JSO Holiday Pops Concert is at 4 p.m.

There has been some confusion about the time of the Holiday Pops Concert. It is at 4 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene.

Review of Nov 13 JSO Concert by Andy Mead

The evening of November 13th saw the second in this year's series of Jackson Symphony Orchestra concerts, this one entitled "Not Just for Kids." The concert featured a selection of old favorites, nominally written for children, but clearly providing lots of musical interest for their elders as well. These were preceded by a suite of music from John Williams's score for the first of the Harry Potter movies.


In this, as well as in Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, Saint-Saëns's Carnival of the Animals, and Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, the orchestra shone with strong string playing, incisive brass, elegant woodwind solos and crisp percussion. The first-chair winds, seated out front as soloists during the Prokofiev, demonstrated great charm and elegance in their characterizations of the tale's protagonists, and the horns were wonderfully menacing in their role as the wolf.

Two solo pianists, Audrejean Heydenburg and the orchestra's own Anita Fobes, joined the ensemble for a rousing performance of the Carnival of the Animals, which featured, in addition to the pianists's articulate limning, some striking solo playing by both principal cellist Daniel Thomas and principal bassist Andrew Hawks.

The closing work, written by Benjamin Britten to accompany a film introducing the instruments of the orchestra, allowed every member of the ensemble to contribute in a series of endlessly exposed passages. This showed off the general high quality of playing that the orchestra has been able to achieve throughout its sections.

Special Guest Craig Richard Nelson joined Maestro Osmand on stage following the Williams to voice the narration of the three remaining pieces. The concert marked Nelson's return to Jackson following his performance with the orchestra in Kismet a couple of years ago, and his obvious congeniality and familiarity with the ensemble, along with his insertion of a number of topical references to local events and places, added to the pleasure of his presentations.

The music and words from the stage were enhanced by the projection of a series of images appropriate to each of the pieces, including some striking work by local artists. The concert's acknowledgement of local creativity was also enhanced by the latest installment of composer-in-residence Bruce Brown's account of his work in progress, a concerto for percussion and orchestra, which is scheduled to be premiered by the orchestra in the spring of 2011. The brief but moving passage for strings that was played raises some lively expectations for the coming event.

The concert was very well attended, with many children swelling the audience nearly to capacity. To this writer's eyes, there was remarkably little fidgeting, and a lot of close listening going on, and it is hoped that this sort of presentation can help to build the audience of the future for the Symphony.

JSO plans festive concert to begin holiday season

Continuing a holiday tradition, the Jackson Symphony Orchestra will present a Holiday Pops Concert and Sing-a-long at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the First Church of the Nazarene, 3905 Clinton Road, Jackson.

The Jackson Chorale, Children’s Choir and First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will join the orchestra to present seasonal favorites and that will inspire young and old with the spirit of the season. The audience will be encouraged to join in on popular songs such Christmas Song, It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and O Come all Ye Faithful.

“The orchestra looks forward to continuing this annual observance in a new venue with a new audience," said JSO Music Director Stephen Osmond. “The selections, as well as the audience participation, are designed to put everyone into the holiday spirit.”

“The Chorale will sing a Christmas bells medley of Ding Dong Merrily on High and Carol of Bells as well as a beautiful arrangement of Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” said Wendy Treacher, Music Director. “The Chorale also will present the King’s Singers / Mormon Tabernacle Choir arrangement of the the Twelve Days of Christmas.”

The Children’s Choir will join the Chorale and Orchestra for a new version of The Little Drummer Boy. Ask the Moon and Hanerot Halalu, a song about the lights of Hanukkah, are the other songs the Children’s Choir will perform.

“The symphony orchestra’s holiday concert is the high point of the holiday season for the Children’s Choir,” said Director Jackie Livesay. “Singers and families are looking forward to it.” About 32 children in grades 4-8 will participate.

The First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir plans to sing Christmas Is Coming, Rejoice, and The First Noel.

Baker College and County National Bank are sponsoring the concert.

Tickets are $10 for children and students with identification. Adult tickets are $15.

They may be purchased online at http://www.jacksonsymphony.org/; by phone at 517-782-3221; or in person at the JSO Box Office, 215 W. Michigan Ave., downtown Jackson.

NOTE: The Jackson Symphony Orchestra is a community resource providing performances of the classics and popular music, a community music school with private and group instruction and numerous educational programs for students of all ages. The organization owns a 30,000-square-foot facility in the heart of downtown Jackson which not only serves as an administrative, rehearsal, and recital performance space for the orchestra but also is home to the Jackson Youth Symphony, the Jackson Chorale and Children's Choir, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival and JSO Community String Ensemble. The orchestra primarily performs at the world-class Music Hall of the Jackson Community College Potter Center and other venues in town including several churches, the County Fairgrounds and Michigan Theatre.

JSO on WKAR 11/17/10

The Jackson Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Schultz, will play the "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" by Ralph Vaughan Williams at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 17 on 90.5 Classical. The Orchestra was recorded live in concert February 13, 2010 in the Potter Center Music Hall at Jackson Community College.

“Not Just for Kids” Artwork on display at the JSO

Take a stroll downtown and come in and view the artwork by seventeen area artists. Their work is on display at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Music Hall at 215 W. Michigan Ave., downtown Jackson. The public is invited to enjoy the artists’ interpretations of the music from “Peter and the Wolf” and “Carnival of the Animals” during regular business hours, Mon.-Thurs. 10-5 PM, Fri 10-1 through December 15. Or the pieces can be viewed online at www.JacksonSymphony.org.

Jammin' at the JSO - November 26

Melodic, experimental rock for all ages - in Jackson


– Jammin’ at the JSO
7-11 p.m. Friday, November 26th at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Hall, downtown at 215 W. Michigan Ave. $4 cover charge.

Sterratic - This will be the band's first performance. Kind of pop, kind of punk

Admiral Apricot and the Marigolds - Jackson's local garage fuzz-punk group, appearing as a 3 piece this time!

theillalogicalspoon - Headed up by local musician Jeremy Siegrist. Folk music meets punk and poetry. This band is very unique, and they have a message that needs to be heard.

Secret Twins - A duo from Ann Arbor. This band has excellent experimental vocals that pair surprisingly well with the raw sound of just one electric guitar and a drummer.

The Templetons - A group consisting on two Jackson born and raised musicians, a reunion show of sorts.

The cover is $4 at the door. Come enjoy a great musical performance and support local music!

Leisure Suits

For those of you unfamiliar with this weekend's guest, Craig Richard Nelson, you wish to check out this clip from Fernwood Tonight.