JSO is "Going Baroque"

8 p.m. Saturday, February 5 and 3 p.m. Sunday, February 6 at First United Methodist Church, 275 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson

Concert sponsored by Consumers Energy

Guest Artists sponsored by Comerica Bank and Marcoux, Allen, Schomer, Bower, Nichols and Kendall, PC

These are challenging times for orchestras across the country and around the world. Fortunately the JSO is headed in a different direction. The third program for the orchestra's 61st season features masterpieces of the 18th Century, Bach and Handel, of course, as well as Hotteterra.

As our guest conductor and keyboard artist, Ed Parmentier describes the music, "The Bach Suite makes me think of a challenging steeplechase where the horses and their riders negotiate, elegantly and effortlessly, the hurdles and twists and turns of the course. The Handel concerto is a showcase for the prestidigitation of the organist, with bubbly themes in the outer movements and a haunting, touching theme whispered in the strings in the middle movement. The Bach g-minor harpsichord concerto is sturdy and passionate, and its romantic and emotional middle movement is Bach's answer to the Handel middle movement. The Brandenburg is Bach at his most congenial, full of good nature and conversation among the soloists, while the orchestra banters in and out with the theme in the outer movements. The harpsichord cadenza is a masterpiece of composition, re-using material from earlier in the movement but elongating and intensifying that material."

Mr. Parmentier's connection with Jackson includes not only music but golf as well. "It will be fun to do something in Jackson besides golf. I'm a long-time aficionado of Cascades and a newer-fangled lover of CCJ! But about music: I'm looking forward to working, again, with the players of JSO. And playing in that beautiful church where we did Messiah."

Mr. Parmentier will be joined by his wife, organist Shin-Ae Chun, performing one of Bach's  greatest organ masterpieces, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor and a Handel Organ concerto. Richard Sherman, our principal flutist, will join Mr. Parmentier for the Suite in E Minor for flute and continuo by Hotteterra, and JSO concertmaster Xie Min will join Messers Parmentier and Sherman for Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #5.

"To have all these marvelous soloists on one concert is a rare treat," says JSO Music Director, Stephen Osmond. "They all have exceptional global careers and to have them in Jackson is extraordinary, truly great people making great music. The last time Mr. Parmentier performed with us I had difficulty concentrating on my conductorial responsibilities as it was so fascinating to hear how he embellished and brought fresh life to rather ancient music. It was true Jazz of the 18th Century."
The program will be presented twice, our usual Saturday night 8 p.m. time, and for those who prefer daylight concerts, the program will be repeated Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Individual tickets for the February 5th and 6th concerts are $18, $27, $32. They may be purchased online at www.JacksonSymphony.org; by phone at 517-782-3221; or in person at the JSO Box Office, 215 W. Michigan Ave., downtown Jackson.
All JSO ticket holders are invited to attend the complimentary and highly acclaimed pre-concert lecture series hosted by Dr. Bruce Brown, JSO Composer-in-Residence. Backstage Glimpses takes place in the FUMC Fellowship Hall one hour before each of the above mentioned concerts.

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.

Open Registration for Community Music School Spring Session

Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Music School open registration begins for Spring 2011 classes

Music lessons provide an educational experience that will last a lifetime!

Spring JSO Community Music School registration for new students begins January 24. 15-week sessions are available in piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, oboe, trumpet, percussion, String Team, and Early Childhood. New group classes for beginning violin students are also available.

Come to the JSO Music School, 215 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Jackson to see the facility and register for Spring music lessons.

Classes begin the week of January 31.

For more information call the Liz DeLano at JSOCMS, 517-782-3221 ext. 118 or online at http://www.jacksonsymphony.org/.

Ed Parmentier on music for the Feb 5-6 concert

These are challenging times for orchestras across the country and around the world. Fortunately the JSO is headed in a different direction. The third program for the orchestra's 61st season features masterpieces of the 18th Century, Bach and Handel, of course, as well as Hotteterra.

As our guest conductor and keyboard artist, Ed Parmentier describes the music, "The Bach Suite makes me think of a challenging steeplechase where the horses and their riders negotiate, elegantly and effortlessly, the hurdles and twists and turns of the course. The Handel concerto is a showcase for the prestidigitation of the organist, with bubbly themes in the outer movements and a haunting, touching theme whispered in the strings in the middle movement. The Bach g-minor harpsichord concerto is sturdy and passionate, and its romantic and emotional middle movement is Bach's answer to the Handel middle movement. The Brandenburg is Bach at his most congenial, full of good nature and conversation among the soloists, while the orchestra banters in and out with the theme in the outer movements. The harpsichord cadenza is a masterpiece of composition, re-using material from earlier in the movement but elongating and intensifying that material."

Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Music School open registration begins for Spring 2011 classes

Music lessons provide an educational experience that will last a lifetime!


Spring JSO Community Music School registration for new students begins January 24. 15-week sessions are available in piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, oboe, trumpet, percussion, String Team, and Early Childhood.

Come to the JSO Music School, 215 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Jackson to see the facility and register for Spring music lessons.

Classes begin the week of January 31.

For more information call the Liz DeLano at JSOCMS, 517-782-3221 ext. 118 or online at www.JacksonSymphony.org.

A NIGHT OF JAZZ AND BLUES

Sheila Landis, seven-time winner of “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist” in the annual Detroit Music Awards, will perform at the Jackson Symphony Guild’s Night of Jazz and Blues on Feb. 18.

Vocalist with passion for Jazz to be featured performer at Guild event

A seven-time winner in the Detroit Music Awards will be the star of the Guild’s 12th Annual Night of Jazz and Blues. Vocalist and bandleader Sheila Landis has been tapped to perform
her unique style of jazz, Latin and blues at this year’s event from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Rose Room at Daryl’s Downtown, 151 W. Michigan in downtown Jackson.

She won her Detroit Music Awards for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist.” She draws her inspiration from Classic jazz vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday as well as from such modern artists as Joni Mitchell, the Beatles and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Accompanying Landis will be musicians with impressive credentials. Rick Matle, a performer for over 25 years, his formative studies included jazz and classical guitar. Keyboard player Duncan McMillan, began studying piano at age 5. He is in demand as both a pianist and organist. Jazz percussionist David Taylor, studied percussion performance under various teachers.

He has performed shows at the Fox, Fisher Theatre and with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra. The Landis Quartet will be performing selections from the well-loved repertoires of Duke Ellington‘s I’m Beginning to See the Light, Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Girl from Ipanema,
Stevie Wonder’s Another Star, Louis Jordan’s Knock Me a Kiss. Included also will be songs of George Gershwin, Peggy Lee and Burt Bacharach.

Landis began her music career in 1973 and formed her own company in 1981. Since then she has produced more than 20 LPs and disks. She is a regular participant in jazz festivals and she performs regularly at nightclubs, restaurants, art fairs, fund-raising events, corporate events and universities.

Admission is $40 per person in advance and $45 per person at the door (if seating is still available). Corporate tables for eight are available for $400. The table will be marked with the company or individual’s name. Reserved tables also are available for patrons with eight paid reservations. An hors d’oeuvres buffet including chicken satay, meat and vegetable wraps,
penne pasta, and other delectable items will be available from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Cash Bar

To make a reservation or for more information call the Jackson Symphony Orchestra at 782-3221 extension 117. Make checks payable to the Jackson Symphony Guild and mail to
215 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201. Or buy tickets at www.jacksonsymphony.org/tickets_events/tickets.html .
VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.

Reservation deadline: February 12.