Marshall Symphony Sunday afternoon concert Feb 27, 2011 3:00 PM

MSO concert 3:00 PM Sunday Feb. 27, 2011 at ETBU University Life Center

For the first time in many years the Marshall Symphony Orchestra is presenting a Sunday afternoon concert, this final concert of the 2010-2011 season, a tribute to MSO President and long time member of the orchestra, musician Larry Brumley, who passed away last Fall. Also on the program, a new work composed and conducted by Kermit Poling in celebration of 150 years since of the beginning of the Civil War between States 1861-1865.

Soprano Icy Simpson of Austin Tx. studying for her Artists's degree in Opera at UT Austin will sing "Summer Time" and an aria from Treemonisha, an opera written by Texarkana native Scott Joplin. I heard this young woman sing today during rehearsal and was absolutely blown away by her voice. She is the winner of numerous operatic awards.

Maestro Leonard Kacenjar rehearsing "Huapango"  with the orchestra at ETBU Band Hall

South Arkansas Music Director Kermit Poling conducting the MSO in his own piece commemorating reflections on the Civil War - "No Sound of Trumpet nor Roll of Drum"

University Of Texas, Austin soprano Icy Simpson

singing the beautiful "Summertime"

MSO Concert photos

Marshall Symphony Orchestra in concert at ETBU

Soprano Icy Simpson

Miss Icy Simpson and Music Director Leonard Kacenjar
with the Marshall Symphony Orchestra

Conductor/Composer Kermit Poling

MSO Percussionist Anthony Robinson

 MSO Principal Tubist  Nicole Dale

SSO 2011 Music Memory Competition winners

In a previous blog a few days ago, I outlined the SSO MM competition for those of you who may be unfamiliar with its history. Last night after playing the concert I took some photos of the school winners which I posted this afternoon on Robert Trudeau's blog. www.shreveport.blogspot.com/

Participating schools in the Music Memory 2011 Competition were:

South Highlands, Arthur Circle, Apollo, Stockwell, W.T. Lewis and Sun City:

First place school winner - Apollo - teacher Raynelle Stanage

Second place school winner - W.T. Lewis - teacher Jennifer Perhala

Third place school winner - South Highlands - teacher Charles Brutus

Individual winners are:


Sun City 3rd grade (the only 3rd grade team):

1st - Elizabeth Armstrong
2nd - Morgan McCarty
3rd - Dario Cosic

4th /5th grade individual winners

1st - Scott MacLean - W.T. Lewis
2nd - Ethan Williams - Apollo
2nd - Jonthum Palado - Apollo
3rd - Spencer Favor - W.T. Lewis


Shreveport Opera Sox vocalists Amelia Davis and Andre Chiang joined the SSO for several arias during the concert portion of the competition.

 My chair? Yes! - No not a trick question - I just can't make my back conform to one of those little plastic jobs

Congratulations to all the participants and see you next year for Music Memory 2012.

The Evangeline Trio Sunday Feb 27, 2011 at FBC Frost Chapel

UPDATE 2-27-'11 - The Evangeline Trio will be rescheduling due to the illness of one of its members.

The Evangeline Trio in concert will present works by Loeillet, Arensky and Bloch this Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM in Shreveport's First Baptist Church, Frost Chapel.

Members of the ensemble are:

Jennifer Carsillo - violin

Ruth Drummond - cello

Gay Grosz - piano



Ruth Drummond



Jennifer Carsillo

Gay Grosz

SSO Music and Merlot with the Maestro Tuesday March 1, 2011

Calling all jazz lovers and wine lovers

enjoy

Music and Merlot with the Maestro

FREE

Symphony House at 2802 Woodlawn Ave across from the Centenary Hurley School of Music in a fun, cocktail party setting, 5:30 - 7:30 PM Tuesday 3-1-2011

Visit with Maestro Michael Butterman and the jazz duo of SSO bassist Chris Allen and piano/vocalist Winston Hall who will be presenting The Sounds of New Orleans previewing some of the music to be performed at the next Master Series Concert by guest trumpeter Byron Stripling and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra on May 5th.

My thanks to Dorothy Rivette for providing the information and the photo of Chris and Winston which I have edited for this space.

SSO and Music Memory 2011 at South Highlands School Thurs. Feb 24 6:30 PM

The musicians of the SSO return to the stage for the Caddo/Bossier Music Memory 2011 competition which will be held Thursday night February 24, at 6:30 PM in the South Highlands Performing Arts Center, Erie at Line avenue in Shreveport. Guest vocalists will be soprano Amelia Davis and baritone Andre Chiang who are starring in the Shreveport Opera's production of "The Fantastiks".

SSO Music Director Michael Butterman conducts the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra for the 2008 M.M. competition at LSU-S

photo by Susan W. Rogers

So, you think that kids today don't know or care about fuddy duddy classical music? You know . . . .  Bach, Beethoven, Brahms - Mozart, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky? Symphonies, operas ballets? You might want to guess again. The students in my photo above from 2008 are participating in Music Memory, a program that allows them to shine like stars. Hearing only a few notes or a few seconds of music played by the orchestra, these students, paper and pencil in hand, are able not only to provide the name of the piece being played, but the composer as well. (Try it sometime - it's not as easy as it might sound). At the conclusion of these short excerpts, the SSO plays a concert for the audience as the correct answers are being tabulated by the judges. And, yes, I'll be there as well in the horn section in the back of the orchestra!

The local Caddo/Bossier competition has grown in participants over the last several years and so has the audience. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts, brothers and sisters pile into the hall to watch the orchestra and the children create magic together. Guest vocalists this year are soprano Amelia Davis and baritone Andre Chiang.

And the winners of the 2011 Music Memory are . . . . .

In Memoriam - Dr. Shirley Handler 1925 - 2011

In Memoriam Maestro Sydney Harth 1925 - 2011

FB Post by Sjw Rogers

Sad news in the musical world today with the death of violinist/conductor Maestro Sydney Harth. He was guest conductor of Leonard Kacenjar's Shreveport Summer Music Festival for many years although in recent times he chose to conduct from a special chair which allowed him to continue one of the things he enjoyed most, sharing his musical talents with younger generations. The photo I have included is one I took at SSMF June 2009 in which I played. Maestro had been planning his return to this years' SSMF to conduct a specially commissioned piece by Kermit Poling.

 

Le Cors de La Louisiane NSU Megale Aud 2-19-11 5:00 PM

Members of the ensemble are Thomas Hundemer, James Boldin, Kristine Coreil and Craig Pratt

photo furnished by Craig Pratt

Shreveport Symphony ensembles return to the schools this Spring, 2011

The Shreveport Symphony's ensembles are returning to the schools this Spring, bringing concerts to area Elementary school children. This is great news after a 3 year hiatus due to prolonged contract negotiations. Music and the arts are an important part of school curriculum.

Principal Trumpet Dr. Rick Rowell and I (SSO 2nd Horn) are among several ensembles who will be giving demonstrations, playing their instruments and talking about what it's like to be a musician.

Summerfield Elm School 2-15-2011

Susan and Rick - Brass Duo

2 concerts - 250 children each concert

Photos below are from previous concerts taken in 2004 by me or by teachers from the various schools we've visited. I've done some photo editing to improve color and definition.

the beginning of the Horn - a straight piece of metal tubing

Count with me - how long is the tubing in this Horn?

Demonstrating the modern Horn

Questions and answers from Rick and me about instruments, music and how to join a band or orchestra later

Playing duets that we have written and edited ourselves

Do you have a question?

Very popular - Rick and his "D" hosepipe playing wedding music

I-49 Brass at Boadmoor Presbyterian Sunday February 13

The I-49 Brass Quintet will be playing at the Broadmoor Presbyterian Church Sunday morning service - 10:30 AM - February 13. Works by Benedetto Marcello and Morley Calvert will be featured along with a "Closer Walk with Thee". Be sure to wear your toe tapping shoes.

Members of the group are Dr. Rick Rowell and Michael Scarlato on Trumpet, Thomas Hundemer on Horn, Dr. J. Mark Thompson on Bass Trombone and Dr. Michael Davidson on Tenor Trombone.

Hear the Longview String Quartet and Ensemble in concert Sunday Feb. 6 in Tyler, TX 4:00 PM Pollard Methodist Church

Longview String Quartet and Ensemble

Pollard United Methodist Church of Tyler, Texas presents as part of its 2010 -2011 Chamber Music Series the Longview String Quartet and Ensemble Sunday, February 4, 4:00 PM in the church parlor.

Members of the group are Violinists, Russell Lewis and  Renee Ward, violists Shane Almendarez and Sherry Paetznick, 'cellist, Pamela Martin.

Program:

Divertimento No. 1 in D major, K. 136 by W.A. Mozart


Quintet in G Minor by W.A. Mozart


"Somewhere In Time" by John Barry


"One Hand, One Heart" by Leonard Bernstein


"Forgotten Dreams" by Leroy Anderson


"Spring" from the "Four Seasons" by A. Vivaldi


"Simple Gifts", an American Folk Tune arranged by Matthew Naughtin


"Greensleeves", Traditional, arranged by Matthew Naughtin


Quartet No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 18, No. 4, Allegro ma non tanto by L.V. Beethoven

The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra presents "A Pair of 5's" Feb 5, 2011

Shostakovich and Beethoven 5th symphonies will raise the roof of the Riverview Theatre this Saturday night, Feb. 5th., when the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of its Music Director Michael Butterman presents its fourth Masterwork concert of the season.

Concert begins at 7:30 PM

with pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM

by SSO 'cellist Paul Christopher

Tickets are available by phone and online

318.227.8863

or

www.shreveportsymphony.com

ticket prices $12.00 - $42.00

Come join us

                                                                                                                        

BLUE is for COLD
rehearsals in the convention hall next door
for Beethoven and Shostakovich 5

the theatre was too cold for three days

a little cool even in convention hall so I brought a hat next rehearsal
and some hot cocoa

And by Saturday morning's dress rehearsal (which thankfully was in the theatre) I felt as though I should have brought my sled so my horn and I could toboggan down the ramp to the stage entrance. Which would I have saved first, had we crashed and burned in front of the trash cans? My horn or my life? Good question.