Muskegon Community Concerts
587 W. Western Ave.
Muskegon 49440
231-722-6520
Frauenthal Information
Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts
425 W. Western Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49440
(231) 727-8001
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www.starticketsplus.net
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1-800-585-3737
Next Season
2008-2009 Season
All concerts are held at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts; Sunday concerts start at 3 p.m; weekday concerts start at 7:30 p.m.
Nathaniel Dett ChoraleFriday, October 3, 2008, & Student Encore performance The Nathaniel Dett Chorale website |
THE NATHANIEL DETT CHORALE The Nathaniel Dett Choralepresents uplifting Afrocentric music spanning the full-spectrum of choral styles. These 21 Gemini Award-Winning vocalists have shared the stage with internationally acclaimed artists, including Joe Sealy and Kathleen Battle, as well as with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Signal Hill Alumni Choir of Tobago. In addition, they have performed at events honoring world leaders Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Ali. Founder, Brainerd Blyden-Taylor named the Chorale after renowned African-Canadian composer, R. Nathaniel Dett. Sharing Dett's vision to build bridges of understanding between communities of people through music, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale honors their namesake in supremely jubilant fashion. “An infectious spirit of joy…” -- The Globe and Mail (Canada) “… thunderous standing ovation…” -- The Record (Canada) |
A Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy LeeMonday, November 3, 2008 |
A TRIBUTE TO BENNY GOODMAN & PEGGY LEE If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Amanda Carr and Everett Longstreth would make Goodman and Lee proud! Both are veteran jazz musicians. While Lonstreth has played with icons including Woody Herman, Jimmy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle and Helen Forest, Carr’s sultry alto has been featured with such heavyweights as The Artie Shaw Band, The Harry James Band and The Glenn Miller Band. This unique offering focuses on Big Band repertoire from 1941-1943, the period that Lee was Goodman’s featured vocalist. Carr’s impeccable vocals, combined with Longstreth’s true-to-style direction make A Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee the most swingin’ evening you’ve experienced in a long, long time. “… a shining gem!” -- Ernie Santosuosso, The Boston Globe “The Cream of the Crop.” -- Ron Della Chiesa, WGBH radio host, The |
PianafiddleFriday, February 13, 2009, & Student Encore performance Pianafiddle Website |
PIANAFIDDLE Is it bluegrass? Is it jazz? Is it classical, ragtime, or Celtic? If Pianafiddle is performing, the answer is YES! Starting with only the framework of familiar melody, pianist Lynn Wright and violinist/fiddler Adam DeGraff improvise as they go, blending the known and the unknown in gripping performances that make toes tap and hands clap! Wright (longtime jazz pianist with a 10-year stint at the legendary Silver Dollar Saloon) and DeGraff (classical violinist, 5 years with The Richmond Symphony) immediately recognized in the other a complimentary talent and a shared passion to explore all musical genres. Traditionally grounded yet spontaneous, Pianafiddle transcends performance paradigms, engrossing the audience with each note. “These guys are GOOD!” -- Seth Williamson, NPR “… uncategorically good music…” -- Dr. Tim Mainland, Concord University, Athens, WV |
Freddy Cole QuartetSaturday, February 21, 2009 Freddy Cole's website |
FREDDY COLE QUARTET Few musicians today have childhood memories of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton coming over to visit, but singer/pianist Freddy Cole remembers them well. Cole and his four siblings (one of whom was named “Nat”), soaked in those musical visits, and Cole has carried what he learned through five decades of his own evolvement as an artist. A student of the Roosevelt Institute, the Juilliard School and the New England Conservatory, Cole formed a trio that began touring internationally in 1972 and continues touring to this day. With raw-silk vocals, Sinatra-like phrasing, and an ever-so-slightly “bebop” piano touch, Freddy Cole has moved into the front ranks of jazz with sophistication all his own. “… impeccable sense of swing… [perhaps] the best alive.” -- New York Times “… pitch-perfect feel for jazz standards, pop tunes and love ballads.” -- People Magazine |
Yakov KasminFriday, March 20, 2009, & Student Encore performance Yakov Kasman website |
YAKOV KASMAN Pianist, Yakov Kasman’s silver medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was the culmination of several competition triumphs, including the 1991 London World Piano Competition, the 1992 Artur Rubinstein International Competition, and the 1995 International Prokofiev Competition. This Moscow Conservatory-trained master has garnered numerous recording awards in France, as well as “Superlative” ratings from the American Record Guide. Performing to raving audiences in the United States, Russia, Europe, and Asia with more than forty orchestras, including the Orchestra de Lille in France, the Singapore Symphony, the Moscow Philharmonia Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic, Yakov Kasman consistently displays equal parts fierce technique and fluent emotion. “…his playing transcended the notes…” -- The Oregonian “… virile technique and voluptuous sound.” -- Los Angeles Times “… converted [those] tickets into subscriptions…” -- Joseph Truskot, Monterey Symphony |
String Orchestra of New York CityFriday, April 17, 2009, & Student Encore performance String Orchestra of New York City website |
STRING ORCHESTRA OF NEW YORK CITY The String Orchestra of New York City is an amazing, high energy string ensemble with a refreshing presentational approach. The orchestra has appeared in such major venues as the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, blurring the line between orchestral playing and chamber music, with the flexibility of a string quartet, yet the power of a full-scope orchestra. The members stand while performing, which creates a surprisingly vibrant relationship with the audience. In addition to the standard literature, they are dedicated to performing the works of living composers and to educational outreach. With an annual series of concerts at prestigious Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, the String Orchestra of New York City is setting a new visionary standard in the chamber music field. “… full breadth and emotional power of the string repertoire." -- Robert Spano, Music Director, Atlanta Symphony "… a full, radiant sound ... “ -- The New York Sun |
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*Student Encore performances are held at various school locations. For more information, contact Student Contact Coordinator, Julie Stuberg at julie@stuberg.com. |