Texarkana Symphony and Texarkana Youth Symphony play together for school educational concerts January 16, 2013

The Texarkana Youth Symphony joined with its mentor, the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Marc-Andre Bougie, to play the second of two educational concerts for Texarkana area students last Wednesday morning January 16, 2013. Among the pieces played by both orchestras side by side were excerpts from the opera Carmen, the ballet Nutcracker and Jean Sibelius' Finlandia.

Combined brass players from both orchestras began the second concert with "Flourish for Brass Band by Ralph Vaughn Williams. The TSO Woodwind Quintet played the second movement from Carl Nielsen's Woodwind Quintet. The TSO pounded through Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in Cm, 1st movement, the sound of fate knocking on the door of the Perot theatre (so to speak).

To round out the earlier concert for younger students, actors Michael Boudewyns and Sara Valentine illustrated the story of Babar the Little Elephant in mime with the TSO playing Francis Poulenc's wonderful score.

TYSO percussion section - great job, guys and young lady

TYSO tubist Jackson Sewell

TSO Woodwind Quintet

TYSO members - horn players Mason Rostollan and Will Reed,  a very nice job on the 3rd and 4th horn parts with TSO

moi and my Rauch

My hosts' dog "Sooner", a Cavalier - love her eyes

One of my favorite sandwich shops in Texarkana

ULM calls to me again. Time for work study with James Boldin 1-2013

More later. Must get back to the Green Bay/49'er game then practice. I think my husband I just watched the Super Bowl game a little early this year - Baltimore and Denver. What a fabulous game! Came down to double ovt. and Baltimore won it 38-35. That game could not be beaten for excitement and true tenacious grit!
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Along my route to Monroe this trip I noticed how the recent rains have re-energized the ponds and creeks on the acres and acres of rolling  land on either side of I-20 East giving them a refreshed feeling. A beautiful, sunny mid - 70's afternoon felt so good for a change, hawks circling in the upper winds above, not too much traffic on the road. Longview Symphony playing on KDAQ radio.

Low Horn studies are not fun, but a necessary evil for those of us who long to sing melodic lines in the upper register. Ah, the melody line which is the core of music for me with all its variant harmonies is what I grew up hearing in my home - symphonies, operas, ballets - but on the radio and on my parents' old 78 recordings played on a phonograph, not on TV.

Imagine my surprise when suddenly at the age of 6 I discovered there were other melodic lines mixed in with this one line - the harmonies - and I could hear them and sing along and make up my own melodies as did my sisters and brother later. My parents, musicians themselves, were elated and many an evening was spent standing around my mom at the old upright piano belting out popular tunes, gospel, Christmas carols and church music in the days before the advent of rock 'n roll and Elvis Presley.

Don't get me wrong, I got to sing the bottom part once in a while and sometimes the lead or the upper part, but playing low horn is a little different. I hear it, but the lips have to hear it as well. And therein is what I have to teach my lips, how to play what I sing.

to be continued . . . . . .

(BAS) Baroque Artists of Shreveport - Sunday January 20, 2013 at St Marks Cathedral

From BAS member, Dan Santelices:

Baroque Artists of Shreveport

Featuring bass vocalist, Horace English and oboist, Theresa Zale Bridges in a performance of Bach: Cantata No. 82 "Ich habe genug".

The concert includes

G.P. Telemann's Paris Quartet No. 1 in G-major for Flute, Violin

 Violoncello and Basso Continuo

Jean-Marie Leclair's Sonata No. 5 in E-minor for

2 violins

John Ernest Galliard's Sonata No. 3 in F-major for Bassoon and Basso Continuo

Godrey Finger's Sonata in C, Op. 5 No. 10 for Oboe, Bassoon and Basso continuo

In addition to English and Zale-Bridges, the other member of the BAS for this concert are:

Sally Horak, Flute

Douglas Bakenhus, Bassoon

Laura Crawford and Dan Santelices, Violin

Ruth Drummond, Violoncello-continuo

Cathy DeRousse and Irina Nedelcu, Harpsichord-continuo

3:00 PM at St Marks Episcopal Cathedral

THIS CONCERT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Sorry, for the less than acceptable post. I experienced HTML problems

the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra starts the new year with Bravo 3 Jan. 16

From the Mississippi Symphony website

Selby & Richard McRae Foundation

Bravo Series - Bravo III: Dvorak’s Seventh

7:30 PM, Saturday, January 12, 2013

Company by American Philip Glass, the foremost composer of the attractive minimalist style, is partnered with music inspired by two dramatic European settings – the beauty of Dvorak’s Bohemian countryside and the breathtaking majesty of Sibelius’ Finland.  27 year-old rising star violinist Bella Hristova, has wowed audiences at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center.

Pre-concert lecture, 6:45-7:15, at the Mississippi Museum of Art (free; cash bar)

MSO Music Director Crafton Beck

                          

Tickets to all Mississippi Symphony Orchestra concerts may be purchased through the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra box office. In addition, the box office will be open on the day of each concert at the concert venue one hour prior to concert time. You may also purchase tickets online.

If you have any questions, please email info@msorchestra.com.

BOX OFFICE LOCATION AND HOURS:

Address:
201 East Pascagoula St (inside the Mississippi Arts Center)
Jackson, MS 39201

View Google map →

Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Phone:601.960.1565

Longview Symphony opens its Chamber Series Tuesday, Jan. 22 with pianist Anton Kuerti

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

5:45 Dinner (see below)

6:00 Doors Open

7:30 Concert

Longview Community Center

from the LSO website

Anton Kuerti, 

Pianist Anton Kuerti was born in Austria, grew up in the U.S., and has lived in Canada for more than 35 years. He has won awards from several prestgious organizations and performed with more than 50 orchestras globally. Kuerti is one of today’s most recorded artists, and we are excited to share his talent with concert-goers near and far.

As you know, the Longview Symphony takes "requests" and performs People's Choice compositions. Kuerti, too, will be performing composers that concert-goers have requested.

This will be a “once in a lifetime experience.”

Sonata in A minor (Mozart)
Waldstein Sonata (Beethoven)
Sonata in G minor (Schumann)


Make a night at the Longview Community Center on January 22, starting at 5:45. For $35 prix fixe, enjoy several courses:

Choice of Salad or Appetizer:

• Classic Caesar Salad or
• Seafood Sausage on a Crostini with Tomato Beurre Blanc

Choice of Entree:

• Chicken Breast Stuffed with Fresh Goat Cheese and Arugula with Chardonnay Jus, Nutted Wild Rice, and Ratatouille or
• Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Fig-Marsala Jus, Creamy Polenta with Wild Mushroom Ragout, and Pan-Seared Haricots Verts

At intermission, enjoy dessert for an additional fee:

• Petite Flourless Chocolate and Raspberry Cake or
• Mediterranean Orange Cake

Beverages include Regular and Decaf Coffee, Hot Chocolate, and Bottled Water.

The Texarkana Symphony presents its second in a series of three Chamber Music programs January 22, 2013

From the TSO website . . . .  the TSO Chamber Series continues on January 22, 2013 at The Texarkana Convention Center, Ballroom B.

THE WEST EDGE STRING QUARTET

in

Something a little different!!. 

Tuesday, January 22, 2012

Mark your calendar March 5 for concert number three

photo by susan w rogers 

Texarkana Symphony Orchestra - concerts for students Wednesday January 16 at the Perot

STUDENT CONCERTS AT THE PEROT

Each January, the TSO performs two concerts especially for students. A special concert for Elementary grades is the perfect way to expose young music-lovers to the instrumental "families" of the orchestra in a live symphony performance. A second concert, complete with informative remarks from the Maestro, brings the classics to life for Middle and High School Students.

Program: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant

January 16, 2013 - 9:30am and 12:30 pm

from the TSO website

(recommended for grades 1 - 6)

Marc-André Bougie, conducting

Michael Boudewyns & Sara Valentine, guest performers

Pack your trunks! The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra invites you to Babar's coronation! Jean de Brunhoff's popular children's story of one little elephant's epic rise from rags to riches is eloquently set to music by Francis Poulenc, and expressively re-imagined with all the enthusiasm and pomp worthy of a royal gathering. Long live King Babar!

Tickets are $5 per student.

Reservations are required

Call TSO at 870-773-3401 for more information.

East Texas Symphony presents "Shall we Dance" Sat. Jan 12, 2013 - two performances

Photos from the ETSO webpage

      Jean-Francoise Rivest steps to the podium at the Tyler Cowen Center as guest conductor for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra's "Shall we Dance" with a one hour Saturday Family Matinee at 2:00 PM and a full length concert at 7:30 PM. Saturday, January 12. 

Tickets are available at 903.566.7424

 or online @

ETSO tickets

Evening program

Bernstein - Westside Story: Symphonic Dances

Gould - Tap Dance Concerto

Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2

Borodin - Polovetsian Dances

Family Matinee program

Prokofiev -  "Montagues and the Capulets" from Suite No. 2

Gould - Tap Dance Concerto

Bernstein - West Side Story: Symphonic Dances

     Max Pollack, tap dancer.

A very Happy New Year to all my blog friends

ULM - No, not what you think!

ULM's Horn prof. James Boldin

football not included

What do we have here???

T'is the season to be thankful

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

from our home to yours

Longview Symphony celebrates the holidays Thursday evening December 20, 2012

The Longview Symphony Orchestra joined by the Longview Youth Symphony Orchestra will be in concert in the Belcher Center at  LeTourneau College celebrating the Christmas Season this Thursday at 7:30 PM.

Conducting the Longview Symphony, Music Director Tonu Kalam

photo by sjwr

An Orchestral Christmas

Thursday, December 20, 2012

6:00 Box Office and Doors Open

6:30 Opening Notes

7:20 Fanfare

7:30 Concert

S. E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center

Belcher Box Office Center for tickets

903.233.3080

or online

Longview Symphony Orchestra Tickets online

PROGRAM

Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6, No. 8, "Fatto per la Notte di Natale" (Arcangelo Corelli)
Noël from Symphonic Sketches (George Whitefield Chadwick)
Polonaise from Christmas Eve (Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov)
Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34 (Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov)
Serenade to Music (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson) with  Laura McKethan, guest conductor
Christmas Singalong (John Finnegan)

strings rehearsing the Corelli in the Hallsville H.S. Band Room with Tonu Kalam

The Texarkana Symphony Orchestra presents Christmas at the Perot Sun. Dec 16

Courtesy of the TSO webpage

TSO Conducted by Marc-Andre Bougie

Tickets or Information - (903) 792-4992

Performance 4:00 PM

FUMC Marshall presents Amahl and the Night Visitors in three performances Dec 12, 14 and 15

Mark Crim, choral director and conductor
FUMC Marshall


December 12,14 and 15 FUMC will present "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in the church activity center. The real meaning of Christmas with cast and live orchestra.

6:30 PM performances, Wed. Fri and Sat.

violins Angelique and Saul

Bethany - 2nd oboe

Shane - Principal oboe

Jeremy - bassoon

Doug - trumpet

The West Edge String Quartet in concert tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM

You are invited to a free concert Sunday afternoon at 2 pm in the sanctuary of St. George's Episcopal Church, Bossier City.    The West Edge String Quartet will perform music of Mozart, Poling and holiday favorites from their Centaur recording.

    

Admission is free (donations welcome) and there will be refreshments served following the performance.

St. George's Episcopal Church 1959 Airline Dr. Bossier City

Members of the popular ensemble are

Kermit Poling - violin

Elizabeth O'Bannon - violin

Borys Smolaga - viola

Ruth Drummond - 'cello

Photo by Susan W. Rogers taken at St George's at their performance during last year's Christmas Season

Cypress Baptist Church, Benton, presents its Christmas Celebration Concerts Sunday Dec. 9, 2012

Rehearsing with the choir and orchestra

Choir Director and Conductor, Philip Wade

Cypress Baptist Church in Bossier City will offer two morning Christmas Services at its Bossier City Church Sunday, December 9, both with choir and full orchestra.

8:15 AM

10:45 AM

Palmetto Rd.

MORE Photos to follow

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra - Chamber Series holiday concerts - Brass, Percussion and Harp Saturday Dec 8 and 9, 2012

The Baton Rouge Symphony orchestra Chamber Series presents Holiday Brass, Percussion and Harp in two performances for your family and friends.

Saturday December 8, 2012  8:00 PM at St Joseph Cathedral in downtown 

Baton Rouge

Sunday December 9, 2012 4:30 PM at Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Gonzales

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

From the BRSO webpage

Conducting the ensemble David Torns, BRSO Assistant conductor

Tickets available online at

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra

Monroe Symphony Orchestra Holiday Classics Sat. Dec 8 @ 3:00 PM

The Monroe Symphony Orchestra presents Treasured Holiday Classics with guest artist Ben Utecht this Saturday afternoon at Brown Auditorium on the campus of ULM, conducted by MSO Maestro Clay Coutouriaux. 

From the MSO webpage . . . . . . . .

Tickets available online at 

Monroe Symphony Orchestra

From the MSO webpage . . . . . . 

First Baptist Church Minden celebrates Christmas - Sunday 12-2-2012

The spirit of Christmas will be around you and in your heart at FBC Minden in the church sanctuary Sunday evening December 2 at 6:00 PM.

Come Join in the celebration with Todd and Alicia Dubose, Music Ministers, and the choir and orchestra of FBC

FBC Assistant Music Director Alicia Dubose

Todd Dubose - FBC Music Minister

Don Smith, organist and choirmaster at St Marks Cathedral in Shreveport - Rest in Peace Nov. 22, 2012

Rest In Peace, Don Smith

Don Smith was a friend and music colleague of mine whom I have known since the 1980's. Most notable to me was his integrity, his musicality and his devotion to his church family. One cannot speak of him without remembering a gentle, quiet person whose energy spoke for him.

I played Horn under him when he  conducted chamber orchestra concerts and great choral works. As a conductor he was so easy to follow and caught even the smallest nuances which might be missed by other less talented conductors. He literally coaxed great performances from all of us at the podium, yet never said a harsh word. I have had the pleasure of hiring brass musicians and timpani for the St. Marks Easter Service in recent years. Thank you, Don, for trusting me with that responsibility. What a glorious opportunity for musicians to play in the Cathedral on Easter morning. You will be greatly missed by all of us. We'll be there in St. Marks thinking of you next Spring.

The following obituary for Don Smith was posted in the Shreveport Times Tuesday, November 27, 2012

SHREVEPORT, LA - Donald Lynch Smith was a native of Chattanooga, TN. He was born August 30, 1954. He died at his home in Shreveport, LA on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, at the age of 58 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Don graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1977 with a degree in Sacred Church Music. He was awarded a Master of Music in Organ Performance with High Distinction from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. His teachers included Robert Rayfield, John L. Hooker, Isa McIlwraith and Walker Breland. Don has performed with the Baroque Artists of Shreveport and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with choirs, and as an organ soloist throughout the United States, Mexico and the U.K.

He recently completed 28 years of service at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral and succeeded William C. Teague in 1987 as Organist and Choirmaster. He worked with the church choirs, boys choir, and hand bells and was the Director of chapel music and choir in the Day School until assuming the role of organist and choirmaster in the fall of 1987. He was active in the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Association of Diocesan Liturgists and Musicians, as well as the American Guild of Organists. He also served as a member of the Diocesan Music Commission.

Don was a blessed servant of God, a kind and encouraging man. Under his gentle guidance, choristers of all ages gained or improved basic skills, growing with his support into greater musical ability and deeper spiritual maturity. Don Smith was an excellent minister and inspired teacher with tremendous forbearance of the idiosyncrasies of human beings. His good humor was testament to his ability to laugh first at himself. A quiet and private man, Don will be remembered by his church as a man who believed what he sang and lived what he believed.

Don is predeceased by his father, James T. Smith, and his brother, James T. Smith, Jr. He is survived by his mother, Lorena Katherine Smith of Rossville, GA; partner, Ron St. Aubyn of Shreveport, LA; sister-in-law, Martha Smith of Flintstone, GA; niece, Jennifer Hisey and husband, Kenny Cone, and their children, Tyler and Nicholas, of Flintstone, GA; nephews, Jason Smith and his son, Dalton, and Marc Smith also of Flintstone, GA; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service celebrating Don's life will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 8, 2012, at St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport.

Don requested that any memorials be made to the fund for the maintenance and upkeep of the organ at St. Mark's Cathedral.