A jammin’ night of Mardi Gras jazz and brass will benefit the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra in its 29th year as the region’s premier professional orchestra when the world-famous DUKES OF DIXIELAND from New Orleans appear Saturday, January 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. (Central)as part of the NFSO’s 2015-16 season.
The DUKES will be backed by the NFSO and will appear live in concert in the 1,650 seat mainstage theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Tickets are $37 each and may be purchased by phone, in-person or online from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office.
THE DUKES OF DIXIELAND
“The DUKES only accept about 30 dates a year to appear at much sought-after concerts in the USA and overseas, never straying long from their home base in New Orleans on the Steamboat Natchez,” noted NFSO Maestro Jeffrey Rink. “So, we were thrilled to be able to book this wildly popular group for a jammin’ good time during Mardi Gras season to benefit the NFSO”.
Unlike their dixieland name, the DUKES play a range of New Orleans music, from Dr. John and Fats Domino, to Huey Smith and Louis Prima, not to mention many of their own original tunes. With a repertoire of roughly 400 tunes, there is room for all of the above and still be the pre-eminent New Orleans band as well as official New Orleans Ambassadors. In addition to the “Mardi Gras” theme of the January 23 concert with the NFSO, the Dukes of Dixieland also perform concerts around the world with themes of “Blues on the Bayou”; “Symphonic Jazz”; “Voodoo Revue”; “Celebrating Satchmo”; “New Orleans Jazz Legends” and “Back to Bourbon Street”.
When not touring, the DUKES continue to work the dinner cruise on the Steamboat Natchez for 45 weeks a year, 7 nights a week. They also find time to record (26 albums), produce three (3) PBS television shows (“New Orleans Pops”; “Salute to Jelly Roll Morton” and “Celebrating Satchmo”) , and stream one show a week, up to the internet. For more about The Dukes of Dixieland, visit dukesofdixieland.com.
Single tickets to the NFSO benefit concert with the “Dukes of Dixieland” are $37 each available from the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box office.
The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra’s 29th year as the region’s premier professional orchestra continues in 2016 with a range of international guest artists appearing in concerts and Guest Artist Recitals. Additionally, the NFSO Symphony Guild presents its annualSymphony of Taste Food and Wine Fest on Sunday, February 21 to benefit the NFSO. Food & Wine fest tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door.
A highlight in 2016 is a rare performance of Mendelssohn’s complete Incidental Music to a Midsummer Night’s Dream, to herald the beginning of spring on Saturday, April 9, 2016 in a“The Magic of Mendelssohn” concert with the full NFSO in the Mainstage Theater of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Written at the age of 17, Mendelssohn’s magical score will be brought to life by Narrator Clint Mahle, soprano Amy Bullard, mezzo soprano Jennifer Boudette and the women of the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale, NWF State College Madrigals and Belle Voci Women’s Ensemble. Also appearing will be German Guest Artist and acclaimed saxophone virtuoso Philipp Stäudlin who will opens the April 9, 2016 concert with Debussy’s First Rhapsody and an entertaining Opera medley. An award-winning performer and educator, Mr. Stäudlin was recently named to the faculty of the prestigious Boston Conservatory of Music.
On May 13, 2016 the “Stars of Tomorrow Meet Beethoven” evening concert will highlight a week of family and youth oriented offerings as the NFSO also performs its 29th annual daytime Fifth Graders Concert, as well as its fourth year of partnership with Carnegie Hall’s innovative Link Up program to provide two interactive concerts for area 4th graders.
“The NFSO’s longstanding music education programs for youth are a vital part of our mission and have served more than 80,000 local youth for more than 25 years,” said Jeffrey Rink. “The NFSO’s Stars of Tomorrow concerts, the annual Concerto Competition, our KATS Kids-at-the-Symphony program, hosting visits by our international Guest Artists in local schools, and more are bringing the magic of great music to area youth.”
The evening “Stars of Tomorrow” concert on Friday, May 13 in the mainstage theater of the Mattie Kelly Center is $25 adult and $18 youth. Schools may sign up now free of charge for the NFSO 5th graders day-time concerts on the same date (May 13) as well as for the year-long “Link Up with Carnegie Hall” program for 4th graders that concludes with concerts May 9 and 10, 2016. Contact the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at 729-6004 or Jeffrey Rink at 729-6023 for information.
The NFSO 2015-2016 season concludes Saturday, May 21, 2016 with at final Guest Artist Recital featuring distinguished American pianist Michael Lewin, who has concertized in more than 30 countries across the globe. Lewin’s highly-praised and wide-ranging recordings include the Grammy-nominated “If I Were a Bird: A Piano Aviary.” He is a Juilliard School graduate and a Steinway Artist. One of the most sought-after teachers in the US and is on the piano faculty of the Boston Conservatory. Guest Artist Solo Recital tickets are $20 each.
The NFSO relies on tax-deductible donations and corporate underwriting to support the orchestra and its numerous, long-standing educational endeavors for area youth. To make a donation to support the NFSO or request information on advertising in the season program, contact Maestro Jeffrey Rink at [email protected] or (850) 729-6023. See the NFSO website for more information on the NFSO at www.nfsymphony.org.
