IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - The Signature Series of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) presents small ensembles composed of visiting artists and select orchestra members. The first Signature Series performance in the QCSO's 100th Season will be "A Star Returns," featuring violinist David Bowlin, a native of the Quad-Cities whose performances have received rave reviews nationwide. He will share the stage with Benjamin Loeb, who, in addition to being QCSO Executive Director, is also a highly accomplished concert pianist. 

"A Star Returns" will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, October 19, at Augustana College's Wallenberg Hall, 3520 7th Ave., Rock Island, IL. These performances are rebroadcast on WVIK, 90.3 FM, on the following Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. The Signature Series is a collaboration between the QCSO, WVIK, and Augustana College. 

Under the artistic direction of Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz, "A Star Returns" will showcase the music of composers Edvard Grieg, Jan Ladislav Dussek, and Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as a world premiere composition, "Five Pieces for Violin and Piano," by Quad-Cities composer Jacob Bancks. 

"With Masterworks I, you saw the Quad City Symphony Orchestra at its biggest and most spectacular," said Mark Russell Smith, Music Director and Conductor for the QCSO. "With the Signature Series, you can now experience it in an up-close and personal way. Chamber music is an equally enriching and enjoyable cultural experience that is part of our diverse array of offerings."

"Ben Loeb is not only our Executive Director, but also a world-class pianist who has collaborated with some of the most respected chamber musicians in America," said Greenholtz. "David Bowlin, who was a star grad student when I was just a freshman at Juilliard, is one of the finest violinists and teachers of our generation. Plus, he grew up in the Quad-Cities so he is very much a part of our musical family here in town. It will be a real treat for our patrons to hear these two wonderful artists."

About Bowlin and Loeb

A native of the Quad-Cities, violinist David Bowlin has performed recitals and concertos across the United States. "David Bowlin is originally from Moline," Loeb said. "He started his musical career in our area and has gone on to national prominence. He is our star who has returned."

At age 36, Bowlin has already been a professional violinist for 18 years - half of his life. He first heard violin music in church at age 4, and started lessons at age 6. In high school, he was a member of the Quad Cities Youth Symphony from his sophomore through senior years, and also a member of the QCSO in his junior and senior years. In college, he studied with famed violin and viola instructors Roland and Almita Vamos. His performances have received critical acclaim from the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and many more. 

In 2007, Bowlin joined the violin faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, having previously taught at the Juilliard School. He is a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), which tours in the United States and abroad. He has extensive recording credits with the Bridge, Naxos, New Focus, Arsis, and Mode labels. He is also the artistic director of Chamber Music Quad-Cities, an organization that brings chamber music performances to eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

"A big part of what I do is chamber music, and in that role, I am so honored to be a part of the 100th Season of the QCSO," Bowlin said. "It is such a remarkable group of exceptional quality. They have always been welcoming and supportive."

Benjamin Loeb, a native Texan, is an accomplished conductor, accompanist, soloist, arranger, educator, and administrator. He grew up in Dallas, Texas, and started playing piano when he was 18 months old. Formal lessons began at age five. Over the years, his concerts have taken him around to world to major venues and on radio and TV in New York City, San Francisco, Dallas, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Berlin, Seoul, Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Panama City, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and tours across America.  

Loeb has served as both the Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony and the Music Director of the 2011 New Hampshire Music Festival. He has also served as Director of Orchestras at the Music Institute of Chicago. He has done many recordings with the Naxos label, including collaborations with violinists and a solo recording of works by Scott Joplin. His next recording will be a volume of opera fantasies and transcriptions.

"My top priority is the ongoing success of the QCSO," Loeb said. "It is my goal to use my skills as a pianist and longtime member of the national music community to meet the needs of the Symphony and Quad-Cities community whenever possible."

Five Pieces for Violin and Piano

Originally from Fairmont, Minnesota, composer Jacob Bancks moved to the Quad-Cities three years ago and teaches Music Theory and Music Composition at Augustana College. "I love working with the composer who live in our area," Loeb said. "Jacob Bancks is committed to expanding the arts in our community. Previously, he composed 'Rock Island Line' for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and that work has really taken off."

Bancks wrote his first song at age five and his first professional commission while still in high school. His Signature Series premiere composition, "Five Pieces for Violin and Piano," is about 22 minutes long and is divided into five segments.

"The first segment, 'Tourist Trap,' has a flashy opening and invites people in," Bancks said. "'October' is a meditative, jazz-inspired piece. 'Skara, Skara Havre' is part of a Swedish saying which means, 'Cut, cut the oats, but who will come behind to bind them?' It was inspired by a tapestry in my wife's grandparent's home. 'Taxi Dancer' is a slow, moody piece, inspired by the concept of a taxi dancer. 'Here to Stay' is the big finale, inspired by George Gershwin." 

"It's wonderful that the QCSO, now in its 100th Season, has devoted so much time and resources to working with composers," Bancks said. "Any organization that hopes to be around for another hundred years should be as dedicated to the future as it is to the past." 

Quad City Symphony Orchestra tickets are available at the QCSO box office at 327 Brady St., Davenport, IA. You can also call the QCSO at (563) 322-7276 or visit www.qcso.org. For more information on future offerings from QCSO, be sure to download the full 100th Season brochure at www.qcso.org/calendar.html.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (10/10/2014)(readMedia)-- SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Staff Sgt. Kellye Brestan of Bloomington, Illinois, recruiter for the Illinois Army National Guard, placed third in the North American Strongman (NAS) National Competition in Reno, Nevada, Oct. 4 and 5.

NAS is the premier amateur strongman corporation in the world. This event attracted more than 200 men and women to prove their strength against each other within their own weight class. Challenges ranged from lifting cars to throwing kegs.

"I have known Brestan for three years," said 1st Sgt. Holly Donald of Peoria, Illinois, Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

"When she first joined, she struggled to pass the Army fitness test. She decided to become fit and better as a recruiter. She wanted to be a better role model for future recruits."

Brestan is the epitome of the noncommissioned officer creed. She lives the Army values and is the whole Soldier concept, said Donald.

"I train five to six days a week for a few hours a day," said Brestan." I started training for this competition three months ago and I have five months to train for the Arnold World championship in March. I had to drop 27 pounds for this competition, learn how to dead lift a car, carry a 1,150 pound wheel barrow, lift kegs over a bar and press one over my head."

Brestan maintains her fit and healthy lifestyle for competitions, but also maintains Army standards.

"I stay active for my health and to inspire my Soldiers," said Brestan. "I have a few Soldiers that have trained with me. I also have applicants I am currently training for weight loss and then they should be joining the Illinois Army National Guard."

Comparing the competitive strongman lifestyle and being an Army recruiter has many similarities.

"I live a very structured life now, food measured out and my workouts are all very structured," said Brestan. "I think that it all goes hand-in-hand, the structure I need in training and in recruiting. I plan everything so well now. Time management has never been more important."

Placing third in the NAS competition, Brestan is just shy of obtaining the title of the World's Strongest Woman.

"I don't think it has even set in that I am the third strongest in the nation," said Brestan "I'm still in shock."

Brestan said she plans to attend the Arnold World Championship in Columbus, Ohio, but will attend local charity shows until then to maintain her competitive shape.

All successful CEOs have one thing in common: They're able to maintain a big-picture perspective. It's also something successful moms have in common, says Zenovia Andrews, a business strategist, speaker, author and mom who coaches entrepreneurs and CEOs on time and budget management.

"In business, CEOs implement a process that achieves efficient time and resource management in the most cost-effective way; sounds a lot like a mom, doesn't it?" says Andrews, founder and CEO of The MaxOut Group, a company devoted to empowering and teaching entrepreneurs development strategies to increase profits.

"If every mom were a CEO, America would rule the world!"

Andrews, author of the new book "All Systems Go - A Solid Blueprint to Build Business and Maximize Cash Flow," (www.zenoviaandrews.com), suggests the following tips for moms to better manage money and time.

•  CEOs utilize apps, and so should CEO Moms. When a CEO's personal assistant isn't around or, if it's a small business and she doesn't have one, then apps do nicely. There are several apps for moms, including Bank of Mom - an easy way to keep track of your kids' allowances. Set up an account for each child and track any money they earn for chores or allowance. The app also allows you to track their computer and TV time as well as other activities.

•  Measurement is the key to knowledge, control and improvement. CEOs have goals for their businesses and Moms have goals for their family members. In either case, the best way to achieve a big-picture goal is to identify action steps and objectives and a system for measuring progress. Want to improve your kids' test scores, help your husband lose weight or - gasp - free some time for yourself? There are four phases to help track progress: planning, or establishing goals; collection, or conducting research on your current process; analysis - comparing information from existing processes with the new one; and adapting, or implementing the new process.

•  Understand your home's "workforce." A good CEO helps her employees grow and develop, not only for the company's benefit, but for the employee's as well. Most people are happiest when they feel they're learning and growing, working toward a goal, which may be promotion within the company or something beyond it. When they feel the CEO is helping with that, they're happier, more productive, more loyal employees. Likewise, CEO Moms need to help their children gain the skills and knowledge they need not only to succeed in general but to achieve their individual dreams.

•  A well-running household is a community effort; consider "automated" systems. In business, automated systems tend to be as clinical as they sound, typically involving technology. Yet, there's also a human resource element. Automated systems are a must for CEO Moms, and they tend to take the form of scheduling at home. Whose night is it for the dishes, or trash? One child may be helpful in the kitchen, whereas another may be better at cleaning the pool.

About Zenovia Andrews

Zenovia Andrews, www.zenoviaandrews.com, is a business development strategist with extensive experience in corporate training, performance management, leadership development and sales consulting with international clients, including Pfizer, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. A sought-after speaker and radio/TV personality, she is the author of "All Systems Go" and "MAXOut: I Want It All."

Braley fighting to raise minimum wage to $10.10/hr & restore its purchasing power.

In contrast, state Sen. Joni Ernst opposes the federal minimum wage and believes $15,000 a year is an appropriate wage for hardworking Iowans

Des Moines, IA - To mark National Minimum Wage Day, Bruce Braley today reiterated his call for an overdue increase to the minimum wage that would provide 300,000 Iowans with a pay raise and infuse $272 million in to Iowa's economy.