Rob Drabkin performs free concert at UW July 13

Denver musician Rob Drabkin will perform a free concert from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the University of Wyoming Simpson Plaza.

Drabkin was voted Colorado's Best Singer/Songwriter by Westword Magazine for 2008-2010. He gathered enough votes to earn his turn on stage at the Mile High Music Festival with artists like The Fray, Widespread Panic, Tool and Ben Harper.

"On These Heavy Feet," Drabkin's first full-length release, hit No. 10 on the CMJ chart on KOTO radio in Telluride, CO.

"I'm having a great time making music and I just want to inspire others to go after what will truly make them happy. That's why I grew my hair a bit crazy. I just wanted to let loose, get expressive, create some nice grooves and get people to move," says Drabkin.

For more information and music, go to www.robdrabkin.com on the Internet.

The concert series is sponsored by the Campus Activities Center Summer Programs. Individuals needing assistance to attend this event can contact the CAC at 766-6340.

Photo: Denver musician Rob Drabkin will perform a free concert from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the University of Wyoming Simpson Plaza.

Tha BossFoundation performs at VFW 1881 for Fourth of July weekend concert

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Shotgun Orange headlines Soundcheck 4 in Pinedale

Shotgun Orange

The Pinedale Fine Arts Council will be presenting the fourth annual Soundcheck mini-music fest on June 25 in the American Legion Park (5 p.m., free) in Pinedale. Sound Check was first conceived four years ago following PFAC's purchase of a new sound system via grant monies from the Wyoming Cultural Trust. The inaugural event was a hit so it became an annual festival with attendance growing each year. This is sure to be the music event of the summer so mark the date on the calendar, dust off your cooler and camp chairs and come listen to some great music. More info at http://www.pinedalefinearts.com/Soundcheck_4/index.html

Greenhorse and yOya in concert tonight at WYO

Miss "V" on WPR's "Morning Music"

Miss "V" the Gypsy Cowbelle, member of the Wyoming Arts Council artist roster, is being interviewed right now on Wyoming Public Radio. Get the live feed at http://www.wyomingpublicradio.net/. She's performing at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga tonight at 7 p.m.

"Cajun Boil and Concert" May 20 at Old West Museum

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum presents “Cajun Boil and Concert” on Friday May 20.

Cocktails & Dinner @ 6:00 p.m.
Concert & Dancing @ 7:30 p.m. 

Join us for a Cajun boil with all the fixins’, as we dance the night away to Geno Delefose & the French Rockin’ Boogie Band!  There will be door prizes, party favors and we’re raffling off a “truck basket” full of goodies!

Tickets are just $40 and can be purchased at www.oldwestmuseum.org

Casper College music students perform in a percussion recital April 9

The Casper College Music Department will present two Casper students in a percussion recital on Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall located in the Aley Fine Arts Center.

"David Bower and Delane Doyle will perform a wide variety of music from 'Log Cabin Blues,' a ragtime xylophone piece, to 'Wenda Kanawa,' a work derived from the gyil, an African marimba," said Terry Gunderson, Casper College percussion instructor.

The two will also perform a percussion duo; 'Boom' composed by Casper College graduate Brett Reed, who received his doctorate of musical arts degree from the University of California, San Diego.

"Both of these students continue the trend of outstanding and entertaining spring percussion recitals," noted Gunderson.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Casper College music faculty members Jerome Fleg and Kristen Robinson perform April 1

From a Casper College press release:

Casper College's newest music faculty members, Jerome Fleg and Kristen Robinson, will present a vocal and instrumental recital on Friday, April 1 beginning at 7 p.m. in Durham Recital Hall, located in the Aley Fine Arts Center.

"As the new members of the music department at Casper College, Jerome and I decided to present a program to introduce ourselves to the community," said Robinson, vocal instructor. "We will present an eclectic evening of music. This program will feature lots of short, colorful pieces for different combinations of voice, piano, and clarinet," added Fleg, woodwind instructor. Paula Flynn will also join the two on piano.

"Schubert's popular trio 'Shepherd on the Rock' features a beautiful soprano part sung by Kristen, which trades back and forth with my clarinet and Paula's piano," said Fleg.

Fleg will also perform a new piece commissioned by American composer Paul Hembree, "Placing into Infinity," which explores innovative sounds and colors produced by solo clarinet as well as a pair of show Argentinean pieces by composer Astor Piazzolla.

The recital is free and open to all.

Pittsburgh Opera soprano Deborah Selig performs April 8 at UW

Acclaimed Pittsburgh Opera soprano Deborah Selig performs in concert Friday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the University of Wyoming Fine Arts concert hall.

Tickets cost $18 for general admission and $15 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the Wyoming Union and Fine Arts Center box offices, or online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts . Call (307) 766-6666 for ticket information.

Thursday, April 7, Selig will join the UW Symphony to perform Richard Strauss's "Vier Letzte Lieder" at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts concert hall.

Cedric Reverand, UW Cultural Programs director, says Selig was selected following a lengthy search for a soprano to perform with the UW Symphony Orchestra.

"And then, at the Central City Opera, we saw Deborah Selig as Zerlina in Mozart's 'Don Giovanni,'" Reverand recalls. "At the end of one of her arias, ‘Vedrai carino,' there was a huge, audible sigh from the audience. We knew we had our soprano."

One reviewer described her Zerlina as "absolutely stunning."

 Selig holds an artist's diploma from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a B.A. degree with honors from the University of Michigan, where she majored in voice performance and English.

"Songs from the Past and Present" March 21 at UW

Works by Schumann, Bolcom and Britten-Purcell will be performed during the University of Wyoming faculty recital, "Songs from the Past and the Present" Monday, March 21, at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center concert hall.

Tickets cost $7 for general admission and $5 for students and senior citizens.

The concert features performances by David Dillard, baritone, who has sung operatic roles with theaters throughout the country. He is assistant professor of voice at Southern Illinois University. Also performing will be Jennifer Leilani Erickson, soprano, a master's degree student in vocal performance at UW. She has had leading roles in UW's "Opera in a Gym," that performs for state and regional elementary schools, and was invited to sing solo with Sheridan College as a guest artist.

They will be accompanied by Brazilian pianist Rubia Santos, who has lectured and performed as recitalist, collaborative pianist and soloist in the Americas, Europe and Asia. She is a recipient of many awards in the field of collaborative piano and has conducted several research projects dealing with Brazilian art music.

Judith Weikle & Friends perform in Celtic Music Concert in Jackson

Celtic Music Concert on St. Patrick's Day Thursday, March 17, at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson. With Wyoming Arts Council roster artist Judith Weikle and Friends. FMI: Teton County Library Events

Dang Ol' Boys presents St. Patty's Day Throwdown March 17 in Casper

National Museum of Wildlife Art hosts "Snow Critters Contest for Kids" March 6

Above: A wintry exterior of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson. Below: A polar bear sculpture made of styrofoam by local artist Ben Roth.

From a press release:

Blocks of snow will be waiting for young carvers to try their hands at the frosty art of snow sculpture at the National Museum of Wildlife Art on Sunday, March 6. The “Snow Critters Contest for Kids” will take place on the future site of the museum’s new sculpture trail as part of the museum’s popular First Sundays series. Also on hand to celebrate outdoor sculpture, Jackson artist Ben Roth will create one huge snow sculpture as well as offering snow carving pointers for the kids. Free refreshments will accompany live music from “ski bum rock band” Waist Deep to round out the perfect winter afternoon.

March 6 First Sundays snow sculpture day schedule is as follows:

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Museum open and free

1 – 2 p.m.: Kids snow sculpting

1 – 3 p.m.: Artist Ben Roth on site as Waist Deep rocks the museum. Free refreshments.

First Sundays featured artist Ben Roth’s work ranges from two-dimensional pieces on plaster and steel to large-scale sculptures incorporating natural materials like 50-foot standing dead lodgepole pines. Roth’s public art works include pieces for the MurieCenter and FordPark in Vail. The March 6 snow sculpture event including Ben Roth’s appearance is sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Jackson band Waist Deep, known for its powerful riffs, top-notch musicianship and meaningful lyrics describing the ski bum experience, features Peter Chandler on vocals and harmonica, Jeff Eidemiller on guitar, Andy Calder on bass and Andy Peterson on drums. Part of the Community Performance Series, Waist Deep’s First Sundays concert is sponsored by Jan and Larry Finch.

First Sundays, which occurs the first Sunday of the month throughout the year, offers free museum visitation to area locals. (“Area locals” include Jackson as well as the neighboring communities of Teton Village, Wilson, Moran, Kelly, Moose, Hoback, Star Valley, Bondurant, Teton Valley, Pinedale and Swan Valley). First Sundays are sponsored by Wells Fargo.Check for details on activities, entertainment, and hands-on fun for kids on the museum website at www.wildlifeart.org, or call 307.733.5771.

A member of the Museums West consortium and accredited by the American Association of Museums, the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States provides an exciting calendar of exhibitions from its permanent collection and changing exhibitions from around the globe. A complete schedule of exhibitions and events is available online at www.wildlifeart.org. The museum is also active on Facebook at wildlifeartjh and on Twitter at @wildlifeartjh.

Media Contacts: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, 307.734.5335, darla@wordenpr.com; Ponteir Sackrey, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 307.732.5444, psackrey@wildlifeart.org.

Jazz innovator Steve Turre joins Wyoming Jazz Ensemble for concerts in Laramie and New York City

From a UW press release:

The Wyoming Jazz Ensemble, the University of Wyoming's premiere jazz group, will present a public concert during the Festival of Winds at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the UW Arts and Sciences auditorium.

Tickets cost $7 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens and students. For tickets and information call (307)766-6666 or go online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts .

Directed by Scott Turpen, the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble regularly earns the highest ratings at national jazz festivals, and much acclaim for accompanying some of the biggest names in jazz music.

The concert will feature Downbeat Award-winning trombonist Steve Turre. One of the world's preeminent jazz innovators, Turre has consistently won both the readers' and critics' polls in "JazzTimes," "Downbeat," and "Jazziz" for Best Trombone and for Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist (shells).

Turre has released several recordings and worked with a diverse list of musicians from the jazz, Latin and pop worlds, including Ray Charles, Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, J.J. Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Lester Bowie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Van Morrison, Pharoah Sanders, Horace Silver, Max Roach and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Turre also has been a member of NBC's Saturday Night Live Band since 1984.

Following the performance on campus, the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble will fly to New York City for two performances with Turre at the famous jazz club, Smoke, Monday, Feb. 21.

"This is a great opportunity for UW students to perform in a huge venue with an artist of Turre's caliber," Turpen says.

Photo: The Wyoming Jazz Ensemble will present a public concert during the Festival of Winds at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the University of Wyoming Arts and Sciences auditorium.

"Wild West Month" at Children's Museum of Denver

In conjunction with the National Western Stock Show, January is “Wild West Month” at the Children's Museum of Denver

Here’s some info:

Saddle up and ride on down to the Museum to join in on Wild West activities and events all month long. The Children's Museum of Denver is stepping back in time to the ol' Wild West where they'll explore what life was like way back when! Yeehaw!

Going to be in New York City In January? Free tickets available for Jazz at Lincoln Center

The National Endowment for the Arts and Jazz at Lincoln Center announced today that free tickets are available for the January 11, 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert. Tickets can be reserved online or in person at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office, located at Broadway at 60th Street, ground floor, open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as Sundays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Limit two tickets per person.

The 2011 NEA Jazz Masters are Hubert Laws, David Liebman, Johnny Mandel, and the Marsalis Family—Ellis Marsalis, Jr., Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Jason Marsalis. In addition, the 2011 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy is awarded to Orrin Keepnews. Go to http://jalc.org/concerts/details309a.asp?EventID=2504 for more information.

The 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center at Broadway at 60th Street and feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in a program dedicated to the honorees’ works. Joining the orchestra will be several of the honorees performing, including Mr. Liebman, Mr. Laws, and the Marsalis Family. The evening also will feature video tributes to each of the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters.

The awards ceremony and concert will be broadcast live on WBGO Jazz 88.3FM based in Newark, New Jersey, and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's Real Jazz Channel 70. WBGO also will audio stream the event live on their website at wbgo.org.

Prior to the concert, the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters and their fellow NEA Jazz Masters will gather for a group photo opportunity. Members of the press who want to attend the concert or who would like to participate in the photo opportunity must reserve a place in advance. Please contact Liz Stark (202-682-5744 or starke@arts.gov).

In addition to the awards ceremony and concert, the 2011 NEA Jazz Masters will participate in a panel discussion exploring their careers, moderated by A. B. Spellman. The panel will take place on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Varis-Leichtman Studio at Jazz at Lincoln Center at Broadway at 60th Street. The event is free and seating is open to the public on a first come, first served basis.

Telling Stories performs music by UW composers

From a University of Wyoming press release:

New Denver-based music ensemble, Telling Stories will present works by University of Wyoming composers Amber Pollock, Ryan Pendleton, Justin Smith, Joao Machado, Jacob Gunnels and Daniel Galbreath Saturday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m. in the UW Fine Arts Center concert hall. The free concert is supported by the Douglas B. Reeves endowment for music composition.

Telling Stories is a fixture in the Denver area musical scene. Their performances, which often mix music and other art forms, have drawn large audiences in and around Denver since 2006.

Westword magazine hails their "casual presentations of chamber works and readings of original essays," calling them a "merry troupe of young virtuosos."

Thomas Blomster conducts Telling Stories. His recent composition, "A Brighton Serenade," is, in his own words, a "summation of my interests" ranging from Frank Zappa to J.S. Bach.

Telling Stories will apply their prodigious skill and dedication to music by UW's top-notch Composition Seminar. These experienced composers have written for several media, but for this concert will present music for various subsets of the traditional "Pierrot" ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion). The pieces are an eclectic group--provocative (Pollock), edgy (Pendleton), humorous (Smith), sophisticated (Machado), assertive (Gunnels), and pensive (Galbreath).

The composers will discuss their works at a reception that will take place following the concert, at a venue to be announced. For more information e-mail Anne Guzzo, guzzo@uwyo.edu .

Photo: Amber Pollock is among the UW student composers who will have their works showcased by the award-winning music ensemble, Telling Stories, Saturday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m. in the UW Fine Arts Center concert hall.

Magick playing concerts in Cheyenne, Casper

The flyer (right) is for the fundraising concert Magick will put on at the First United Methodist Church here in Cheyenne. Thanks to Billie, Taylor's and Evan's mom, for dropping off the flyer.

They've a new member, Nic "Cottonseed" Clark, harmonica player who comes up from Denver. Every good blues band needs a harmonica player! Looking forward to hearing them in this reformed group. Mikey moved over to drums from rhythm guitar. From what I've heard, this new arrangement seems to be Magick!

Look for them in Casper, Saturday, November 27, playing a fundraiser for themselves to get themselves to Memphis for the big 2011 International Blues Challenge February 1-5. The boys are being sponsored by the Wyoming Blues and Jazz Society, based in Casper, and will perform in the youth showcase, sponsored by Smokin Bluz of Charlotte, NC, that will take place on Friday, February 4. They will also be competing in the quarter-finals on Wed and Thu nights. They are guaranteed to play at least twice in the competition, and then once in the Youth Showcase.

They've been written up in the Casper Star-Trib and the Cheyenne Eagle, and here's the bio that will be in the IBC catalogue:

Another Kind of Magick is an exciting young blues band from Cheyenne, WY. Led by guitarist and vocalist Taylor Scott, the boys range in age from 14-17 -- bassist Louie Uribe, drummer Mike Uribe, keyboardist Evan Scott and harp player Nic Clark. Developing their sound from various styles of blues and other genres, AKM has found a niche that is original, yet true to the roots of the blues. These young men are well beyond their years in commitment and drive. Their sound, partnered with high energy and a surprising blend of soul and talent, is the foundation for the success they have experienced over the past several years. Don't miss the "Magick" these boys are bringing to Beale Street.

They had some t-shirts made up to sell to help with raising funds. Contact Billie at their website if you'd like a t-shirt and to help get these boys to Memphis.

"House" concert in Casper

Not your typical staging for a house concert, the idea of which seems to have really taken off in Casper, in part thanks to Amy Gieske, a brand new venue --Three Crowns Golf Course -- is hosting The Broomdust Caravan featuring Daddy Treetops in Casper on Wednesday, October 27. Doors open at 5:30 and music begins at 6:30.

Also not typical for an event at a for-profit venue, there is no cover charge to get in. As always, the suggestion at all house concerts, is that a $10 donation be given for the band; all donations then go to the band. There will be heavy hor d'oeuvres and beverages for sale.

This band is from the Seattle area. Quoted from Amy's email, the group has "an acoustic-y blues/Americana/folk sound. Sounds to be a good show.

Flutist Richard Sherman visits UW Oct. 15-16

The University of Wyoming Music Department announces guest flutist Richard Sherman, Professor of Flute at Michigan State University; former principal flute, Rochester Philharmonic.

Recital will be held on Friday, October 15, 7:30 p.m, Fine Arts Concert Hall (tickets $7 for general public, $5 for students and seniors).

Master class with UW flute students October 16 at 1 p.m., Fine Arts Concert Hall (free admission)

To purchase tickets, contact the box office at www.uwyo.edu/finearts

For more information about these events, please contact Dr. Nicole Riner, nicole.riner@gmail.com.

Richard Sherman's visit to UW is sponsored by the Brannen-Cooper Fund and by WyoArts Eminent Artists Series.