Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band

The final concert of the 2011/2012 season for the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass will be a fitting finish to another great season of music and guest artists. The concert is on Saturday, April 21 at 7pm and will be conducted by Dr. Steven Sudduth. This is a new time for a SSSB concert, but the evening concert should minimize conflicts with springtime golf and gardening.

Brassamataz! is the concert theme and will feature this outstanding instrumental ensemble performing big band hits of the swing era. In addition to this music which will have your body moving to big band beat of this 30 piece group, they have contracted with one of the top entertainers from Nashville.  Sponsors for this concert are:  Maestro sponsor – David Bell, State Farm Insurance; Baton Sponsor – Cumberland Eye Care, Dr. Stuart Galloway; and 2011/2012 Season Sponsor – Bed & Biscuit Kennel.  Guest Artist sponsors are:  First National Bank of TN,  Rush’s Music Stores, and Spirit Broadband Communications.

Buddy Greene, is a virtuoso harmonica musician, guitarist, vocalist and song writer who is comfortable performing across a wide variety of music genres.  He has produced 16 CD’s of his own, but it is his frequent appearances with the Bill Gaither Gospel group that most people are familiar.   Buddy composed the music for the hit Christmas song Mary Did You Know? to the lyrics of Mark Lowry of the Gaither Gospel quartet.   He is excellent performing across a wide variety of music genres which makes him great to hear in concert.  Buddy is featured in many YouTube videos, so just Google YouTube and input his name to view his performances. His Carnegie Hall video is sure to impress you with his virtuoso performance of classical music.  For further information, Buddy’s website is:  http://www.buddygreene.com/buddyGreeneHome.html

For this unique concert, the Southern Stars will perform big band medleys of Count Basie, Glenn Miller, “Sing, Sing, Sing” – the Gene Krupa and Benny Goodman hit, Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo a la Turk”, and Weather Report’s “Birdland”.   Buddy Greene will perform “Georgia, On My Mind” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” with the SSSB.   Then the audience will be treated to a separate 30 minute set of music where Buddy with be featured by himself, supported by his sideman, Jeff Taylor………..performing a variety of music to demonstrate their skills across selections of gospel, bluegrass, Irish/celtic, and even classical.

Tickets for this great concert are a tremendous bargain at $18 for adults and $5 for students.   A special “short season” ticket for the Feb. 12 and April 21 concert are $30 and can be purchased prior to the Feb. 12 concert.   To hear Buddy Greene perform would cost you at least this, and you will get the added benefit to have the outstanding musicians of the Southern Stars in concert as well.    You are getting essentially two concerts for the price of one!!    Individual tickets will be available for this concert beginning on Feb. 12.    Ticket sales locations will be: (1) First National Bank of TN locations in Crossville and Fairfield Glade, TN, (2) Cumberland Eye Care, Dr. Stuart Galloway in Fairfield Glade, (3) Bed & Biscuit Kennel off Peavine Rd., and (4) Cumberland Co. Playhouse box office at 931-484-5000 or at their on-line website (a small surcharge will apply for the CCP location).   Group sales for a minimum of 1o are available for $15/ticket via contacting Dwight Wages at 931-484-6939.

Filed under: Uncategorized on February 1st, 2012 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) recently celebrated the opening concert of their 4th season of their three concert series in Crossville, TN.    The Oct. 23, 2011 concert theme was Strike Up the Band and featured Broadway and movie music.   This concert was sponsored by the 2011/2012 Season sponsor Bed & Biscuit Kennel and had as featured guest artists, the husband/wife duo Brian & Amanda Bacon as vocalists.

An audience of around 430 was thoroughly entertained by the program below:

• Overture to Candide
• Showboat selections………guest vocalists (Brian and Amanda Bacon)
• Bravura………….euphonium solo, Brandon Jones
• Cheek to Cheek
• Someone to Watch Over Me
• Barnum & Bailey’s Favorite
• Breezin’ Down Broadway
• You’ll Never Walk Alone……….guest vocalist, Amanda Bacon
• Mack the Knife……..featuring Chris McCormick, flugelhorn
• Wind Beneath My Wings……….guest vocalist, Brian Bacon
• Ragtime for Horns………..Eb Alto Horn section
• Chicago selections
• Encore:    Klaxon march

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 26th, 2011 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars will be performing their 2nd concert of the Crossville Music Series on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3:30 pm at Stone Memorial HS Auditorium led by conductor, Dr. Steven Sudduth.   Maestro Sponsor for this concert is Gordon Atchley, of Farm Bureau Insurance, and the 2011/2012 Season Sponsor is Bed & Biscuit Kennel.  The theme of the concert is Presidents & Patriots, in line with the date of the concert being President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and the proximity of President’s Day.   The music has been selected to include patriotic music and other selections that have connections to the eras of US Presidents.

Daniel Black will be appearing as guest artist for this concert via agreement with the Cumberland County Playhouse, where he has been an active performer/actor for 16 years.  Daniel will be narrating Aaron Copland’s moving “Lincoln’s Portrait” with accompaniment by the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass.   In addition, Daniel will be the featured vocalist for the ever popular “Bill Bailey”.    The full program for this concert is:

• President’s march
• Lincoln Portrait ……..Daniel Black as narrator
• Sandpaper Ballet
• Bandinage……tuba solo, Sean Greene
• Summon the Heroes
• Bill Bailey…….vocal by Daniel Black

INTERMISSION

• William Tell Overture…….featuring our percussion section
• Shennadoah……euphonium solo, Brandon Jones
• Solid Men to the Front
• Tijuana Brass selections
• American Salute

Tickets for the concert are $18 for Adults, and $5 for Students.   A special “short season” ticket will be available for $30 which gives admission to both this concert and the April 21 final concert of the season.    Tickets will be available in advance by Jan. 13 at the following locations:  (1) First National Bank of TN locations in Crossville and Fairfield Glade, TN, (2) Cumberland Eye Care, Dr. Stuart Galloway in Fairfield Glade, (3) Bed & Biscuit Kennel off Peavine Rd., and (4) Cumberland Co. Playhouse box office at 931-484-5000 or at their on-line website (a small surcharge will apply for the CCP location).   Group sales for a minimum of 1o, are available for $15/ticket via contacting Dwight Wages at 931-484-6939.

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 25th, 2011 | No Comments »

The 3 concert season in Crossville, TN will be comprised of a Oct. 23, 2011 concert with two others in 2012…………Feb. 12 and April 21.    The Oct. 23 concert is at 3:30 pm and is titled Strike Up the Band, and will feature Broadway and movie music.  Guest artists are vocalists Brian & Amanda Bacon.    The February 12 concert is at 3:30 pm and is themed, Presidents & Patriots, which will feature patriotic music and selections that are tied to the eras of U. S. Presidents.   Guest artist for this concert will be Daniel Black who is a staff actor at the Cumberland Co. Playhouse, and is appearing via support of the CCP.    The final concert on April 21 is at 7pm and is themed Brassamataz !! and will feature big band swing selections.   The guest artist will be Buddy Greene who is a Nashville entertainer, who appears frequently with the Bill Gaither Gospel group.   Buddy is a virtuoso harmonica musician, guitarist, vocalist, who co-wrote the Christmas classic, Mary Did You Know? See other posts on this website for more details on these concerts.

Tickets for the concerts are $18 for adults, and $5 for students and all concerts are held at the beautiful 1200 seat auditorium of Stone Memorial HS in Crossville, TN.  Season tickets for the 3 concerts are $45, and a “short season” ticket for the last two concerts of the season is priced at $30.  Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more.   Contact Dwight Wages at email dwight.wages@gmail.com for addition information.

Filed under: Uncategorized on December 25th, 2011 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) will play the final concert of this season’s Crossville Concert Series on Sunday, April 3 at 3:30 pm.   The concert will be held at the Stone Memorial HS Auditorium.    As the concert them implies, the group will be playing music from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England and will feature several of their own musicians in instrumental solos.    In addition, the world famous Tennessee Tech. U. Tuba Ensemble (directed by Winston Morris) will be appearing as guest artists with the SSSB.    The tuba ensemble is comprised of 14 tubas and 6 euphonium musicians and has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and has produced many CD’s which have spred its reputation worldwide.

While the concert program selections are not final at this time, you can expect to hear music like:

• Celtic Suite by Philip Sparke
• Spriritual Fantasy ………. Euphonium solo featuring Brandon Jones
• Ye Banks & Braes…………..Cornet solo by Joel Tillman
• It’s Not Unusual (Tom Jones hit)………Trombone section feature
• Fantasy on British Sea Songs
• Year of the Dragon………..by Philip Sparke
• Colonial Song…………by Percy Grainger
• Punchinello march
• James Bond Collection

Ticket prices are $18 for Adults………….and $5 for Students (include university students).   Tickets will be available after Feb. 17 from:

• 1st National Bank of TN branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade
• Cumberland Eye Care in Fairfield Glade
• Bed & Biscuit Kennel (off Peavine Road)
• Cumberland Co. Playhouse box-office ( 931-484-5000)

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 18th, 2011 | No Comments »

What do the movies E.T., Pink Panther, Days of Wine and Roses, Fame, The Mission, Wizard of Oz, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Peter Gunn, The King & I, An American Tale,  De-Lovely, Porgy and Bess, Pennies from Heaven, An American in Paris, and Goldwyn Follies all have in common?  They represent movies for which beautiful and familar music has become part of our popular music culture, and they will all be represented in the coming concert by the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) on Jan. 23 called “Silver Screen Hits”.   This concert is supported by our 10/11 Season Sponsor – Bed & Biscuit Kennel, and Baton Sponsor – Farm Bureau Insurance and agent Gordon Atchley.

The SSSB’s ensemble of 30 professional brass and percussion musicians has been dazzling its audiences for 3 seasons thru its brand of “Premium Entertainment” which combines music for all ages, a wide variety of music styles, outstanding guest vocalists, and virtuoso instrumental soloists from the ensemble’s outstanding musicians.  Mr. Chaz Barber of Knoxville, will be the featured vocalist to sing with the SSSB at this concert and his rich baritone voice will be showcased on “The King & I” and “Gershwin for Brass” medlies, and Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”.   Chaz currently teaches voice at Roane State and serves as choir director at the Community Church of Fairfield Glade.

Two instrumental soloists will be featured in the concert program.   Adam Featherston of Nashville, will be playing on trombone Cole Porter’s poignant ballad “Everytime We Say Goodbye” which was sung by Natalie Cole in the movie “De-Lovely”.   Adam holds Bachelor of Music degree from UT, and a Master’s degree in Music from TTU.   He has connections to Crossville, as his grandmother currently lives here.

The second instrumental soloist, Dr. Greg Danner, has been featured previously in prior concerts and will be performing the “Allegro from the 3rd Horn Concerto” by Mozart.  Surprizingly, this classical gem was part of the soundtrack for the movie “Fame” about NYC’s School for the Performing Arts.   Dr. Danner is the Professor of Composition at TTU in Cookeville and is a regular in the pit orchestra at Cumberland Co. Playhouse, so undoubtedly you have heard him on your visits there.

Dr. Steven Sudduth will be guest conducting the SSSB for the remaining two concerts in the Crossville Concert Series, including the coming Jan. 23 performance.   SSSB’s regular conductor, Dr. Donald Ryder, is on sabbatical from the Univ. of Tenn. and has some other committments to follow during this time period.   Steven Sudduth is currently Director of bands and Low Brass at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY.  He has taught at the university level in North Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota.   Dr. Sudduth has won several awards for his music compositions and is an accomplished trombone musician for  various symphony orchestras and brass quintets.   The SSSB is looking forward to having Steven debut at the coming concert.

Besides the vocalist and instrumental music mentioned above, the concert will include the following selections:   “Fanfare & Flying Theme from E. T.”,  “Somewhere Out There”, “Cartoon Classics”, “Wizard of Oz” medley, “Gabriel’s Oboe”, “Death or Glory” march, “Let’s Face the Music and Dance”, and “Touch of Mancini”.

The concert will begin at 3:30 pm on Sunday, Jan. 23 and will be held in the Stone Memorial High School Auditorium of I-40 at Exit 320 (Genesis Road) at 2800 Cook Road.   Prior information errorenously reported the concert to begin at 3pm, but the correct start time is 3:30 pm.

Tickets for this concert are $18 for Adults and $5 for Students.   These are available for advance purchase at Cumberland Eye Care on Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade,  First National Bank of Tennessee branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade, Cumberland Co. Playhouse box office, and Bed & Biscuit Kennel off Peavine Road.   Call Dwight Wages at 484-6939 for further details.

Filed under: Uncategorized on January 18th, 2011 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band performs the music of Broadway this Sunday, Oct. 24, in Crossville. The concert begins at 3:30 pm (CST) at the beautiful Stone Memorial High School Auditorium.

Our special guest artist for this concert is soprano, Nicole Begue, who is a soloist in opera and a leading lady in Broadway musical productions at the famous Cumberland County Playhouse. She will be singing music from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Oliver. Please tell your friends, and we hope to see you there!

The concert will include these selections:

National Anthem
There’s No Business Like Show Business
Oliver selections
Bring Him Home
I Dreamed a Dream
I Got Rhythm
Pantomime

INTERMISSION

Amparito Roca
Georgia On My Mind
La Danza
Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Bill Bailey

This concert, under the baton of Dr. Don Ryder from the University of Tennessee, will also feature a Dr. Ronald Holz as guest conductor on one piece. Dr. Holz, Professor of Music Literature and Instrumental Music at Asbury University, is a noted music historian, author, conductor, lecturer, and clinician, particularly in the field instrumental music. His guest appearances have taken him throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. He is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on the literature, culture, and history of the British-style brass band.

Filed under: Uncategorized on October 19th, 2010 | No Comments »

The concert season kicks off with a concert in Knoxville on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 3pm which is hosted by the Cokesbury United Methodist Church at 9908 Kingston Pike.   The concert theme is Brass Spectacular and will include patriotic, marches, movie, Broadway, jazz/big band swing and sacred hymn music which will please all ages.

Bill Williams, Knoxville TV icon, will be the emcee for the concert.   Guest artists will be Steven Boyce, a tenor in the Knoxville Choral Society, performing “Bring Him Home” from the musical Les Miserable.  Danny Brian, renowned Knoxville organist, will perform Gigout’s “Grand Choeur Dialogue” a powerful selection which will be augmented by the brass ensemble.   Finally, two of the band’s members will dazzle the audience with their technical skills:   Brandon Jones (principal euphonium) will play “Pantomime” which will demonstrate why he has been recognized internationally as a “rising star” on this instrument.   Then Chris McCormick (TTU jazz professor) will give his jazz rendition of the Ray Charles hit, “Georgia on My Mind” with a trumpet feature.

The full concert program is as follows:

• Liberty Fanfare…………………………………………by John Williams
• Amazing Grace……………………………………………………traditional hymn
• Pantomime………………………………………………………….by Philip Sparke,  featuring Brandon Jones – Euphonium soloist
• Hymn to the Fallen (from Saving Pvt. Ryan)…………by John Williams
• Stars & Stripes Forever………………………………John Philip Sousa
• Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables)………………featuring Steven Boyce, tenor soloist
• Selections from Chicago (the musical)……………….by Ebb/Kander
• March from “1941″ (the movie)………………………….by John Williams
• Praise to the Lord, the Almighty……………………….traditional hymn
• Georgia On My Mind………………………………………….by Carmichael/Gorrel,  featuring Chris McCormick, trumpet soloist
• Grand Choeur Dialogue……………………………………..by Eugene Gigout,   featuring Danny Brian, organ soloist
• El Capitan march………………………………………………..by John Philip Sousa
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy…………………………………..by Kaye/Prince
• Battle Hymn of the Republic………………………………by Peter Wilhousky,  featuring the Cokesbury United Methodist Choir

Ticket prices are:  Adults -  $18 (at door)   or  $15 (advance purchase)      Students -  $5 (same price for advance or at door)

For ticket sales information, call 931-484-6939 or email dwight.wages@gmail.com

Filed under: Uncategorized on September 14th, 2010 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass’s 2010/2011 concert season has been finalized and it promises to continue to build on the excitement generated in prior years.    This is the 3rd full season of concerts and will include a concert in Knoxville, another in Cookeville, and the 3rd annual Crossville concert series.  The band’s president &  founder, Dwight Wages had this to say.  “Our upcoming season of concerts promises to be the best ever, and we have some terifically talented guest artists lined up to perform with the SSSB”.

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The concert season kicks off with a concert in Knoxville on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 3pm which is hosted by the Cokesbury United Methodist Church at 9908 Kingston Pike.   The concert theme is Brass Spectacular and will include patriotic, marches, movie, Broadway, jazz/big band swing and sacred hymn music which will please all ages.   Guest artists will be Steven Boyce, a tenor in the Knoxville Choral Society, and Danny Brian, renowned Knoxville organist.    See above article on this concert for more details.

Ticket prices are:  Adults -  $18 (at door)   or  $15 (advance purchase)      Students -  $5 (same price for advance or at door).    Doors will open 30 minutes prior to concert.

For information on tickets sales, call 931-484-6939, or email:  dwight.wages@gmail.com

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The 3 concert series in Crossville, kicks off on Oct. 24, with the following concerts on Jan. 23, and April 3rd.    All these concerts will be at the beautiful Stone Memorial H.S. auditorium and will begin at 3:30 pm. (doors open 30 minutes prior to concert)  Each concert will feature 1-2 instrumental soloists from within the ranks of the SSSB.

These concerts and their themes are as follows:

• Sunday, October 24 …….Broadway Magic, with music from Broadway musicals.  Guest Artist will be Nicole Begue (soprano), Education Director and Leading Lady at the Cumberland Co. Playhouse.   She is appearing thru a collaboration between the SSSB and the CCP.   Corporate sponsors are:   Cumberland Eye Care, Dr. Stuart Galloway, and Bed & Biscuit Kennel
• Sunday, January 23……..Hits of the Silver Screen, featuring music from the movies.  Guest Artist will be Chaz Barber (baritone), who is a voice instructor with on-stage performance experience and as music director for college, community and professional levels of over 30 productions.  Corporate sponsors are: Gordon Atchley, Farm Bureau Insurance
• Sunday, April 3……..Brass Goes to the British Isles, will feature music from Scotland, Ireland, and England.   Corporate sponsors are: David Bell, State Farm Insurance.

Tickets for these concerts are:   Adults – $18      Students – $5                                                 Season tickets (for 3 concerts) are:   $45 (a savings of $9 versus single concert pricing).

Tickets are available for advance purchase at:

1)  Cumberland Eye Care at 57 Fairfield Boulevard, in Fairfield Glade;  2)  First National Bank of TN branches at Main Street in Crossville, and at the Peavine Road branch in Fairfield Glade;  3)  Cumberland Co. Playhouse box office or online at www.ccplayhouse.com (some   ticketing service charges may apply)

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There is a concert in Cookeville on Sunday, November 21 at 3pm at the First Baptist Church located at 18 South Walnut Avenue.  The theme is Brassy Christmas. The concert will include seasonal favorites with a few surprises thrown in.   Tickets for this concert will be available for purchase at the First Baptist Church and further details will be coming closer to this concert.    Ticket prices will be:  Adults -  $18 at door, $15 advance purchase.           Students – $5.

Filed under: Uncategorized on September 13th, 2010 | No Comments »

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) recent appearance on June 12, 2010 at the Great American Brass Band Festival (GABBF) in Danville, KY was met with a great crowd reaction from the estimated audience of 5,000 present to hear the bands that afternoon.    At the end of the concert, the audience gave us a standing ovation for a concert that we were proud to have given.

The SSSB was one of 14 different brass related ensembles who were invited to perform for this internationally renowned festival.   Two other full-fledged brass bands were present in addition to the SSSB which gave us the opportunity to see how we measured up to these bands who have already established an international reputation.   Fountain City Brass Band from Kansas City was presented their typically outstanding concerts which demonstrated why they are the four time consecutive NABBA and 3 time consecutive US Open champions as well as the winner of the recent Scottish Open Championships.   Present also was the Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army from Toronto, who presented technical as well as inspiring sacred music for their concerts.

While the SSSB has only been together a relatively short time (3 years) compared to the above band’s longer histories, and only rehearse once/month for 9 months versus their weekly rehearsals for the full year, the SSSB’s motto of providing “Premium Entertainment” was evident by the program they presented.    From the opening number “Liberty Fanfare” to their closing selection of KL King’s “Caravan Club” march………..the audience was clearly impressed with the band’s technical skills and programed concert.   Wedged into their 50 minute concert were the typical variety of music genre which makes their concerts so enjoyable………a classic overture (Raymond),  marches (El Capitan, and march from “1941″), musicals (Chicago selections), swing/jazz (Misty, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, You Can’t Take that Away from Me).

Impressive virtuoso instrumental soloist from with the band received standing ovations from the appreciate audience.   Principal euphonium, Brandon Jones, wowed the crowd with “Believe Me With All Your Endearing Young Charms” as he negotiated the variations on the theme with technical gymnastics which stretched the range of the euphonium.    Then Chris McCormick slowed the pace down with his flugelhorn rendition of “Misty” which impressed the audience with his jazz improvisation skills.

Our appearance at GABBF has a highlight of last season and was helpful in spreading the reputation of the SSSB more broadly across the US as the attendees come from far and wide for this weekend of free music by the best brass ensembles in North America and sometimes even from Europe.   Many in the audience came up to various band members to congratulate us on our concert.   Here are a couple of quotes from these audience members: “We have attending the GABBF for 12 straight years and this concert by the SSSB was the BEST we have heard in this time”………Janice from Indiana.  “The performance today confirms their growing reputation as one of the top brass band’s in North America”……Simon, Danville audience member.

Filed under: Uncategorized on September 13th, 2010 | No Comments »