Strings in the Schools Perform "Spring Fever Concert"
Thursday, April 24, 2014

Carson City Symphony's after-school, tuition-free Strings in the Schools ensembles, conducted by Education Director Sue Jesch, will present a "Spring Fever" concert on Thursday, April 24, 2014, 6:30 p.m., at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street. The concert will include a musical skit, "Aunt Rhodie's Diet." Admission is free.

The concert will feature performances by students from grade 2 through high school, including beginning violins and cellos, the intermediate String Ensemble, Pizzazz, and STRAZZ. The program includes familiar works and some surprises.

Strings in the Schools, now in its eighth year, is Carson City Symphony Association's tuition-free, after-school program for young string players. About 150 students currently participate. The program is supported, in part, by public funds through grants from the Nevada Arts Council and Partnership Carson City, and by private donations. For more information, see CCSymphony.com or call Sue Jesch at 775-450-5584.

Pictured: STRAZZ violinists Samantha Lowe, Ethan Lopes, Katie Matuska, Kacey Lopes, Kaitlyn McDonald, and Ojo Ventura will perform in Spring Fever concert on April 24. They are pictured here at the Nevada 150 Cake Cutting Event on March 21, 2014.

Sagebrush Celebration House Recital
Friday, April 25, 2014

Join us for an intimate, elegant evening of Conversation, Music, and Dessert. The event will be on Friday, April 25, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. at a private home in Jacks Valley, south of Carson City. The evening will begin with a talk by Composer Carson Cooman about his piece Sagebrush Celebration, commissioned by Carson City Symphony Association, which will premiere on Sunday.

Carson Cooman is an American composer with a catalog of hundreds of works in many forms - from solo instrumental pieces to operas, and from orchestral works to hymn tunes. His music has been performed on all six inhabited continents in venues that range from Carnegie Hall to the basket of a hot air balloon.

A recital to introduce - or reacquaint - violinist Andrew Sords to music lovers in our area will follow the talk. Andrew Sords has appeared as soloist with over 100 orchestras and performed for notable recital series across four continents.

Tickets are $20 for Carson City Symphony Association members, $25 for non-members, and free for age 16 and under. Tickets are available at Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall, online at CCSymphony.com (see "Buy" button below), or by calling 775-883-4154 (to reserve tickets). Also, call that number for directions to the event.

CC Symphony Presents Commissioned Work and Andrew Sords
Sunday, April 27, 2014

The Carson City Symphony presents "Sagebrush Celebration," a concert featuring guest violinist Andrew Sords playing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto on Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. On the program, the Symphony will premiere Sagebrush Celebration, a commissioned work commemorating Carson City Symphony's 30th season by Cambridge, MA, composer Carson Cooman. Also on the program is Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2, and David Bugli's Ruby Mountain Reflections, a work written for the Ruby Mountain Symphony in Elko in 2012.

This is an Official Event of the Nevada Sesquicentennial Celebration. Lobby entertainment by Acoustic Solution begins at 3:00 p.m. and a concert preview begins at 3:15 p.m. Tickets are available online (see button below) and at Play Your Own Music in the Carson Mall. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the performance. For information, call 775-883-4154.

There will be a reception/dinner after the concert at Garibaldi's. Contact Ellie at 775-883-4154 for details.

Strings in the Schools Perform at Carson Plaza Senior Residence
Saturday, May 3, 2014

Strings in the Schools perform their "Aunt Rhodie's Diet" musical skit on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. at Carson Plaza Senior Residence, 2120 E. Long St., Carson City. Admission is free.

Consort Canzona to Perform "Música Ibérica" Concert
Friday, May 9, 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, May 10, 2014

Consort Canzona will perform "Música Ibérica," a concert of early music of Spain and Portugal on Friday, May 9, 7:00 p.m. at Shepherd of the Sierra Church, Carson City, and Saturday, May 10, 3:00 p.m. at St. Mary in the Mountains Church, Virginia City. (The group will also perform the mass, offertory and communion anthems at the 4:00 p.m. mass.) Admission to both concerts is free, but donations are welcome.

This year, they became an official performing group of the Carson City Symphony Association. Consort Canzona was founded by Sharon Kientz in 2009 soon after she had received two boxes of early music from a friend in Hanford, Calif. A lover of early music, Ms. Kientz directed Consort Canzona until this year, plays recorder and harpsichord, and has sung with Carson Chamber Singers. She owns two harpsichords, one of which is played in Consort Canzona performances.

The group began as an instrumental ensemble, performing annually for the Carson City Music Club at the Brewery Arts Center and at other venues. In 2011, Consort Canzona added vocalists, and Ms. Kientz said, "the total experience was miraculous - how beautifully it went together."

Consort Canzona has performed at the Nevada State Museum and other venues and homes in Carson City and Carson Valley. In December they presented "A 17th Century Christmas" under the direction of Gary Schwartz, featuring music chosen by Ms. Kientz.

Strings in the Schools Present "Ukulele Festival" Workshop and Concert
Sat., May 17, 2014

Strings in the Schools, under Educations Director Sue Jesch, will present a "Ukulele Festival" workshop and concert on Saturday, May 17, 2014.

The workshop begins at 10:00 a.m., and the public concert 3:00 p.m. The workshop and concert will take place at Empire Elementary School. Admission free.

Pops Party Concert
Sunday, June 8, 2014

Sunday, June 8, 2014, 4:00 p.m., Governor's Mansion (outdoors) - "Pops Party" Concert. Carson City Symphony, Carson Chamber Singers, Youth Strings, and guest vocalists Sherre Carnes (pictured) and Cindee LeVal.

Admission free.

Carson City Symphony Plays for Genoa Americana Celebration in Genoa
With Guest McAvoy Layne, Portraying Mark Twain
Friday, July 4, 2014

On Friday, July 4, 2014, the Carson City Symphony will perform with guest performer McAvoy Layne, portraying Mark Twain, at 4:30 p.m. at Mormon Station State Park, Genoa, NV, as part of the Genoa Americana Celebration. Parade, festivities, bands, and workshops begin 10:00 a.m.

This one-day musical event will celebrate our nation's birthday. The year 2014 is also the sesquicentennial (150th birthday) for the state of Nevada! This celebration will include live musical performances (Bluegrass, String Band, Dixieland, and Americana) prior to the Carson City Symphony performance, educational activities, children's activities, jamming, food and more! Best of all, it's a FREE community event (although donations will be gratefully accepted). A parade and festivities start at 10:00 a.m.

This festival is produced by the Traditional American Music Project, Inc. (TRAMP), a 501(c)(3) Arts & Education Organization.

Founded in 1851, Genoa, NV, was the first settlement in Nevada. This historic, tiny town is nestled into a shady grove at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada range and is a perfect location to celebrate traditional American music!

"Play It Again, Sam!" Fundraising Event
At Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery
Saturday, July 12, 2014

Jeffery Pace, owner of Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery, 220 W. Telegraph St., Carson City, loves to host community events at the gallery. He has held shows to benefit Strings in the Schools and other non-profits and is planning a benefit for Carson City Symphony Association this summer. It will feature special works of art - "repurposed" musical instruments decorated by local artists, including Robinette Bacon, Louise Noel Russell, R. Fox, Monika Johnson, Deana Hoover, Ulla Noor Warner, Denise Jenkins, Pam Black, Natasha Munson, and others. Many of the artists will be on hand for the event. There will be food and drink, a raffle, and some live music.

The event will Saturday, July 12, 2014, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All works will be original, one-of-a-kind, and ten percent of the proceeds will go directly to the Symphony Association. For information, call or visit Jeff at the gallery, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 775-885-2787.