Category Archives: Music

Guitarist Rovshan Mamedkuliev at Artspree today

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Rovshan MamedkulievArtspree continues today at 3pm on the UALR campus.
Rovshan Mamedkuliev was born on 12th May, 1986 in Baku, Azerbaijan, laureate of All-Russia and international competitions. He started his studies in classical guitar at the age of 11. Graduated from school of art №7 and Music College named after M. A. Balakirev in Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) as a higher achiever.
In 2004, he entered the Nizhniy Novgorod Conservatoire (academy) named after M.I. Glinka and in 2009, with honours completed his education at the classical guitar for an associate professor, laureate All-Russia competition of Aleksey Petropavlovsky. He also is currently in graduate school. As evaluated by a teacher, R.Mamedkuliev possesses such important for musician qualities, as an “excellent ear, tenacious memory, developed sense of rhythm and form, bright artistry”, which contributed to his rapid professional growth. Since September 2009, a graduate student of Nizhniy Novgorod Conservatoire, he teaches in the Department of folk instruments, as well as in the Arzamas Music College.

Participating from 1999 in the creative contests of All-Russia and international level, Rovshan Mamedkuliev has won more than twenty Awards, including: First Prize on the 6th International competition of the performers on the national instruments «Cup of the North» (Cherepovets, Russia, 2006), Finalist and Special prize for the best interpretation of the compositions of Francisco Tarrega on the 41th International competition of performers on a classic guitar “Francisco Tarrega” (Benicasim, Spain, 2007), First Prize and Special Prize for the best interpretation of the compositions of Leo Brouwer on the 10th International Guitar Competition L. Brouwer (Paris, France, 2009), First Prize, Prize of Public and Special Prize for the best interpretation of the compositions of Heitor Villa-Lobos on the 1st International Guitar Competition “Heitor Villa-Lobos” (Spain, 2011), First Prize on the II International competition of named after A.Frauchi (Moscow, Russia, 2011). In 2012 Rovshan Mamedkuliev won one of the most prestigious classical guitar competitions – XXX Guitar Foundation of America’s International Concert Artist Competition (GFA) (Charleston, USA).

For high achievements in the art of Rovshan Mamedkuliev received an award from the President of Russia (2006), grants the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region and the Mayor of Nizhny Novgorod.

Final Day of ASO “Pick Three” Ticket Special Offer

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ASO_2-colorThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Philip Mann, Music Director and Conductor, announces Pick Three—a special pricing promotion allowing concertgoers to pick three or more ASO performances during the 2013-2014 Season for a special price of only $19 per best available seat!  Pick Three represents a saving of up to 60 percent off regular ticket prices, and is available through this special promotion only thru Friday, October 4th.

Pick Three pricing applies to any three or more of the Symphony’s roster of concerts—the Masterworks series; POPS Live! series; or the River Rhapsodies chamber series.   Concertgoers can visit arkansassymphony.org/pick3 , select the concerts they want to attend, and enter the discount code PICK3, or they can call the box office at 501-666-1761 and ask for Pick Three pricing.

The Masterworks and Pops Live! concerts are

OCT 12-13 – Halloween Spooktacular (Pops Live!)
Have a spooky time with your ASO – Come in costume, bring the family and hear familiar favorites.
Tickets & Info

OCT 19-20 – Barber’s Violin Concerto (Masterworks)
Barber – Concerto for Violin
Rachmaninoff – Symphony No. 2
Tickets & Info

NOV 9-10 – Beethoven & Blue Jeans (Masterworks)
Gulda – Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra
Beethoven – Symphony No. 4
Tickets & Info

DEC 20-22 – Holiday Fantasy (Pops Live!)
Christmas carols, sing-alongs, and the ASO – come celebrate the season with your favorite holiday music.
Tickets & Info

JAN 25-26 – Bohemian Rhapsody (Masterworks)
Brahms – Concerto for Piano No. 2
Dvořák – Slavonic Dances
Tickets & Info

FEB 15-16 – Best of Broadway (Pops Live!)
Hits from Broadway’s most beloved show tunes – get ready to smile!
Tickets & Info

MAR 1-2 – Verdi’s Requiem (Masterworks)
Verdi – Missa di Requiem
Tickets & Info

MAR 8-9 – Wizard of Oz with Orchestra (Pops Live!)
Follow the yellow brick road to a a magical evening featuring the film “Wizard of Oz.”
Tickets & Info

APR 12-13 – Mahler’s Fifth Symphony (Masterworks)
Theofanidis – Commissioned by the ASO Musicians
Mahler – Symphony No. 5
Tickets & Info

MAY 3-4 – Shower the People: The Music of James Taylor (Pops Live!)
How sweet it is! The ASO pays tribute to the music of James Taylor.
Tickets & Info

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 48th season in 2013-2014 under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann.  ASO is the resident orchestra of Robinson Center Music Hall, and performs more than thirty concerts each year for more than 42,000 people through its Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series, ACXIOM Pops LIVE! Series and Parker Lexus River Rhapsodies Chamber Series, in addition to serving central Arkansas through numerous community outreach programs and bringing live symphonic music education to over 24,000 school children and over 200 schools.

Chamber Music Society of LR kicks off 60th season tonight with La Catrina Quartet

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CMSLR_logo_webTonight the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock kicks off its 60th anniversary season with a recital by La Catrina Quartet.

The recital will be at 7pm at Trinity United Methodist Church (at the corner of Evergreen and Mississippi).  Tickets are $25 for adults; students are free.

Hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as wonderful ambassadors of music, the La Catrina Quartet is one of the most sought after ensembles on tour today. Their unique blend of Latin-American and standard repertoire has proved enormously entertaining for its diverse audiences, catering to the more traditional concertgoers while also attracting the next generation of listeners. Their infectious personalities infuse their playing, creating truly compelling performances. The La Catrina Quartet has a triple mission: to perform the masterworks of the string quartet repertoire, to promote Mexican and Latin American concert music worldwide and to work closely with composers in order to promote the performance of new music.

The Chamber Music Society of Little Rock (CMSLR) is one of Central Arkansas’ premiere performing arts organizations. Through its performance and education activities, the Society offers audiences unique chamber music experiences. CMSLR presents annual series of concerts and educational events for listeners ranging from connoisseurs to chamber music newcomers of all ages. Presenting performances of repertoire spanning  three centuries, and numerous premieres by living composers, CMSLR programs are designed to provide listeners a comprehensive perspective on the art of chamber music.

Each year CMSLR presents four concerts by award-winning solo and ensemble performers. The Society offers a unique opportunity for Little Rock Audiences to experience first class performances by internationally recognized performers such as the Guarneri Quartet, the Chestnut Brass, and the Parker String Quartet.

The Chamber Music Society of Little Rock continues today in the spirit of its founders. In 1953 a group of friends began meeting in one another’s homes to enrich the cultural life of Little Rock with a new form of classical music.

Nedelle Torrisi in concert tonight

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Tonight West Coast singer-songwriter Nedelle Torrisi will inaugurate a new, intimate performance space in downtown Little Rock called The Undercroft with an 8 p.m. show, as part of a tour in support of her recent self-titled release. The cover charge is $5 at the door. The space is on the campus of Christ Church; the entrance is through the sidewalk-level red door on Capitol Avenue east of Scott Street.

Nedelle photoNedelle Torrisi has recorded six albums both as a solo artist, previously under the single name Nedelle for the label Kill Rock Stars, and as a member the band Cryptacize (with former Deerhoof guitarist Chris Cohen). She has also spent time touring with Sufjan Stevens, who has said that “her voice carries the uncomplicated clarity of a 1950’s movie musical.” Nate Chinen, music critic for the New York Times, has also called her voice “guileless… an instrument of earnest pleasure and petition.”

As a songwriter, she combines a playful sense of language, often covering matters of the heart, with lilting, memorable melodies that swerve into unexpected places. On her latest, produced by Kenny Gilmore, who will join her for the show, she details the twisting trails of relationships that are rewarding but also shot through with melancholy, all wrapped in a glossy synth-pop package. In “Double Horizon,” she sings, “The cement has dried around my feet / No more dancing in the street/ But it can’t keep my heart from roaming.”

The new album, Nedelle Torrisi, is available on iTunes (along with a companion EP of solo piano versions of the songs). To stream it and read a recent interview with her in Rookie magazine, go to: http://rookiemag.com/2013/09/nedelle/

For information about the new performance space The Undercroft, contact Rev. Scott Walters at Christ Church at swalters@christchurchlr.org or 501-375-2342.

2nd Day of Arkansas Sounds: Collin Raye and others fill stage for over 10 hours

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arkansas_sounds_2013The second annual Arkansas Sounds Music Festival continues today. The Saturday venue is the First Security Amphitheatre in Riverfront Park.   Arkansas Sounds Music Festival is a FREE event open to the public. Donations can be made to help support the festival.  Though it is free, and no tickets are issued, there are space limitations, so attendance is on a first come, first serve basis.

The day starts out with The Sound of the Mountain (12 noon), The 1 oz. Jig (1pm), Messy Sparkles (2:15pm), Big Piph (3:30pm), War Chief (4:45), Mountain Sprout (6pm), Bonnie Montgomery (7:15pm), Glen Campbell Tribute (8:30pm) and Collin Raye (9:30pm).

Born Floyd Elliot Wray on August 22, 1960 in De Queen, country artist Collin Raye was one of the true hit makers of the 1990’s. Collin still continues to crank out soulful, heartfelt material with the honesty and richness that is signature to his vocals alone. With 24 top ten records, 16 #1 hits, and having been a 10 time male vocalist of the year nominee (5 CMA and 5 ACM), this truly electrifying performer of his era remains one of the great voices of our time.

 

Arkansas Sounds First Night Tonight – Smittles, Tav Falco and Dan Hicks

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arkansas_sounds_2013The second annual Arkansas Sounds Music Festival kicks off tonight at the River Market Pavilions.  There have been several activities throughout the month, but they have all been leading up to this weekend.

Arkansas Sounds Music Festival is a FREE event open to the public. Donations can be made to help support the festival.  Though it is free, and no tickets are issued, there are space limitations, so attendance is on a first come, first serve basis.

Friday, September 27 at the River Market Pavilions

At 6pm, The Smittle Band will play its own brand of “jazzy Americana.”  The Arkansas Times has described them as: “Regulars in jazz bars around the state, The Smittle Band offers gorgeous, fluid lounge sounds with a trickling undercurrent of classy Americana. Fronted by Stephanie Smittle, the band balances her hushed, smoky vocals with sharp guitar work from co-writer Wythe Walker, tasteful, smart keys from Jim McGehee and brushing percussion courtesy of Ray Wittenberg.”

At 7:15, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns will take the stage.  They are best known for having been part of a set of bands emerging in the late 1970s and early 1980s who helped nationally popularize the blending of southern gothic with alternative and punk music.  From its beginnings in the Mississippi Delta, this band continues to play all around the world.  According to the band, the earliest description it gave itself on a concert poster read simply: “Rock’n’Roll”. Media confusion in categorizing led the band to eventually invent its own self-descriptive terms, such as “panther music” and “backwoods ballroom”, also at times calling its tumultuous performance style “art damage”.

The final act of the night is Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks at 8:30.  Beginning as a drummer in the seminal 60’s San Francisco rock band The Charlatans, and continuing with his unique and legendary Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, Dan Hicks is widely acknowledged as one of the defining figures in American roots music. Having earned a reputation as a true original with his signature eclecticism and humor, Hicks continues to carve his way through a number of genres from proto-psychedelia to western swing and jazz, from tin pan alley to country blues — all the while cultivating his own unique sound.

Mac Park Music Concludes 2013 with Beers and Brats

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Beer Brats 2013 MacFrom the late 1920s through the mid 1950s, Little Rock’s MacArthur Park was a centerpiece of live music.  The Foster Bandshell, named in memory of Mrs. H. H. Foster, stood in the park near 10th and Commerce.  The structure was torn down in the early 1960s.  A portion of the Arkansas Arts Center sits on the site of the old Foster Bandshell.

In 2002, the lakeside pavilion in MacArthur Park was renamed the Foster Pavilion to pay tribute to the memory of Mrs. Foster and the bandshell.

The Foster Pavilion will be the site of a new music series taking place on Wednesday nights in September.  MAC PARK MUSIC! wraps up its inaugural series tonight from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.

Tonight is the annual Beer and Brats fundraiser.  The lineup features the Steve Giles Jam Band. Brats will be grilled by Mac Park supporter Bryan Barnhouse.  The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for students aged 13-20, $7 for kids aged 6 to 12.  It is free for those aged 5 and under.  Proceeds go to benefit improvements in MacArthur Park.