SSMF Orchestra concert June 7 2009 a SMASH

Thanks to the musicians, the Music Director, the conductor, the soloists, sponsors and contributers, the Shreveport Summer Music Festival orchestra concert Sunday afternoon at Church of the Holy Cross rated a standing ovation. The orchestra is made up of professional musicians and exceptional students from the area who spend several days in rehearsal before playing the final concert. The soloists this year were Thomas Hundemer, Horn and Dann Cloakwell, Tenor. They combined for the Benjamin Britten piece for Tenor, Horn and Strings, a gorgeous piece of contemporary music. Tom Hundemer also soloed in his own composition, "O ... for the touch of a vanish'd hand..." (after Alfred, Lord Tennyson), a piece commissioned several years ago by Music Director Leonard Kacenjar and the Marshall Symphony in memory of Mr. Kacenjar's deceased mother, Olga Julia Kacenjar.

Maestro Sidney Harth returned to conduct the Festival Orchestra which is in its 33rd year.

Above are a few photos from the concert.

Regarding other concert dates this week, Tuesday June 9, the ALTSYO ensembles will present a recital at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shreveport at 6:00 PM.

Saturday June 13, Opera East Texas presents La Boheme in Belcher Hall at La Tourneau College in Longview, TX.

Shreveport Summer Music Festival June '09

The weather is warm and it's time for the Shreveport Summer Music Festival, a 33 year summer tradition. First concert will be at Church of the Holy Cross, Episcopal 875 Cotton St., downtown Shreveport, Sunday June 7 @ 3:00 PM. Maestro Sidney Harth returns. The soloists will be Dann Cloakwell, Tenor, and Tom Hundemer, Hornist. Leonard Kacenjar is Artistic Director. The concert is free to the public.

Three upcoming Festival concerts are as follows:

• 6 to 8 p.m. June 20: Brahmah performs in the Barnwell Center's Hot Jazz on the Red series.

• 1:30 p.m. July 11: Festival String Quartet performs at an ice cream social at The Glen Retirement Village.

• 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23: Eddy Kozak performs at The Waterford of Shreveport.

Sunday's concert will feature two Handel Concerti Grosso, Op 3, No. 4A and Opus 3, No 4. Then one of my favorites the Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op 31.
After intermission will be "O... for the touch of a vanished hand...", a piece for Horn and Strings written by Hornist Tom Hundemer who also will be soloing on the Britten with tenor Dann Cloakwell. And finally, the Mozart Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K.201.
Included herein are some photos from the rehearsals for tomorrow's concert.

More on the Festival after tomorrow's concert. See you there.

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Two very different orchestra performances at the end of May

Photos from the Legacy concert by yours truly

I began this blogsite last Tuesday, May 26 and since then have been thinking about its direction and focus, short term and long term. Long term outlook will keep me busy for a while as there were many activities and concerts for us this past season that I will be covering in the upcoming weeks. Short term, see below for a new music post.

I still will be emailing our musician and supporter list to keep all of you updated on any news I have about our specific situation here with the SS(O) which will include articles from newspapers, arts organizations, blogs and webites and photos that I post online to various sites. BTW, KTBS TV has begun reformatting its website, so am waiting for the online snapshot tab to re-emerge. I am posting new photos this week of the Legacy concert in the Times online photo galleries.

This past week-end our musicians were involved in two very different performances occurring concurrently - the musical "West Side Story" at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse and a benefit recital (presented by the Gilbert & Sullivan Society) with Candace Taylor and friends at Anderson Hall, Hurley School of Music, both concerts held on the campus of Centenary College here in Shreveport, both requiring small orchestras, one in the pit and one onstage. Parking was at a premium Saturday night. Nice that there are enough of us to go around right now although many will be leaving for summer music activities elsewhere or taking a much deserved vacation with family or friends.

I played the benefit concert conducted by Texarkana Symphony Orchestra Music Director Marc-Andre' Bougie at Hurley School of Music with soprano Candace Taylor, 'cellist Alexis Barnett and mezzo-soprano Deedra Johnson. The concert was in honor of Annette Pierson Poulard and Freddie Pierson to support the Pierson Memorial Scholarship Fund. A blend of both classical and jazz music, the hour and forty-five minute program was received warmly by the patrons and guests in the audience.

Next door some of our colleagues were playing the Bernstein Musical "West Side Story", orchestra conducted by Centenary's Dr. Todd Gabriel. I have played in that pit and it's cozy down there to say the least. The production went well so I hear and it returns for another run this coming week-end June 5, 6 and 7. I will be playing the Summer Music Festival Sunday June 7 @ 3:00 PM at Church of the Holy Cross downtown with conductor Sidney Harth. Mozart Symphony No. 29 is on the program. Whoopie! Hornist Tom Hundemer will be playing the Britten Serenade and one of his own pieces for Horn and strings.

On June 13, East Texas Opera (formerly Longview Opera) presents La Boheme at Le Tourneau University. In July PAC (the Performing Arts Center) at FUMC downtown presents the musical "Secret Garden".

Centenary Summer Band made up of both student and professional musicians will present a concert Tuesday night June 30 in the Band Shell on campus. The Jazz Band plays a concert there on June 23 and the Summer Band will be playing once again for the River Blast fireworks display at the big July 4th celebration on the riverfront.

Until next time