Community concert season starts with the Lowe Family
| Tuesday, Sep 21 2010 06:16 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Sep 21 2010 06:16 PM
2010-11 Bakersfield Community Concert Association season
The Lowe Family concert on Monday is the first of eight programs to be presented by Bakersfield Community Concert Association in 2010-11. Also scheduled are:
Quartetto Gelato, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 -- The group includes Peter De Sotto, an operatic tenor who also sings Italian folk songs; Alexander Sevastian, an award-winning accordionist; cellist Elizabeth McLellan; and Colin Maier, whose principal instrument is the oboe but who also plays the five-string banjo, guitar and harmonica.
Masters of Harmony, 3 p.m. Dec. 5 -- a program of Christmas music by a chorus made up of more than 100 men.
Franc D'Ambrosio, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 -- The popular tenor is making a return appearance. His program this time around reflects his roots. It's titled "I'll Be Seeing YOUZ ... A Bronx Boy's Musical Perspective of WWII."
100 Years of Broadway, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 -- Produced by Neil Berg, a well-known composer and lyricist, the show features actor-singers and a back-up band performing scenes from Broadway musicals.
The Diamonds, 7:30 p.m. March 17 -- Nostalgic tunes in four-part harmony in the style of a popular singing group of the 1950s.
Jim Witter: The Piano Men, 3 p.m. April 10 -- Hit songs by Billy Joel and Elton John are the focus of Witter, who sings and plays the piano, backed up by musicians on the bass, guitar, keyboards and drums.
"The Mikado," 7 p.m., May 5 -- This comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert was first performed in England in 1885 and has retained its popularity over the years. This production is presented by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players.
Season memberships are sold only as a package: $60 for adults; $30 for fulltime college students; and $20 for students high school age or younger. CCA has an open seating policy and no seats are reserved. Doors open one hour before each concert. The association does not sell single tickets for individual concerts. However, season memberships can be purchased in the theater lobby before The Lowe Family concert on Monday. For information, call 589-2478.
The Lowe Family
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday
Where: Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave.
Admission: Must buy season pass (see accompanying story for prices)
Information: 589-2478
Versatility is the key word for programs presented by the Bakersfield Community Concert Association, and the proof is in the schedule it's offering for the 2010-11 season.
It begins Monday with The Lowe Family, a multitalented group of performers -- all related to each other -- who sing, dance and play a surprising variety of instruments.
"They just do everything -- all kinds of dancing and singing -- and they play all kinds of instruments -- even bagpipes and marimbas," said Bob Smith, the association's artist selection coordinator.
Smith has seen the nine-member group perform and said their show will include classical music, Broadway show tunes, jazz, bluegrass, six-part harmony and gospel music, as well as various kinds of dances, including Irish step-dancing.
Robert Lowe, the head of the family, once played lead trumpet with Synthesis, the Brigham Young University jazz band, according to the group's website. Recently, the Lowe family appeared with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on a national radio and television broadcast.
Another facet of Monday's concert gives local high school students an opportunity to interact with The Lowe Family, said Bee Barmann, coordinator of the association's Student Outreach Program.
On the day of the concert, members of the family group will work with vocal students at Bakersfield High School. That evening, the school's 22-member Chamber Singers, led by Christopher Borges, will perform in the lobby before the show and will sing onstage with the Lowes during the concert.
Funding for the outreach program comes from donations made by association members. So far about $8,600 has been donated this year, said Diane Ackley, treasurer. Barmann said the donated money is used on an annual basis to provide a stipend to music programs in the schools and to hire a visiting artist to perform at a local school.
