SMB Nutcracker 2009

bassoonist Doug Bakenhus

let's hide all of them for next time

Nice duds, Sir

The mice, the mice are coming

SMB Music Director Kermit Poling and Artistic Director Kendra Mekei

violinists Lydia and Angela

Rick Rowell - Principal trumpet

trombonist Douglas Peterson

The Nutcracker soldiers

Sandra Clark, Doug Parmelee, Chan Teague, Anthony Robinson

the SMB reindeer

Donna Sibley - President of SMB and former SMB dancer

SMB pit orchestra

bassoonist Dave Gibson

cleaning the "snow" off the stage

flowers from Waltz of the flowers taking a break

harpist Mollie Marcuson/ conductor Kermit Poling

tubist Jerrod Robertson, flutist Sally H and clarinetist Tom P

December 2009 musicians' concerts

December 5 - 7:30 PM - South Arkansas Symphony presents The Snowman plus holiday favorites, El Dorado Municipal Auditorium

December 5 - 3:00 PM - Monroe Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops with the Synergy Brass Quintet - Monroe Civic Center Arena

December 5 - 7:30 PM - Shreveport Opera production of Amahl and the Night Visitors - Riverview Theatre

December 7 - 7:30 PM - Centenary Chamber Orchestra concert, soloist Sally Horak plays Mozart Concerto for Flute

December 12 - 7:30 PM - SMB production of Nutcracker Ballet - Shreveport Riverview Theatre

December 13 - 3:00 PM - SMB production of Nutcracker Ballet - Shreveport Riverview Theatre

December 19 - 7:00 PM - I-49 Brass Holiday Winter concert, Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, all proceeds go to the Salvation Army

December 20 - Horns at Christmas - Kings Hwy Christian Church - service begins at 10:50 AM

December 20 - 4:00 PM - Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert at the PAC

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.