Season Finale full of fun and fanfare!

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra season has been at times light and at times full of import, but this weekend's season finale shows that they still have a few tricks up their sleeve. This concert will include the orchestral premiere of local composer William Campbell's Coyote Dances, the felicity and grace of Lydia Artymiw's piano performance, and a suite from Richard Strauss' popular comic opera Der Rosenkavalier specially collected by Music Director Mark Russell Smith to include the famous climactic trio performed by Kara Shay Thompson, Sarah Shafer, and Abigail Nims. By the conclusion of this season finale, you will be dancing in the aisles and singing in your heart.

William Campbell is associate professor of music theory and composition at St. Ambrose University and has long had an abiding interest in mythology and the archetypal characters who inhabit myths. Campbell's Coyote Dances began life as part of a dance score commissioned by the New Articulation Dance Company of Tucson, Arizona. The inspiration for the collaboration came from Native American myths, particularly the "trickster" stories found in the lore of several tribes. Campbell originally wrote the piece as an electro-acoustical work, but in 2004 arranged it for concert band at the request of an ensemble in Missouri. In this guise, Coyote Dances has enjoyed considerable performance success. Campbell has now returned to his Dances and arranged it as an orchestral work for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra who will give this version its world premiere this weekend.

Masterworks 6 will be presented 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31, at the Adler Theatre, Davenport; and again at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, April 1, in Centennial Hall, Augustana College, Rock Island. Tickets can be purchased at 800.745.3000, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by clicking here.

Win $50,000 in the Symphony Raffle

In honor of our 97th season, the QCSO is selling 1000 $97 raffle tickets which could win you $50,000!

In addition to that exciting Grand Prize, nearly $5000 in preliminary cash prizes are to be awarded at Quad City Symphony Orchestra concerts this season, including a $250 "early bird" prize Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1, during Concert Conversations an hour before the performance. Winners of the "early bird" prizes remain eligible for the Grand Prize, so the earlier you buy your ticket, the better your chances of winning!

Buy your tickets today at the QCSO Box Office or at our table in the concert lobby! Find out more and get the full rules by clicking here.

 

Derby Day is just around the corner

Derby Day is moving to The Outing Club in Davenport this Saturday, May 5, so be sure to mark your calendars today! You don't want to miss the mint juleps, horse races, live music, and delicious Derby cuisine. All proceeds from this event go to benefit youth music education right here in your community. The fun starts at 2:00 p.m. and concludes with a live auction after the running of the Kentucky Derby.

Reservations are $75 per person or $520 for a table of eight. Make reservations now by calling 563.322.QCSO (7276) or by clicking here.

 

Rhythm Unleashed on May 19

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Principal Percussionist Aaron Williams is very excited to present Rhythym Unleashed, a collection of works from composer Marc Mellits, in the RME's Redstone Room on May 19 at 8:00 p.m. Mellits' unique blending of classical instrumentation with rock rhythms is as sensual as it is intelligent.

Helping Williams bring this vibrant music to life will be QCSO musicians: Principal Cellist Hannah Holman, Pianist Mary Neil, and Percussionist Tony Oliver. The team will perform a variety of Mellits' repertoire, including 5 Quiet Machines, Disciples of Gouda, Mara's Lullaby, and Paranoid Cheese.

Tickets for Rhythym Unleashed are $18 for adults and $7 for students.

 

Christian Care will host its second annual Trivia Night at The Rock in Coal Valley on
Friday, March 23, 2012. Doors will open at 6:00 PM and the games will begin at
7:00 PM. The cost is $10 per person with eight individuals per team. The top two teams
will receive cash prizes for their trivia knowledge. Raffle items and a 50/50 drawing
will be held and Mulligans will be available for purchase. Sandwiches, drinks and water
will be for sale, as well as delicious baked goods from the ladies of Grace Evangelical
Free Church. Team members are also welcome to bring their own snacks. Seating is
limited; to reserve individual or team seating contact Mary Maland at 309/792-4102 or
cc.mary10@gmail.com.

The proceeds from Trivia Night will help Christian Care continue to provide services in
the Quad Cities to a growing number of homeless men and abused women and children
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The organization's vision is to transform lives. They
accomplish this by providing safe shelter, food, clothing, and personal care items, as
well as the counseling and guidance needed to help residents develop the skills needed
for a healthy new life.

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose vision is to transform lives.
Through its mission of providing safe shelter, support and resources, Christian Care
empowers both the homeless and survivors of domestic violence to make positive
changes in every aspect of their lives. Christian Care's two facilities?a domestic
violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for men?serve homeless
individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of
prison, and those with mental illnesses. If you know someone in need, call the Christian
Care Crisis Hotline at any hour of the day or night at 309/788-2273.

For more information about Christian Care, please go to their web site at
christiancareqc.org or to Facebook at facebook.com/christiancareqc.

A Trivia Night is being planned as a part of the Bi-State Literacy Council Winter Fundraising event, to be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7pm. Doors open at 6pm, at The Rock, 302 1st Street, Coal Valley, Illinois.  The cost is $10 per person, with tables of no more than 8 people. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three tables. 

Raffles, 50/50, silent auction, and heads or tails will also be a part of the fun activities. For more information or to reserve your table, please contact judyh628@gmail.com. Payments can be mailed to BSLC, P. O. Box 1602, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722,

The Bi-State Trivia Night is also holding a library challenge with a special prize for the winning table of librarians.  A donation of $100 will be awarded to the library or school library to use in support of a reading program.

Proceeds from the event will be used to provide semi-annual grants to area literacy providers  (schools, libraries, after school programs, preschools, etc.), awards to literacy volunteers and for professional development grants to literacy professionals.  The Council's new initiative is also to provide additional scholarships to GED students.  The deadline for applications for the springtime grants is March 31, 2012. 

Representing Muscatine County on the Bi-State board is Duffy De France.  She can be contacted at 563-607-3213 for more information.  The Muscatine organizations that have received grants in the past include the Muscatine Literacy Coalition, the GED program, the Musser Public Library for middle school SSR reading program, and Wilton Elementary School.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the master class with Robert Belinic, guest artist with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, is cancelled. This master class was scheduled for Saturday, February 11, at 11 AM at the River Music Experience.

Belinic will be performing Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra on February 11 and 12 as part of their Valentine's Day concert. For tickets to the Valentine's Day concert, call the QCSO Box Office at 563-322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com.