Farewell to some of our ALTYSO friends May 30, 2010

With my oldest son Hal (a Byrd H.S. graduate) backstage following

the Side by Side SSO/ALTYSO concert May 30, 2010

at Byrd H.S. Auditorium. My twin grandsons will be juniors there next year and members of the graduating class of 2012

About this time last year having had no regular SSO season we the musicians and several hard working sponsors headed up by Dorothy Rivette, Chris Allen, Michael and Debbie Scarlato and others made the annual Side by Side concert of professional musicians and area students a reality once again and chose as our venue Byrd H.S. which has an early connection with the SSO. Subscription Masterworks concerts had begun at Byrd H.S. but were subsequently moved to the old FBC then located downtown and later to the Civic Theatre now renamed Riverview Theatre. I remember playing concerts downtown at FBC during my college years at Centenary and along with a fellow horn player decided to take the stairs up to the old bell tower one evening rehearsal while on break. Needless to say, we did not climb very far as there was no light in the stairwell and I kept thinking about what happened to Kim Novak in the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Vertigo". 

The Side by Side concerts with the the ALTYSO began at Expo Hall some years ago after the original SSO Summer Pops outdoor concerts once played every week in the month June through July 4th at various Shreveport parks came to an end. As teachers, mentors and professional musicians we give back to our community by sharing our gift of music and promoting the love of making music to those who come after us.

Having played a couple of years with some of the same students, we must now bid a fond farewell to those who will not be back with us next May. Many of our young colleagues are headed to the collegiate stage and we wish them well in their journey through life. For returning students, we look forward to seeing you again next year!

Music for Horns - a recital with Tom Hundemer, students and friends May 24, 2010 at Kings Highway Christian Church

The Horn Ensemble

Tonight I had a great opportunity to listen to 8 horn players instead of being "in the band" myself. Had thought about playing as well, but it would have been difficult to play and take photographs. So I opted to record the concert in photo images. New songs, old songs, solos for horn and piano, quartets and octets, inspirational and patriotic, hunting music for horns. Quite a variety which was enjoyed by all on the stage and in the audience. Guest pianist for whom we are all very greatful was Centenary's Gay Grosz.

Students participating were Colin McRea, Brian Smith and Margo Ealy. Friends who played in the group were professionals and non-professionals who reside in Shreveport/Bossier, Alexandria and Monroe - Albert Perrine, James Boldin, Judy Causey and her son Chad Causey. Craig Pratt (also a horn player) who generously provided the venue for the concert conducted the larger ensemble. Those I recognized in the audience were locals Michael Scarlato, Suzy Pratt and Terry Hopkins and his wife Jan from Marshall.

After the SSO concert Saturday May 15, 2010 at FBC and other upcoming events

I guess we never stop practicing - my Lawson

Photo after the SSO concert

previous photo taken after SSO concert with my Rauch

The SSO presented the final master concert tonight of its abreviated '09 - '10 season, the 3rd of three concerts scheduled this spring. Congratulations to our 3rd Horn Kristine Coreil for a job well done on the "Organ Concerto". And in less than 2 weeks the interim contract will end and we'll know whether or not there will be a 2010-2011 season for the SSO and its musicians.

Meanwhile, time to relax and plan our summer now which always includes staying in shape to play, however one decides to accomplish this necessity. Centenary band concerts and Opera East Texas are coming up in June. No summer musical at FUMC this summer. They are waiting until the brand new theatre is completed. Many musicians will be headed to summer festivals both here and abroad at the end of May. Some of us actually will have time for a real vacation away from our work. Have to begin thinking about that.

May 24, Monday - Tom Hundemer and horn students in recital, 7:30 PM at Kings Hwy Christian Church

The Youth Symphony will be playing a side by side concert with the professional SSO orchestra musicians on Sunday 5:00 PM May 30, at Byrd H.S. Please, show your support for these fine young musicians by attending this FREE concert.

May 24, Monday - Tom Hundemer and horn students in recital, 7:30 PM at Kings Hwy Christian Church

The Barnwell Garden Center on the riverfront has some red hot jazz concerts scheduled in May and June which I plan to attend and photograph. Looking forward to seeing lots of folks I know such as bassist Chris Allen, sax player and flutist George Hancock, keyboardist Matt Harris, drummer Galen Smith and trumpet player, Galindo Rodriguez. Bring a chair and a picnic basket and enjoy the music. 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the garden patio on Thursdays

And don't forget my previous posting below, The West Edge String Quartet and 2009 Wideman Piano Competition Silver Medal winner Lu Shen in concert at FUMC, Bossier City June 5, 7:30 PM.

June 6, Sunday - Summer Music Festival opening concert at Holy Cross Church downtown. 3:00 PM. Sydney Harth conducting the SMF String Orchestra - Handel, Mendessohn, Tchaikovsky, Rutter and Cadman.

We've had a ton of strawberries in our garden this spring, blueberries and blackberries are coming along but due to the cool weather tomatoes and peppers are just now flowering.

More about summer doings later!

What I really need ASAP are all my orchestra schedules for next year. Sure would help me plan my year.

Pianist Lu Shen to perform with The West Edge String Quartet

violinists Kermit Poling and Elizabeth O'Bannon

'cellist Ruth Drummond and violist Borys Smolaga

in concert at FUMC Bossier City May, 2009

2009 Wideman Competition winner pianist Lu Shen will be soloing and performing with the West Edge String Quartet Saturday June 5, 2010 7:30 PM at FUMC Bossier City. Members of the Quartet are violinists Kermit Poling and Elizabeth O'Bannon, violist Borys Smolaga and 'cellist Ruth Drummond.

Program will include Chopin 24 preludes, Op. 28 for solo piano and the Dvorak Piano Quintet.

Many thanks to Wideman Competition Director Lester Wilson and First United Methodist Church of Bossier City

A $10.00 donation is suggested

Gilbert and Sullivan presents "Festa Italiana" May 9 and the Texarkana Symphony presents "An Italian Evening" Saturday May 8

On Sunday May 9th, a special Mother's Day gift will be presented by The Gilbert and Sullivan Society in Shreveport - Festa Italiana - at St Joseph's Church, Shreveport, LA. Concert begins at 3:00 PM. International guest artists will be conductor Pieralberto Cattaneo and Flutist Mario Carbotta with a Chamber Orchestra of area musicians you won't want to miss.

Saturday May 8th TSO will present "An Italian Evening" at St James Church in Texarkana, TX. Concert at 7:00 PM.

Being that I am a Mom and a Grand Mom, I'm sorry I have to experience these concerts from the orchestra side. But that's OK, too. Someone has to make the music.

President of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, John Goddard and TSO Music Director Marc-Andre Bougie were both at the rehearsal tonight and are looking forward to the performances on Saturday and Sunday.

I would like to thank Maestros Cattaneo and Carbotta for giving me permission to take these wonderful photos of them this week-end.

Conductor - Maestro Pieralberto Cattaneo

Flutist Mario Carbotta

Arriving for rehearsal at St Joseph's

John Goddard and 'Cellist Claudia Sullivan

Bassist Peter Haas

St. Joseph's Church - Shreveport

Performance at St. Joseph - Happy Mother's Day

Michael Kenney, Choirmaster and Organist for St. Joseph

Zemma Smith - arts supporter

'Cellist Alex Djnov and John Goddard

Before the performance

Winds w/o me

Concert attendees

The performance at St. Joseph's church

After the concert

Italian is spoken here

Mario Carbotta meets Sally Horak

Michael Kenney, Mario Carbotta, Pieralberto Cattaneo, Marc-Andre Bougie, Candace Taylor and John Goddard at St. Joseph

As per my May concert calendar post last week, The Texarkana Symphony will present this concert program Saturday night May 8, at St James Church, 7:00 PM.

From the Texarkana Concert

St James Episcopal, Texarkana, TX

rehearsing for An Italian Evening

TSO Board President Remica Gray

Roses in St. James' garden

View from St. James' garden - the Courthouse, Confederate Memorial and the state line

performance night at St. James

Marc and friends

The Audio engineer

waiting for the performance

Contractor Gary Bruns

The performance

Pieralberto Cattaneo and Marc-Andre Bougie

TSO General Manager Andrew Clark with Marc-Andre Bougie and guest artists flutist Mario Carbotta and conductor/composer Pieralberto Cattaneo

Here's to next year!