Search results matching tag 'Concert'

125. Pipes and Drums

621376 — Mon, 02 May 2011 00:59:00 GMT

Do you love the sound of bagpipes and drums? Georgetown is lucky to have a group that serves and lives here in our city that travels around performing for various celebrations, ceremonies and events around the state. In addition to being firefighters they play bagpipes and drums!

The pipe band began life in the military and it is known that pipers served in regiments from the earliest times. The Royal Scots have records referring to pipers dating back to the early seventeenth century. Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for all things Highland was instrumental in the decision that each battalion of Highland Regiments have pipers and a Pipe Major. The music played by pipe bands generally consists of music from the Scottish tradition, the Irish tradition and the Breton tradition. There are now competitions and world championships held for pipe bands throughout the world.

In the Summer of 2006, members of the Georgetown Fire Department decided it was time to create a Pipes and Drums band. There was a need to preserve and promote the tradition of Highland Pipes and Drums music in Georgetown and to honor and support those who have dedicated their lives and careers to the Fire Service. This was the beginning of The Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums Band.

Georgetown Fire Department Pipes and Drums performing members are also members of the Emergency Services Pipes and Drums Association and work very closely practicing and performing. The Emergency Service Pipes And Drums Association (ESPADA) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that was originally created to honor fire fighters, police, and paramedics that died in the line of duty. We have expanded to be a part of the vibrant music culture of Austin and the Central Texas area. The band performs in parades, festivals and community events. The performers have also been memorable parts for many peoples' weddings, funerals and other celebrations.

The band decided on the Royal Stewart for their Tartan. The group decided to be an independent organization and raise money for equipment and trips. The band is filling out the paperwork to become a 501c3 organization.

The band performed at the Salado Highland Games and recently performed at the Georgetown Red Poppy Festival in April. They have a number of upcoming events at which you may catch their performance. The next performance will be May 6th at the Austin/Travis County EMS Awards Ceremony at 208 Barton Springs Road at 7 p.m. Check out their full event calendar.

You can help support this wonderful band by making a donation or purchasing their merchandise. They have an online store with band patches, t-shirts and hats for sale.

Sometimes in the early morning when you drive by the Fire Station in Sun City you can hear a bit of the Highland melody in the air! Pretty cool stuff.

120. Last Symphony of the Season

621376 — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 01:30:00 GMT

Dare I say it, but Sunday the weather forecasters are mentioning the possibility of you-know-what, r_ _ _ n! I don't even want to say it out loud for fear of jinxing this rare and momentous event. Saturday would be the day to get outdoor stuff done like mulching the flower beds, tying up the tomato plants, and playing a little.

Indoor activities may be more appropriate on Sunday and fortunately the last symphony performance of the season is this Sunday, May 1st. The Temple Symphony will be performing pieces from French and Russian composers. The title of the performance is "Elan: a la francaise, a la russe!" The pieces to be performed are Suite No. 1 from Carmen by Georges Bizet, Suite from the film Poruchik Kizhe by Sergei Prokofiev, and Concerto in G major for piano and orchestra by Maurice Ravel.

The Temple Symphony Orchestra is made up of approximately 65 talented, professional musicians from the greater Temple and Central Texas area. Most are educators, but all have a passion for music and their instrument.

The mission of the Temple Symphony Orchestra is to provide music of the highest artistic standard, performing a broad range of repertoire to a wide and diverse audience through live performance; to act as ambassador to the community; to educate students and adults in the rich orchestral traditions of our heritage; and to serve as a leader in the cultural life of Central Texas.

The TSO is dedicated to making the orchestral experience accessible and appealing to everyone and is committed to providing the community with quality musical programming. Throughout the season, the Temple Symphony Orchestra features local as well as national and international artists performing classical music, pops and jazz.

Performing in the Center for the Performing Arts at Georgetown High School, the Temple Symphony Orchestra comes to Georgetown through the support of the Georgetown Symphony Society. Most programs also feature a pre-concert lecture at 3:15 p.m.

Get your tickets at the Sun City Community Association Office (512-864-1200) or at HEB's customer service desk and enjoy this local treasure of great music performed live!

Location: Georgetown High School
                Center for the Performing Arts
                2211 N. Austin Ave.
                Georgetown, TX 78626

When: Sunday, May 1st, 4 p.m.

http://www.georgetowntexassymphony.org/season.html

104. Poppy Time!

621376 — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:48:00 GMT

For the 12th time, it is occurring this weekend. What began as a small celebration of the red poppies that have been a part of Georgetown's landscape for over seventy years, has grown into a two-day extravaganza! Georgetown is one of the few locations in the U.S. where red poppies reseed themselves from year to year. That's something to celebrate, for sure!

This is a family event in downtown Georgetown that will be lots of fun. Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, the whole square will be blocked off for the Red Poppy Market Place featuring artisans from across the nation, a car show, the Safe Place Kids Village, and a Saturday Night Concert and Street Dance featuring Mark Chesnutt. Don't worry if you get hungry; there will be lots of food vendors serving corn dogs, funnel cakes, BBQ, gyros and more.

The Paint the Georgetown Red Parade kicks things off at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will feature local celebrities. The parade hosts the Georgetown High School Marching Band and Georgettes, princesses, clowns, floats, businesses, school and community organizations all decorated and costumed in RED. Wear red and enjoy the parade.

There's a bike ride on Saturday and on Sunday a 5K run/walk. The top three runners in each division will get an award. The Miss Red Poppy Festival Queen and Her Court will be announced on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Parking downtown is limited and it is recommended that you park at the old Albertsons building located at 610 N. Austin Ave. and ride the free shuttle service. The shuttle will run on Saturday only from 11:30 a.m.- after the concert. Driving directions & more information.

There is a free concert on Friday night too so for the concerts be sure to bring your own chair to sit around the Red Poppy Stage on the square. There will be lots to do so check the full schedule of events to plan to see and do everything.

Be sure to go by the Visitors Center in Downtown Georgetown and check out the Poppy Fest merchandise. Take a driving tour through Georgetown's Historic Old Town and see the beautiful blooming red poppy flowers- here's a map. It's gonna be a great weekend to be outdoors!

Location: Downtown Georgetown Square

When: Saturday & Sunday, April 16-17, Sat. 10 a.m.- 11:30 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

95. Revel in Ravel

621376 — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 01:04:00 GMT

The French composer Ravel was brought to the national consciousness back when the movie "10" showed Bo Derek running down the beach in slow motion while "Bolero" played in the background. Bo Derek was the epitome of the perfect woman and this was probably the first time most people had ever heard "Bolero", especially as part of a movie soundtrack.

Bolero epitomizes Ravel's preoccupation with restyling and reinventing dance movements. Bolero is a one-movement orchestral piece that was originally composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian ballerina Ida Rubenstein. The piece, which premiered in 1928, is Ravel's most famous musical composition.

The music is built over an unchanging rhythm played on drums that remains constant throughout the piece. On top of this rhythm is repeated a single theme, consisting of two eighteen-bar sections, each repeated twice. Tension is provided by the contrast between the steady percussive rhythm, and the expressive vocal melody trying to break free. Interest is maintained by constant re-orchestration of the theme, leading to a variety of tones and by a steady crescendo.

Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts hosts a concert by William Pu, violin and Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano as well as, cellist Hai Zheng, performing works by Bright Sheng and Maurice Ravel. This is an hour-long free concert at the Fine Arts Center and hopefully, will include "Bolero".

Location: Southwestern University
               Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center
               1001 E. University Avenue
               Georgetown, TX 78626
               (512) 863-6511

When: Weds., April 6, 7-8 p.m.

78. First Backyard Concert of Season!

621376 — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:15:00 GMT

Wow! It has just been perfect weather for outdoor activity. SXSW Interactive and now SXSW Music and Film Festival has seen unprecedented success in attendance this year and conditions couldn't be better for the free outdoor music concerts held on Auditorium Shores in Austin.

Georgetown will have a great backyard concert on Saturday, March 19th, at Hardtails Bar and Grill. The backyard concert area is shaded by large oak trees with string lights between them, picnic tables and plenty of cold beverages. The weather ought to be perfect. The band performs on a stage constructed from a rustic semi-tractor trailer at the lower end of the backyard. With professional mixing boards, the sound is great.

The headliner band this Saturday night is Vallejo. Vallejo is a band of brothers from Austin, Texas that started back in the mid-eighties comprised of Alejandro, A.J., and Omar Vallejo with Alex Geismar and Bruce Castleberry. They play an infectious swaggering rock laced with Latin percussion mixed with a little funk. They have released nine albums and toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Mexico with bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Black Crowes, The Foo Fighters, Los Lobos, Matchbox 20 and others.

Come early and have one of the great hamburgers on the menu for dinner. Doors open at 8 p.m. and cover is $10 for this great concert under the stars!

Location: Hardtails Bar & Grill
               1515 N. IH 35
               Georgetown, TX 78628
               512-869-5454

When: Saturday, March 19th, 8 p.m., $10

www.hardtailsbarandgrill.com

51. Lucky Strikes Jazz and Swing

621376 — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:12:00 GMT

Do you love classic jazz and swing music from the '40's and '50's? The Friends of the Georgetown Library has arranged for this talented band to perform for free in the library lobby this Sunday, Feb. 20th.

The Lucky Strikes have been performing together for 13 years and will be doing vocal and instrumental versions of standards and some of their own music composed in the same style. They are a full time professional lounge, swing and jazz band from Austin, Texas. Selections include many favorites by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. They have released three CD's and toured throughout the U.S. and Canada performing in almost every state.

I love the imagery that the name "Lucky Strikes" invokes. The '40's and '50's were the wartime and post-war years when everyone smoked, drank and it was the birth of "cool". That's why I am including this photo of Santa lighting up with a Lucky Strike cigarette. We didn't have Surgeon General warnings about smoking yet and advertising ruled!

I love these live musical performances at the library because they are casual and intimate. You may come and go or sit down and enjoy the entire performance. So fire up The Lucky Strikes this Sunday! Free is always good.

Be there or be square!

Location: Georgetown Public Library
               402 W. 8th Street
               Georgetown, TX 78626
               512-930-3551

When: Sunday, Feb. 20th, 2-4 p.m.

http://library.georgetown.org/februarys-live

49. Southwestern Wind Ensemble and Orchestra

621376 — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:41:00 GMT

When I saw this event I began wondering what distinguishes a wind ensemble from the rest of an orchestra and this is what I found out.

The modern wind ensemble was established by Frederick Fennell at the Eastman School of Music in 1952. The performing ensemble consists of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family. The wind ensemble is distinguished from the marching band in that its primary function is as a concert ensemble. I love French Horns, so here's a picture of them.

This performance at Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts will be conducted by Lois Ferrari and guest conductor Donald Hunsberger, Professor Emeritus of the Eastman School of Music. Mr. Hunsberger conducted the prestigious Eastman Wind Ensemble from 1965-2002.

The program on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, will include works by Beethoven, Debussy and Shostakovich. A live orchestral performance is such a rich experience and this is completely free!

Location: Alma Thomas Theater
               Southwestern University
               1001 E. University Ave.
               Georgetown, TX 78626

When: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, 7-9 p.m.

www.southwestern.edu

35. Baroque Chamber Music- Texas Early Music Project

621376 — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:59:00 GMT

Do you like Baroque chamber music? What in the world is that, you may ask? Music played in a small room that is elaborate and has extensive ornamentation? Well, sort of.

Baroque, in the context of music, means that it was composed during the baroque period of highly decorated style during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe. Baroque music forms a major portion of the classical music being widely studied, performed and listened to. Some well-known composers of the baroque era include Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Vivaldi.

Chamber music was written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber or private salon with an intimate atmosphere.

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University is hosting guest artists, the Texas Early Music Project this Thursday, Feb. 3rd. Founded in 1987 by Daniel Johnson, the Texas Early Music Project is a group of student members of the University of Texas at Austin, who are dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and early Classical music through performance, recordings and educational outreach.

This particular concert will feature Baroque chamber music by Telemann, folk music from the heart of Europe, and Baroque music influenced by folk music. Dance music from the folk music collections from the former Kingdom of Hungary which includes present day Poland, Slovakia, Moravia and others will be presented. Two special guest artists will perform on violin and recorder.

This will be a special glimpse into some lesser known Baroque music and it's FREE. Music to my ears!

Location: Lois Perkins Chapel
               Southwestern University
               1001 E. University Ave.
               Georgetown, TX 78626
               512-863-1379

When: Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011
            7-9 p.m.

Southwestern University Campus Map

29. Big Band Blast- Temple Symphony Orchestra

621376 — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:18:00 GMT

Weekends are for unwinding, relaxing, having a leisurely meal, and enjoying some soothing music. I am not a big fan of loud raucous music; it hurts my sensitive canine ears. So I tend toward the sublime, classical, cheery lilt of rich big band orchestration or soft folk music for my soundtrack to life. I'm in luck!

This weekend The Georgetown Symphony Society is featuring a salute to the great Big Band pianists and leaders Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Eddie Duchin, Spike Jones, Lawrence Welk and many others. The Temple Symphony Orchestra along with Rich Ridenour on the piano and Thomas Fairlie, conducting, will be playing this Sunday at the Performing Arts Center at Georgetown High School. The Center has comfortable seating for 1200 guests and excellent acoustics.

All concerts are on Sunday afternoons at 4 p.m. and most programs feature a pre-concert lecture at 3:15 p.m. Tickets are available at both Georgetown HEB Grocery Stores, the Williamson County Sun offices on the square, Sun City Texas Community Association office or online (see website below).

Big Band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz, a style of music which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930's until the late 1940's. Typically, a big band consists of about 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, singers and a rhythm section. Unlike smaller jazz combos where the music is improvised, music played by big bands is highly arranged, with improvised solos as notated on the sheet music by the arranger.

Big Band is an American musical form that developed in New York City, Chicago and Kansas City. Big Bands also began to appear in movies in the 1930's right on through to the 1960's, as nostalgia tributes were made as fictionalized biographical accounts of the lives of Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Benny Goodman and others.

Playing a major role in lifting morale during WWII, Big Bands had many members who served in the military and toured with USO troops at the front. The Big Bands began to broadcast live from remote venues on the major radio networks which rapidly spread the popularity of the music from ballrooms and jazz clubs across the country.

This should be a wonderful evening of nostalgia and truly great American music.

Location: Performing Arts Center at Georgetown High School
2211 North Austin Avenue
Georgetown, TX 78626

Time: Sunday, Jan. 29, 2011 at 4 p.m.

Ticket Information: www.georgetowntexassymphony.org

21. Sound of Music at GHS Performing Arts Center

621376 — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:41:00 GMT

One of my most favorite musicals is The Sound of Music. The music is memorable and the story is touching if not entirely accurate. The von Trapps didn't really hike over the Alps to Switzerland to escape the nazis. In reality they walked to the local train station and boarded the next train to Italy, fled to London and ultimately the United States. Hey, it's a musical not a history lesson.

The music is by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The story is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers." Many of the songs from the musical have become standards such as "Edelweiss", "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favorite Things". The original Broadway production opened in November 1959 and the show continues to enjoy numerous productions and revivals. It was adapted as a 1965 film musical starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and won a number of Academy Awards. The Sound of Music was the final musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein; Hammerstein died nine months after the Broadway premier.

A live production will be performed Friday and Saturday at the Georgetown High School Performing Arts Center. It is a wonderful theater with comfortable seating for over 1200 persons and excellent acoustics. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased at the door before the performances.

Location: Performing Arts Center
               2211 N. Austin Avenue
               Georgetown, TX 78626
               512-943-5000 x8101

When: Friday, Jan. 21, 7-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2-3:30 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m.