dvorak's ninth symphony, From The New World, an evergreen favorite. 

The symphony will again offer free bus transportation to concerts. Please call 262-334-3469 to reserve a spot. There are two pick-up locations:

• 1:00 at the West Bend Senior Center (the old Pick n’ Save north), 2378 W. Washington St.
• 1:10 at Cedar Ridge Apartments, 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend

Please be sure to call and reserve a spot.

If you need more information or to purchase tickets, please see the KMS web site.

Menominee Falls Symphony concert this Saturday

Join the Menominee Falls Symphony Orchestra on Saturday October 18 for Fairy Tales and Fantasies.  The concert will begin at 7:30 PM in the Sussex-Hamilton Fine Arts Center. 

The first concert of the season is a lighter concert, designed to introduce students to the world of classical music.  In this concert, the orchestra presents ballet and movie music from fantasies, including music from the Harry Potter movies, the story of Peter and the Wolf, and others.  Members of the audience, of any age, are invited to sit onstage within the orchestra, to hear what it sounds like in the midst of the music making.  This is a great opportunity for a student to learn more about picking up an instrument.

The concert will also feature singer / songwriter / recording artist Jayne Taylor.  Her ability to sing in a number of different styles makes her perfect for this wide range of music. 

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

Concord Chamber Orchestra this Saturday

The Concord Chamber Orchestra presents its first concert of the season this Saturday October 7 at 7 PM at St. Sebastian Church (5400 W. Washington Blvd.).

This season, the CCO will focus on music inspired by the works of Shakespeare.  This concert will focus on the Comedies:

• Overture from As You Like It, John Knowles Payne
• "Love Scene" from The Merchant of Venice, Engelbert Humperdink
• Suite from The Fairy Queen, Henry Purcell
• Excerpts from A Midsummer's Nights Dream, Felix Mendelssohn

The orchestra will be joined by actors from the Feast of Crispian for a number of narrations.  This nonprofit organization brings professional actors and veterans together to strengthen the emotional resources to overcome trauma and reintegration issues.  

For more information, or to purchase advance tickets, see the CCO web site.

The first concert announcement of the season

The Kettle Moraine Symphony begins its season on Sunday September 29 with a Family Concert at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School.  The concert will include the orchestra members sitting side by side with student members of the West Bend High School Chamber Orchestra.  The concert begins at 3 PM.  Note to all football fans:  the Packers are not playing on that day.  It's a great day for a concert!

Featured on the concert is the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Associate Concertmaster, Jeanyi Kim.  She will perform "Autumn" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  The concert will also introduce student audience members to the different areas of the orchestra through Britten's Young People's Guide to the Orchestra.  After intermission the children can enjoy hands-on activities and learn more about the orchestra while parents, and more adventurous students, enjoy Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $5 for students, family rates are $30 for Two adults w/children and $20 for One adult w/children.  Tickets may be purchased online by going to the KMS website, or by check made out to the Kettle Moraine Symphony, PO Box 52, West Bend, WI 53095. Tickets are also available at the following outlets: Horicon Bank in West Bend,  White House of Music in West Bend and Germantown, and Douglas Jewelers in Hartford.  More information is available on the website or by calling 262-334-3469.

A new season begins....

The first post of every season lists the different community music groups in the area.  If you are a musician, and you would like to play, there are groups at all talent levels that would love to have you play with them.  If you know of other groups, drop me an email and I will add them to the list.  I've organized the list by the day of the week 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. You can check their web site for more information.

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.   You can get more information on the concerts, and on joining the orchestra, from 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 folks who like both genres 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's Conductor Laureate, Rick Kirby, 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. All the details are on their site.

Wednesday:  The Concord Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Jamin Hoffman, rehearses at Nicolet High School and requires an audition.  See their web site for information.

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 becoming a member.

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.

Thursday: The Milwaukee Concert Band is another group with a long history, having been sponsored at one time by the Civic Music Association. See their web site for more information.

Thursday:  The Greenfield Concert Band is relatively new, having been in existence for only a few years.  They rehearse at Greenfield High School and do require an audition in order to place new members into the sections.  See their web site for information.

Thursday: The Greendale Village Band welcomes members of all playing abilities. They are a part of the School System in the Village of Greendale.

And if I missed information on your group, send me an email and I'll be sure to post it.  Thanks.

The summer season is over

The Milwaukee Community Music Blog will take a break until September.  Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Don't miss this free concert

The United States Coast Guard Band will perform a free concert in Milwaukee during their 2019 Great Lakes tour.  The concert will be at the Marcus Center on Saturday August 10 beginning at 7 PM. 

While the tickets are free, you do need to get tickets.  Please call the Marcus Center box office for tickets:  414-273-7206.  For more information, see the Marcus Center web site.

Don't miss your chance to hear a great concert band!