Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet - The Nutcracker - coming December 12 and 13 to Riverview Theatre

OK, folks, note Harold's Nutcracker shirt and my IHS horn t- shirt! The year is 1981 at the home of Marion and Ces Mills. Marion (Harold's sister) was the driving force behind and the first artistic director of SMB, then called Ballet Lyrique.

The SMB and Nutcracker have been in our family blood literally since their early beginnings in 1973, 36 years ago. I still have some of the old sweatshirts to prove it. My husband Harold (in his heyday) has danced the part of the Snow Prince, been a Russian Trepak dancer, an Arabian dancer, a Spanish dancer, one of my sons has played the part of the brat brother Fritz, my brother-in-law has been a parent in the opening scene and many nieces and nephews and friends' daughters and sons have participated in this glorious contribution to the dreamworld of childhood fantasies which is the magic of the Nutcracker.

Barring any problems making copies of my 20 and 30 year old transparencies (slides), I am going to begin posting some old photos this week. So let the dancing, the music and the fun begin.

Baroque Artists of Shreveport present 2nd performance of the Season 11-22-2009

The Baroque Artists of Shreveport performed at St Marks Cathedral today before a very large and appreciative crowd and with the final number on the program, ushered in the first concert of the coming festive season, excerpts from Handel's Messiah. I'll be adding more commentary as I have time this week.

Principal flutist Sally Horak

Harpisichordists Don Smith and Gay Gross. Smith also played organ

Bass-baritone Horace English

violist Adrienne Gabriel
violinist Angela Russell

mezzo-soprano

Lory Tubbs

Violinist Jennifer Carsillo Butterman

Double Bassist Chris Allen

'Cellist Ruth Drummond

Tenor William Parsons

Soprano Gale Odom

Principal oboist Theresa Bridges and Stewart Wlliams

Marshall Symphony Orchestra and the Texas Youth String Festival

Monday night November 16, at Baker Hall on the ETBU campus, The Marshall Symphony Orchestra presented its 2nd concert of the 2009-2010 season, this performance decidedly different from the Music of Led Zeppelin, an outdoor concert held in September. Titled "Let Symphony Music Text Message Your Heart" the MSO played a Haydn symphony, a 'cello concerto with soloist Ruth Drummond and combined with the Texas String Festival members and clinicians to present a movement from Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, James Horner's Legends of the Fall, the Armed Forces Salute, and an original composition by 14 year old Emily Williams who also plays violin and conducts.

Since I wasn't playing the 1st half of the program (it didn't requires horns), I took advantage of this perfect opportunity to take some concert photos and listen to the strings do their thing. Quite a workout for them. Also in the orchestra were three harpists playing harps of all sizes. How often does one have the opportunity to hear that gorgeous sound multiplied by three.

I do have some photos below w/o names from both concerts, so if you can help me out, just email the names to me and I will add them.

On Tuesday morning a crowd of 1500 plus students from East Texas filled ETBU Baker Hall to overflow to see and hear a concert focusing on Joseph Haydn. Thanks, to all the staff and volunteers who made this a happening. It's always a joy to play to a full house.

Next MSO performance will be Monday February 3, 2010 7:00 PM at Baker Hall featuring music from the "Red Poppy", "The Swan of Tuonela" and Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 3 (the Romantic Symphony".

Haydn 'Cello soloist Ruth Drummond and Maestro Leonard Kacenjar

Youth concert focuses on Joseph Haydn


Conducting the Haydn Symphony No 1


Youth concert FULL HOUSE 1500 plus


MSO horn player Susan Rogers

String Festival participants

String Festival violinist

Harpsichordist Judy Galetar

Violinists Chris Reed and Henry Edwards

Drawing for the "Legends of the Fall" violin soloist

"Legends of the Fall" violin soloist Alee Tharp

and

MSO another view

Emily Williams, violinist and composer

MSO orchestra strings and harpists

Leonard Kacenjar and percussionist Anthony Robinson. Last minute notes.

Leonard Kacenjar, violinist

Leonard Kacenjar, soloist, Larry Brumley conducting

MSO President/percussionist Larry Brumley

Violinists Mary Eileen Lassiter and Amanda Flynn

Chris Reed and Diana Hector-Norwood

Combined orchestras

The Marshall Symphony Orchestra and members of the 3rd Texas Youth String Festival will present a concert Tuesday evening November 16, 7:00 PM at ETBU Baker Auditorium, Rogers Spiritual Life Center, celebrating Joseph Haydn. See more photos in previous post. 'Cellist Ruth Drummond will play the 1st movement of the Haydn 'Cello Concerto in C Major. Also on the program, Haydn's Sinfonia No. 1 in D Major.


'Cellist Ruth Drummond

MSO in rehearsal

string section

violinist Lydia Davis

Music Director Leonard Kacenjar

MSO lower strings

Violist Marcus Rose

MSO Concertmaster Russell Lewis and Ann Reid in rehearsal

TSO Concerto Competition winner violist Marcus Rose 11-'09

violist Marcus Rose rehearsing with the Marshall Symphony 11-2-09

From Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Facebook

Texarkana Symphony Orchestra
The TSO Board is pleased to announce the Winner of our First Annual Concerto Competition: Marcus Rose (viola) an 11th grader at Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport. The winner of the Competition received a $400 cash prize and will perform with the TSO on our Student Concerts in January 2010. We are also pleased to... announce the alternate for the Competition: Samantha Huang (piano) a 9th grader at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana. The alternate received a $100 cash prize. Congratulations to all the Contestants!!

violist Marcus Rose (winner) and pianist Samantha Huang (alternate) with TSO concerto competition judges. Marcus Rose is a student of violist Borys Smolaga.