11 Nov 2010

"Mi-Do-Ri" Composition Contest

By Jared Johnson
To celebrate the visit of world-renowned violinist Midori, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in conjunction with the St. Ambrose University Music Department announces the "Mi-Do-Ri" Young Composer Competition. Young composers are invited to compose and submit a piece for solo violin or violin and piano using a central 3 note musical theme based on the name Midori. All composers currently in local elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges or universities in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas are eligible. Only one submission per composer is allowed and all music must be unpublished. For complete application, rules and guidelines go to www.qcsymphony.com/midori. The winning composers will receive special recognition, a performance of their score during the 2011 residency of Midori, and a CD recording of the performance.

William Campbell, PhD., Assoc. Professor of Music Theory and Composition at St Ambrose, will offer three separate workshops for composers to guide them through the composition process. Each workshop will include opportunities to teach participants about the genre, musical form, and composition techniques. Workshops will be held at St. Ambrose on three separate Saturdays: December 11, January 22 and February 19, 9 AM-noon. These workshops are optional and open to all interested.

Applications must be submitted via mail to arrive no later than Friday, March 4, 2011. The winning compositions will be announced on the QCSO website by March 25, 2011. Email questions and names of student participants by Friday, Nov. 12 to midori@qcsymphony.com.

Send entries or written inquiries to:
Young Composer Competition
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
327 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52801

###
04 Nov 2010

Bluebox Limited's "Impulse" Invited to Screen Alongside 2010 Oscar-Winning Films

By Scott Beck

"IMPULSE" INVITED TO SCREEN
ALONGSIDE 2010 OSCAR-WINNING FILMS

Filmmakers' Short Attracts Festivals and
Top Hollywood Management Company Madhouse Entertainment

LOS ANGELES - November 1, 2010 - The Sofia Independent Film Festival hosts the European premiere of Impulse, a short thriller starring Chris Masterson. Impulse will play alongside an exclusive selection of films with an incredible line-up including Howl starring James Franco, the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man, and the Oscar®-winning films The New Tenants and Best Picture Winner The Hurt Locker. The Sofia Independent Film Festival screening will take place on November 5th, 6th, and 9th in Sofia, Bulgaria.

That same week on November 7th and 8th, the film will be featured at the Iowa Showcase Film Series during the Wild Rose Independent Film Festival (Des Moines, Iowa).

This week, Impulse writers/directors Scott Beck & Bryan Woods signed with top talent management company Madhouse Entertainment.  A production and literary company, Madhouse represents writers and directors working for major studios such as Warner Bros., Universal, DC, Rogue Pictures, Summit Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox.

Beck and Woods are currently developing a project at MTV.

About Bluebox Limited Films
Bluebox Limited Films is a production company banner established in 2001 by Iowa filmmakers Scott Beck & Bryan Woods. Bluebox Limited has produced five features and 14 shorts which have garnered success throughout the nation with MTV and Project Greenlight.

Bluebox Limited's slate includes Impulse starring Chris Masterson from FOX's hit show Malcolm in the Middle, and co-produced with frequent collaborator Christy Sullivan and producer Darren Brandl. Post-production work for Impulse was handled at George Lucas' Skywalker Sound and digital intermediate house Company 3 (Transformers 2, Star Trek). The film premiered on the closing night of the 2010 LA Shorts Fest and continues to tour the festival circuit into 2011.

As of 2010, Bluebox Limited has several projects in development including a pilot for MTV. More information about Bluebox Limited Films can be found at www.blueboxlimited.com.


About Sofia Independent Film Festival
More information about the Sofia Independent Film Festival can be found at www.soindependentfilmfest.com.


About Wild Rose Independent Film Festival
More information about the Wild Rose Independent Film Festival can be found at www.ariesworks.com.

####

02 Nov 2010

BRIAN CUTEAN ROCK ISLAND CONCERT

By Brian Cutean
p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }

From the Pacific Northwest, Oregon's troubadour traveler BRIAN CUTEAN (aka QTN) comes to Rock Island to celebrate the bounty of autumn. The concert is Friday November 19 at First Lutheran Parish House, 1620 - 20th St. This is an all ages event and admission will be $5 to $10 sliding scale and is not a church-related event.

QTN is a many faceted minstrel, a teller of wild tales filled with wordplay and wonder and powerful and colourful guitar chops, an award-winning songwriter-performer and an offbeat unusual and thoughtfully real voice in these days of mass-produced, unremarkable, disposable music.

After five albums and nearly 30 years of songwriting, performing metafables and stories, Cutean has released Guitarred and Feathered, a new CD of wordless acoustic guitar music for mindheartsouls to sing along with; antifrantic music that breathes and celebrates. The new disc has been garnering rave reviews and national and international airplay.

Based in the Willamette Valley of Oregon alternating between Portland and Eugene, Cutean makes annual trips to the southwest and midwest, and his concerts are community events.

With one guitar, a whirl of musical ideas and the sound of hands, wound wires and wood, Cutean weaves together instrumental songs with dynamic playing in the new CD. "The four elements I reached for in this recording, " says Cutean, "are melody, rhythm, a fun bassline and silence. This album is a breather from a world shrill with opinions, instant message me-me-me blogs and 24 hour news chatter. It is universal in every language and the stories it tells belong to us all."

Cutean writes songs like no one else's: love songs from another planet, spacious world poems, conscious wordplay meta-fables that roll off the tongue and folky jazz melodies with a gypsy blues beat and wry whole wheat sensibility. His wordless guitar stylings to provoke and inspire, his stories are laughable, affable and unforgettable; his presentation unpretentious, comfortable and unpredictable.

He has traveled the country for years playing festivals, coffeehouses, concerts, schools and gatherings. Brian's songs get airplay on radio stations the world over and he has been a guest on radio shows like the nationally-syndicated River City Folk. He is a favourite at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, Oregon Country Fair and many other venues.

Newspapers have said:

  • "...The Tom Robbins of folk music" (The Carbondale Flipside)

  • "Playful, energetic and honest." (The Oregonian)

  • "QTN is the guitarist with one foot in the groove!"  (DE Knight, Seraphic Park)

  • "An unclassifiable and irreverent acoustic performer..." (The Austin Chronicle)

  • "One of our leading contemporary songsmiths and music makers" (Victory Music Review)

  • "Brian is one of those rare guitarists who possesses a 'signature touch' that can be recognized in a moment.A splendid piece of work that will always be a jewel in my collection." (Kelly Mulhollan, Still on the Hill)

  • "An adept storyteller ...[whose] lyrics run the gamut of personal reflection to commentary on social issues" (Folkwax)

  • "Introspective, satirical, delightfully absurd and always acoustically gentle to the ears..." (The Austin Statesman)

01 Nov 2010

Augustana Choir's fall concert entertains and inspires

By readMedia

ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/28/2010)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Choir will showcase pieces from diverse musical traditions at its annual fall concert on Friday, October 29, at 8 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public and will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport (2136 Brady St.).

Choir members from your area include :

Carrie Duke from East Moline, IL. Duke is a sophomore majoring in accounting.

Halley Stearns from Sherrard, IL. Stearns is a sophomore majoring in anthropology.

Hannah Barney from Bettendorf, IA. Barney is a sophomore majoring in business administration advising.

Edwin Fonseca from Moline, IL. Fonseca is a junior majoring in international business and accounting.

Sheila Ahuja from Rock Island, IL. Ahuja is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Rebecca Anderson from Moline, IL. Anderson is a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Gregory Donley from Silvis, IL. Donley is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Darshan Hullon from Moline, IL. Hullon is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Eryn Maccabee from Moline, IL. Maccabee is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Katie Rea from Rock Island,, IL. Rea is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

The concert will open with two modern religious works: Damijan Mocnick's Latin hymn "Christus est natus" and Krzysztof Penderecki's a cappella piece "Song of Cherubim." The remainder of the choir's musical selections will be divided into three programmatic sections: Songs of the Night, selections from Mozart's Requiem, and American Music. The selections from Mozart's Requiem have been arranged by Augustana's Dr. Jon Hurty for organ and string chamber accompaniment. Other pieces from these programmatic sections include Eric Whitacre's "Sleep" and Undine Moore's arrangement of the spiritual "Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord."

The Augustana Choir is the college's premiere vocal ensemble. Since its establishment in 1931, the choir has sung at numerous prestigious venues across the nation and the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Palace in Stockholm. The choir also performs regularly in churches and concert halls throughout the Quad Cities.

Hurty, a music professor and department co-chair, directs the Augustana Choir. He received his doctorate in choral conducting and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In addition to his responsibilities at Augustana, Hurty directs several community and church ensembles in the Quad Cities and serves as a guest conductor throughout the United States.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

26 Oct 2010

Debra Sandry goes to Virginia Symphony Orchestra

By Jared Johnson
Debra Sandry, Director of Development with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, has accepted a position as Director of Development with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Norfolk, VA. Sandry joined the QCSO in November of 2004 and during her six years with the QCSO has raised a combined $4.2 million in annual support.

"The QCSO leadership welcomed me six years ago, giving me the opportunity to work on behalf of the Orchestra. I can't say enough about the overwhelming generosity of the Board of Trustees and all our donors. This move will be bittersweet, as I have truly enjoyed watching this orchestra grow through some very challenging years," said Sandry.

"Deb Sandry has been a true asset for this organization and we wish her the best in all of her endeavors," said Jeff vom Saal, Executive Director for the QCSO.

###
21 Oct 2010

Quad City Wind Ensemble Celebrates Its 25th Season

By Susan Hanford
The Quad City Wind Ensemble, celebrating its 25th concert season, will be presenting its first concert of the 2010-2011 season, "Celebrating our Premiere
Concert", on Sunday, October 31, 2010, at 3:00 p.m. at the Galvin Fine Arts Center, on the campus of St. Ambrose University, 517 W. Locust St., in Davenport, IA. It will feature the music played at the first concert in February 1987, and the special guest conductor will be Dr. Charles B. DCamp, retired
Director of Bands at St. Ambrose University and the founder and original conductor of the group.

Brian Hughes, of Dubuque, IA and the University of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, conducts the ensemble, comprised of 70 of the finest quad city area adult brass, woodwind, and percussion players who audition each September. The concert will include a variety from the band/wind ensemble repertoire, including Symphony No. 5 - Finale, by Dimitri Shostakovich, "Il Re Pastore" Overture by W. A. Mozart, "Pinaeapple Poll" Ballet Suite by Arthur Sullivan, "Viva Musica" by
Alfred Reed, "On Broadway" by Bricusse and Newley, "Carnival of Venice" by Herbert Clarke, and "George Washington Bicentennial March" by J. P. Sousa.

For those who are unfamiliar with wind ensembles and their repertoire, the concept began with Frederic Fennell at the Eastman School of Music in New
York who decided to use the very best brass, woodwind, and percussion players and perform favorite concert band music, strong arrangements of classical
symphonic repertoire, and original compositions for wind ensemble. Dr. Myron Welch, retired Director of Bands at the University of Iowa, conducted the group
last May and proclaimed that, "The Quad City Wind Ensemble is the finest adult wind ensemble in the entire state of Iowa and among the best in the nation".

Admission for the concert is $10 for Adults, $ 8 for Seniors (65+), and FREE for all band students. In honor of Halloween, students will receive a treat and a
cookie reception will follow the concert. For additional information, call (309) 507-2971, or visit our website: quad-city-wind-ensemble.webs.com.

- end -
21 Oct 2010

Black Hawk Chamber Music Festival - October 21, 22 and 24 in Davenport

By Jeffrey Cohan

Black Hawk Chamber Music Festival

10th-Anniversary Celebration

~  in Davenport on October 21, 22 and 24 at Trinity Cathedral  ~

Tickets and Information:

www.brownpapertickets.com

www.BHCMF.org

18 Oct 2010

HURLEY OFFERS FREE WEEZER CD with the purchase of Hurley Weezer collection AVAILABLE NOW - AT SELECTED PACSUN STORES

By Julia Axelrod

(Costa Mesa, CA. October 15, 2010)   Hurley is now offering a very special and a fashion and music collaboration bringing the best of both worlds together.   Available NOW through Sunday October 24, 2010 fans can buy ANY Weezer Hurley product at selected PacSun stores and get the new Weezer album titled "Hurley" for FREE!

 

The collection available exclusively at select PacSun stores includes limited edition gear such as Weezer inspired men's and women's wovens, t-shirts, and hoodies. Reaching out directly to their fans, the band will offer unique access, new music and an exclusive line of clothing making

for a perfect convergence between artists and fans.

 

The clothes, designed especially to capture the casual and comfortable style of America's indie rock heroes, make a perfect addition to Hurley's beloved collection of youth apparel. The collection reflects a simple color pallet based on a quirky, yet classic green tone, that feels both retro and futuristic all at the same time. Hurley designed every day items, with the creativity and freedom of Weezer's music and the Hurley lifestyle in mind that make these pieces feel fun and new.

 

This collaboration and contest unites music, clothes, and user generated designs into a perfect storm of excitement for all Weezer fans!

 

Stay tuned to www.hurley.com and Go to www.PacSun.com for participating doors

18 Oct 2010

Augustana orchestra students help debut a new musical piece

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/14/2010)(readMedia)-- Music enthusiasts are invited to join the Augustana Symphony Orchestra for their free fall concert on Saturday, October 16, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave.). The concert will feature the debut performance of contemporary composer James Romig's "Percussion Concerto," as well as classical pieces by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Maurice Ravel.

The orchestra's first piece, "Symphony in 'Italian' Op. 90," was inspired by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's trip to Italy in the early 1830s. Today, it is considered one of Mendelssohn's most famous and fascinating works. Culver says, "This piece is perfect for the orchestra because the complexity requires such musical discipline."

For their second piece, the Symphony Orchestra will debut James Romig's newly composed "Percussion Concerto." The piece features a highly intricate percussion solo, which will be performed by professional percussionist and Augustana music faculty member Tony Oliver. Romig, who is an associate professor at Western Illinois University, will attend the concert to celebrate the official launching of his new piece.

The final piece of the concert will be the colorful "Ma Mère L'Oye," composed by nineteenth century French musician Maurice Ravel. The piece's title, which translates to "Mother Goose," gives a hint at its style and theme; each of the five movements is based on a different children's fairy tale. Ravel originally composed the piece as a piano duet for his children and developed it into a full orchestra piece several years after.

Symphony Orchestra members participating in the fall concert from our area include :

Nicholas Kendell from Davenport, IA. Kendell is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Abigail Jones from Milan, IL. Jones is a first year majoring in liberal studies.

P.J. Wiese from Davenport, IA. Wiese is a sophomore majoring in psychology and mathematics.

Anne Van Speybroek from Rock Island, IL. Van Speybroek is a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Guy Iaccarino from Davenport, IA. Iaccarino is a junior majoring in music general and anthropology.

Martha Ade from Moline, IL. Ade is a junior majoring in music general and English.

The Augustana Symphony Orchestra is a full-size orchestra, which performs several classical concerts throughout the year under the direction of Dr. Daniel Culver. Culver received his doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of Iowa. In addition to conducting the Symphony Orchestra, he teaches and serves as the co-chair in the Department of Music.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

11 Oct 2010

WQPT LAUNCHES SECOND SEASON OF GET MOVIN'

By Rick Martin

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, a public media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities premieres the second season of their children's exercise program "Get Movin."  The new season features a faster paced, more colorful look and a new host, Jennifer Neal. Ms. Neal a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics. She currently serves as the Iowa Department of Education's Healthy Kids Act Co-Project Director, where she assists schools with the implementation of healthier foods and beverages into their a la carte lines, vending machines, and fundraisers during the school day. Additionally, she is an Assistant RD (Registered Dietitian) Coach for the Healthy Schools Partnership, a joint effort between the American Dietetic Association Foundation, PE for Life, and the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition. She is also an ACE Personal Trainer and AFAA Group Exercise Instructor.

Stacy Mitchell returns to create healthy snacks with her helpers Jack and Ally. Stacy received her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from, and completed an accredited internship through, Iowa State University.  She has been with Hy-Vee since 2003 as a Registered Dietitian and is a certified aerobics instructor. She received the 2008 Recognized Young Dietitian award from the American Dietetic Association. 'Put Play In Your Day' segments are hosted by Zack Finn.

The Get Movin' kids are Deena Gibbs, Isaiah Gibbs, Pearson K, Kennedy Jo Smith, Noah, Mejia, Maya Chavez, Sydney Ruggles and Victoria Bonilla.  "We have streamlined the program and made it more 'hip' for our young viewers. Plus, each exercise routine is challenging enough for parents to do with their kids" said Lora Adams, Director of Local Content for WQPT.

Get Movin' airs Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and is produced by WQPT, a public broadcast service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities.

# # #

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.