Category Archives: Music

Handel’s MESSIAH presented tonight by the Arkansas Choral Society

Posted on by

Arkansas Choral SocietyFor some, it just isn’t the Christmas season without a performance of Handel’s oratorio Messiah.

Tonight the Arkansas Choral Society and the University of Arkansas at Monticello Concert and Chamber Choirs will will present the 84th Annual Presentation of Handel’s Messiah. This is the longest running continuous holiday celebration in Central Arkansas.

The performance will begin at 7:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets may be purchased at the door. The performance will take place at the First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock.

A Festival of Carols tonight featuring the Little Rock Wind Symphony

Posted on by

LRWSNeither Scrooge nor the Grinch can deter the Little Rock Wind Symphony.  Though some nefarious thieves stole many of their instruments earlier this week, they couldn’t stop Christmas music from coming.

To celebrate the season, the Little Rock Wind Symphony has an extravaganza of favorite Christmas carols performed the musicians and guest artists. A highlight of the concert each year is the Christmas sing-along with the LRWS!  The festivities take place at Second Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m.

The LRWS will be led by guest conductor Michael Chance.  Joining them will be Laura Eads, soprano; the Don Roberts Elementary School Choir – Sharon Burrall, director and the LRWS Brass Choir.
The program includes:

Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon Noni Toni a 12
Alfred Reed: Russian Christmas Music
Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night
David Lovrien: Toccata on “Carol of the Bells”
Traditional / Lovrien: Adeste Fideles
J.S. Bach: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
J.S. Bach: Fantasia in G
John Rutter: Star Carol
Cahn / Styne: Let It Snow
Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride
David Lovrien: Christmas Sing-along

Grants for Rep, ASO announced by National Endowment for the Arts

Posted on by

nea-logo-960Two Little Rock cultural institutions were among the nine Arkansas recipients of National Endowment for Arts grants recently announced.

These were Art Works and Challenge America grants. Art Works grants supports the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts and the strengthening of communities through the arts. Challenge America grants offer support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.

The Arkansas Repertory Theatre received $10,000 to support the production of Matthew Lopez’s The Whipping Man. This play is set during Passover 1865.  As the annual celebration of freedom from bondage is being observed in Jewish homes, a wounded Confederate officer returns from the Civil War to find his family missing and only two former slaves remaining.

The Rep  will partner with the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Jewish Federation of Arkansas to explore the play’s themes and the role of both the African-American and Jewish communities in Arkansas history.

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra received $10,000 Little to support performances, workshops, and related outreach activities featuring violinist Randall Goosby. Goosby, the first-place winner of the 2010 Sphinx Competition, will be in residence in Central Arkansas conducting free workshops and music demonstrations for community members and student musicians drawn from economically disadvantaged schools.

In addition, TheatreSquared in Fayetteville received $10,000 for its Arkansas New Play Festival. This is presented in Fayetteville and Little Rock. The Little Rock performances are in conjunction with the Arkansas Rep.

Other Arkansas recipients were the Walton Arts Center, Fort Smith Symphony, Sonny Boy Blues Society (for the King Biscuit Blues Festival), Low Key Arts of Hot Springs, Ozarks Foothills Film Festival and John Brown University.

Trey Johnson and Dave Almond are featured at South on Main for Local Live tonight

Posted on by

trey_johnson_cropped.jpg.190x140_q60_cropJoin the Oxford American magazine and Landers FIAT of Benton for this week’s Local Live free concert at South on Main! Guitarists Trey Johnson and Dave Almond are the featured act this week, performing a duo of original and classic blues material. Call ahead at 501-244-9660 to guarantee your seat for this popular series!

Dave Almond (Hope, AR) and Trey Johnson (Prescott, AR) bring country blues and Southern Soul to South on Main! Stomp and Holler music at its finest.

River City Men’s Chorus annual Holiday concerts this week

Posted on by

RCMC Hol2014Many people start their holiday season with the River City Men’s Chorus. Tonight and Thursday night offer chances to do just that.

Their annual concert Hoilday! started yesterday and continues tonight at 7pm and December 4 at 7pm.  There is no admission cost, but seats go fast, so don’t show up at 6:58 thinking you can slide in a seat.

This year’s edition will feature new choral settings of “Angels From the Realms of Glory,” “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” as well as Christmas favorites such as “The Christmas Song,” “Frosty the Snowman” and many others.

The performances take place at Trinity United Methodist Church at the southeast corner of Mississippi and Evergreen.

Capital Christmas commences tonight with Christmas Tree lighting at 5:30pm

Posted on by

cap christ 2014Last Friday, the twenty-seven (27) feet tall Christmas tree was delivered to the Capital Hotel in downtown.  Since then, the elves of Tipton Hurst have been scurrying to decorate it and put the finishing touches on other decorations throughout the hotel.

Tonight at 5:30, the Capital Hotel Christmas Tree lighting will take place in the lobby of the hotel.  It will feature Santa Claus, dancers from Ballet Arkansas’ production of The Nutcracker, holiday music, treats and some Christmas surprises.  There is no charge.

This only kicks off the Capital Christmas festivities.

On Sunday, December 7, December 14 and December 21, Santa will return to the Capital Hotel lobby from noon to 2:30. Free.

On Tuesday, December 9, Tales from the South will host its Annual Holiday Show in the Capital Ballroom at 6pm. Tickets are $40.  Reserve tickets at www.capitalhotel.com

On Saturday, December 13, the popular Teddy Bear Tea will take place in One Eleven from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.  Tickets are $25 for child and $38 for adult. Reserve a spot at 501.370.7011

On Saturday, December 20 from 10:30am to 12:30pm, the Gingerbread Workshop will take place in the Capital Ballroom.  Cost is $55 for child and $20 for adult. Reserve a spot at 501.370.7011

On Monday, December 22, Storytime with Santa in the Capital Lobby from 6pm to 8pm.  No charge, but reservations are required at 501.374.7474.

In addition, there will be music performances in the Capital Lobby throughout the season.

 

Tonight at South on Main – Bonnie Montgomery headlines Local Live concert

Posted on by

Bonnie MJoin the Oxford American magazine and Landers FIAT of Benton at South on Main this week for the free Local Live music series, featuring Bonnie Montgomery and Friends! Call ahead and make a reservation to ensure your seat.

Arkansas born and bred Bonnie Montgomery is a classically trained composer and oprea singer by day and country queen by night. Briging her raucous spin on traditional Southern music to the U.S. and Europe, Bonnie’s catalog hails from a place where outlaw country saddles up with Americana and folk. In July, she released her first full length album, Bonnie Montgomery, and is currently touring with her Arkansas/Austin-based band.