To ring in the holiday season, the public is invited to a traditional bell choir and zither concert this Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the Downtown Davenport YMCA.  The concert is coordinated by the German American Heritage Center.

Admission is $5 per person or free for members of the German American Heritage Center.

The concert features the St. Mark Celebration Bell Choir and the National Zither Ensemble of the German American Heritage Center. Traditional Christmas songs will include "O Come, Little Children," "Still, Still, Still," "Oh, How Joyfully," "Silent Night (with Lisa Crews on flute)," and "Ding Dong Merrily on High."

Join us for a BARN DANCE 12 miles east of Iowa City at the Scattergoods Friends School. Dance to squares, contras, circles, waltzes, etc. December 11, 2009. Caller Nikki Herbst and live music by The Guilded Bats. Dancing begins at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 per person. Singles, couples, families, beginners and veterans all welcome. All dances taught and called.

For more information, please phone the Scattergood School at 319-643-7600 or email treadway@netins.net.

Scattergood is at 1951 Delta Ave, near West Branch. To reach Scattergood, take I-80 to exit 254, go north into the town of West Branch, down the hill past the Herbert Hoover birthplace to the stop sign. The post office will be on your left. Turn right and go two miles east out of town to Delta Avenue. Turn right again and go 1/2 mile south. The Scattergood entrance is on the right, just north of the bridge over I-80. The dance will be in the north wing of the large brick building on your right. Park anywhere on the circle drive. Enter the building by the west door, on the left side as you come from the drive.

Alcohol and tobacco use are not permitted on the Scattergood campus.

Other upcoming dances: January 8, 2010; February 12; March 12; April 9; and May 14.

For more information, visit http://showcase.netins.net/web/treadway/barndance.html

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Come hear the award winning, A Cappella vocalist group: m-pact on Thursday, November 19th at Rivermont Collegiate! Rivermont is located at the Bettendorf Estate on 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf, Iowa. This 9:00 a.m. performance is open to the public and admission is FREE.

Acclaimed by the San Francisco Chronicle as "one of the best pop-jazz vocal groups in the world". M-pact's ability to use the unadulterated power of nature's "first instrument" - the human voice - has garnered them worldwide recognition as a leader in vocal music.

This unstoppable sextet has received international recognition and accolades such as Vocal Group of the Year from the LA Music Awards, an Indie nomination (the Independent GrammyTM), Artist of the Year (Seattle Music Awards), and Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition. Furthermore, m-pact received the incredible honor of being the first foreign artist ever granted permission to perform at Istana, the Singaporean House of Parliament.

Audiences come expecting to be entertained and leave astonished by the "musical journey across Technicolor soundscapes produced by this "Cirque du Soleil of Song"

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate, contact Director of Admissions, Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

For additional information on the m-pact performance, contact Tammi Burrell at (563) 359-1366 ext. 337 or burrell@rvmt.org.

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What: QC SoDa (Quad Cities Social Dancing) Winter Dance

When: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2009

Where: 3rd Floor Ballroom of the Moline Club, 1530 5th Ave, Moline, IL

Cost: $10 or $5 with student ID

Info: Come ready to dance Cha Chas, Waltzes, Fox Trots, Swings and many more dances.  Instructors will be available in a side room for anyone new to dancing.

Contact info: qcsoda.com, (815)590-6446, qcsoda@gmail.com

The Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra begins its 52nd season with it's Autumn Concert in Centennial Hall on Sunday, November 15, at 3 PM. Highlighted on the program will be Mendelssohn's Reformation Symphony, as well as a look into the underworld with Moussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain and Offenbach's Orpheus. Also on the schedule is Grieg's incidental music from Peer Gynt, who ends his life story unsure of which path he'll take at the last cross-roads.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10, with Seniors entering for $8 and students for $5.

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CELEBRATE THE ARTS

A musical coffeehouse to support the arts at

Thurgood Marshall School

Featuring: Ellis Kell, David Maxwell, Jim and David Severe, Tony Cavitt,

Terry Hanson, Mark Ridolfi, Max Lipnick, and Fire in the Belly

Saturday, November 14

1 to 3 P.M.

River Music Experience

129 N. Main Street

Davenport, Iowa

Tickets at the door- $10

In what has become a seasonal tradition, area musicians have heeded the call once again to help collect money and toys to benefit the Quad Cities Toys for Tots.

Bent River Brewing Company will be hosting a benefit concert to raise money for Toys for Tots on the evening of November 20th. Join us at 1413 - 5th Avenue in Moline, along with the United States Marine Corp, in making a child's holiday a bit more special. Please bring a toy or cash donation and enjoy dinner, raffles & live entertainment provided by some of the area's finest musicians. This year adds a new twist. Guest chef Damen Lightner has graciously agreed to donate his talents in preparing special "Toys for Tots only" dinner features. Brewer Steve Ratcliff will also be on hand to provide a first taste of this years Jingle Java seasonal ale.

Area musicians have been donating their talents for Toys for Tots in this seasonal event that was started back in 1978 by two local musicians, Greg Krogman and Scott Carlson. The two musical partners spearheaded a successful campaign with the help of area musicians to raise funds for the Toys for Tots program for over 20 years. Since that first show, hundreds of musicians and business owners have gotten together to raise thousands of dollars and distribute thousands of new toys to needy area families. Due to current economic conditions, the need for toys is anticipated to be much greater than previous years. Greg's younger brother Joel has decided to continue the tradition with a multi band one night show for this year's toy drive. "We thought this would be a great way to give something back to the community and a pretty fun way to donate to a great cause."

This year's event adds some new faces, but promises to live up to the tradition of having a great time while helping out a great cause. Please join us for the 26th Musicians Benefit for the Toys for Tots. Come early as seating is limited. For more information please call 797-2722 or visit Bent River on Facebook.

ROCK ISLAND, IL (11/05/2009)(readMedia)-- Augustana's opera singers will delight audiences with their heartwarming performance of "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" from Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 22, at 8 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall at Denkmann Memorial Building (3520 7th Ave.). The opera is set in Bethlehem after Jesus' birth and follows three outcast children who find new hope in the Christmas story.

Augustana students will be only the second group to perform "Little Thieves of Bethlehem," which was first performed in Rochester, N.Y., in the 1990s. The story focuses on an orphaned brother and sister in Bethlehem who must steal food to keep from starving. They are shunned by children and adults in their community, but they are the first to hear Mary sing to her new baby. The three kings who come to see Jesus also bring along a child servant who is an outcast, but is embraced in the Christmas story. The opera runs approximately 55 minutes.

Kelly Mitroff, a vocal music major who will play the innkeeper's wife, says the performance is fun and family-friendly. "This opera has a song about a camel, which seems to come out of nowhere. It gives everyone a break from the drama of what's going on, and let's face it, you just can't go wrong with a song about a spitting camel," says Mitroff.

Melissa Goode, a senior music major from Davenport, will play the lead role of Mary. Goode has performed with Opera@Augustana in the past, but finds this production to be particularly special because it is only the second time the show has been performed. "It is a twist on the traditional story of Christ's birth, so that will make it new and exciting for audiences," she says.

"The magic of Christmas comes alive to all on stage and in the audience," says Dr. John Pfautz, professor of voice and the opera's director and producer. Pfautz founded Opera@Augustana shortly after coming to Augustana in 1987. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts from West Virginia University where he studied under Frances Yeend and has performed as the featured tenor soloist in operas throughout the United States and Canada.

Pfautz is excited that "Little Thieves of Bethlehem" includes some of the faculty and staff's children, in addition to Augustana students. Aislinn Geedy, daughter of biology professors Dr. Dara Wegman-Geedy and Dr. Kevin Geedy; Mackenzie Parboosingh, daughter of theater professor Adam Parboosingh; and Robert Ducey, son of Beth Ducey from art history, will appear onstage as local children.

Melissa Goode is a senior music major from Davenport, IA. Goode is part of the 26 cast members performing in the opera.

Jennifer Youngs is a sophomore general studies major from Taylor Ridge, IL. Youngs is part of the 26 cast members performing in the opera.

"Little Thieves of Bethlehem" is the first of a series of musical festivities at Augustana during the Christmas season. The second annual "Christmas at Augustana" holiday concert features performances by Augustana's premier choir, band and orchestra on Friday, December 4, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 5, at 4 p.m. The public event will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Avenue). Tickets are available at www.augustana.edu/tickets or by calling (309) 794-7306.

The Handel Oratorio Society, a choir that combines the vocal talents of Augustana students and Quad-City community members, will perform Handel's Messiah on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m in continuation of an annual tradition started in 1879. The event is open to the public and will be held in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave). For tickets, log onto www.augustana.edu/tickets or call (309) 794-7306.

The Augustana Chamber Singers and Office of Campus Ministries will present Lessons and Carols on Thursday, December 17, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. This beautiful Christmas service chronicles Christ's birth through songs and readings in Ascension Chapel (820 38th St). This event is free and open to the public.

On October 31st the Bear River Concert Series will continue with a live performance by Joe Jencks in the Sill Barn at Camp Courageous in Monticello, Iowa. Doors open at 6:15 with the concert starting at 7 PM. There is a $10.00 per person suggested donation for the event, with proceeds to benefit Camp Courageous and the Grant Wood Country Foundation for the Arts.

Joe Jencks is an international touring performer and award-winning song writer. He has earned wide recognition for his songs about working people and has a life-long interest in folk music. Joe has won several awards for his original songwriting work. He has performed across the country, including Washington, Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Hall in New York.

The Sill barn is an awesome place to experience a concert. It is a post and beam barn that looks like it was built 100 years ago yet it has central air conditioning/heating, a bathroom, and is handicapped accessible. Musicians loves the acoustics.

Camp Courageous is a year-round respite care and recreational facility for individuals of all ages with disables that is run on donations. The camp is located at 12007 190th Street Monticello, Iowa. Please call 319-465-4069 to reserve a seat.


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A Musical Coffeehouse to support the Arts at Thurgood Marshall School. Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 1pm until 3pm at the River Music Experience, 129 Main St, Davenport. Featuring musicians Ellis Kell, David Maxwell, Jim and David Severe, Tony Cavitt, Terry Hanson, Mark Ridolfi, Max Lipnick, and Fire in the Belly. Tickets are $10 at the door.

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