Southern Stars Perform Their 15th Anniversary Concert on Sunday, May 21
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- May, 04, 2023
- By jeff
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The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) have prepared a wide variety of music for their “Brass Goes Around the World” concert on Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. at Stone Memorial High School’s 1200-seat auditorium in Crossville.
This ensemble is finishing their 15th season and in light of this occasion, they have programmed some very special music featuring three of their own musicians as featured soloists, plus music of an international flavor.
The 30, professional SSSB musicians hail from the areas of Nashville, Tullahoma, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, Crossville, Jamestown, Knoxville, and S.E. Kentucky – and drive up to 3.5 hours each way to rehearse and present concerts in Crossville.
The ensemble includes university music professors, secondary music educators, and others who have had non-music careers who maintain their personal, instrumental talent.
They have been honored on three occasions to have been selected to perform concerts at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, KY. There they performed in front of audiences of 10,000 and received standing ovations for their concert programs. This festival has given the SSSB national recognition, along with their three CDs they have produced.
The concert program includes:
Into the Future
This lively concert opener has no relation to the “Back to the Future” movies starring Michael J. Fox. It is a stirring selection to represent the SSSB providing another 15 years of entertainment for our area.
Nordic Polska
This Norwegian selection features eight musicians playing cornet, flugelhorn, alto horn, euphonium, and tuba as they individually introduce this driving melody that will make you want to dance in the aisle.
Song & Dance
This features Grace O’Connell on a cornet solo, who is a senior music major at MTSU. Grace has won multiple International Trumpet Guild solo competitions, and plans to pursue advanced music degrees and aspires to be a trumpet musician in a major symphonic orchestra. When she completes this performance, I think you can see she is extremely talented.
Girl I Left Behind Me
This traditional Irish melody is from the 1700s and was played for soldiers and sailors who were heading off to war – thus the “Girl I Left Behind Me.”
Alpine Samba
This selection features a samba-style composition that takes you to the Alps of Switzerland for a lively tune played with the Latin-style beat.
1812 Overture
This piece by Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest overtures ever written. It represents the defeat of Napoleon’s invading French army of 600,000 by the Russians in 1812. This musical masterpiece is often played by major symphony orchestras accompanied by fireworks, howitzer cannons, and church bells and this will be the premiere presentation for Cumberland and surrounding counties.
Rule Britannia
Our principal euphonium musician, Briana Engelbert-Vogt, will be the featured soloist on this classic British composition. Its lyrics speak to the time of the British Empire of Victorian times when the British navy… “Rule Britiannia, Britiannia rules the waves!” represented England’s dominance in the world.
Swedish Folksong
Based on the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” this arrangement of this well-known hymn provides a calming influence in the program.
Hands Across the Sea
John Philip Sousa’s march was written by the “March King” to represent the many friends and countries that the U.S. had developed during Sousa’s era.
Jabba the Hutt
For those familiar with the Star Wars movies, Jabba the Hutt was a monstrous extra-large, slug-like creature that rarely moved in his movie role. Our Bb Tubist Thomas Chesnut will be the featured soloist on this selection, which is very unique in its style to depict this unusual movie character.
March Militaire Francaise
This is another classic of music literature. Composed after the Franco-Prussian war in 1879, it represented a period of time when French military music was particularly in vogue. This selection shows the versatility of the SSSB to play this well-known, but challenging, selection.
Irish Blessing
This selection closes the concert with this old Irish hymn that many in the audience may be familiar with and know of the lyrics. “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May you keep safe in the gentle, loving arms of God.”
This concert is sponsored by the following:
Bed & Biscuit Kennel; Fairfield Glade Rotary; Dwight & Diane Wages; Keith & Carol Pontius; Pete Bisbee – Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Adult tickets are $22 and Students are admitted free. Advance tickets can be obtained at: SDP Financial Planning (Fairfield Glade Mall); First National Bank of TN branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade; and Bed & Biscuit Kennel off of Peavine Road (153 Fence Lane) or at the door on concert day.
Doors open for seating at 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. concert. Any questions, please contact Dwight Wages at 931-484-6939.
This ensemble is finishing their 15th season and in light of this occasion, they have programmed some very special music featuring three of their own musicians as featured soloists, plus music of an international flavor.
The 30, professional SSSB musicians hail from the areas of Nashville, Tullahoma, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, Crossville, Jamestown, Knoxville, and S.E. Kentucky – and drive up to 3.5 hours each way to rehearse and present concerts in Crossville.
The ensemble includes university music professors, secondary music educators, and others who have had non-music careers who maintain their personal, instrumental talent.
They have been honored on three occasions to have been selected to perform concerts at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, KY. There they performed in front of audiences of 10,000 and received standing ovations for their concert programs. This festival has given the SSSB national recognition, along with their three CDs they have produced.
The concert program includes:
Into the Future
This lively concert opener has no relation to the “Back to the Future” movies starring Michael J. Fox. It is a stirring selection to represent the SSSB providing another 15 years of entertainment for our area.
Nordic Polska
This Norwegian selection features eight musicians playing cornet, flugelhorn, alto horn, euphonium, and tuba as they individually introduce this driving melody that will make you want to dance in the aisle.
Song & Dance
This features Grace O’Connell on a cornet solo, who is a senior music major at MTSU. Grace has won multiple International Trumpet Guild solo competitions, and plans to pursue advanced music degrees and aspires to be a trumpet musician in a major symphonic orchestra. When she completes this performance, I think you can see she is extremely talented.
Girl I Left Behind Me
This traditional Irish melody is from the 1700s and was played for soldiers and sailors who were heading off to war – thus the “Girl I Left Behind Me.”
Alpine Samba
This selection features a samba-style composition that takes you to the Alps of Switzerland for a lively tune played with the Latin-style beat.
1812 Overture
This piece by Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky is recognized worldwide as one of the greatest overtures ever written. It represents the defeat of Napoleon’s invading French army of 600,000 by the Russians in 1812. This musical masterpiece is often played by major symphony orchestras accompanied by fireworks, howitzer cannons, and church bells and this will be the premiere presentation for Cumberland and surrounding counties.
Rule Britannia
Our principal euphonium musician, Briana Engelbert-Vogt, will be the featured soloist on this classic British composition. Its lyrics speak to the time of the British Empire of Victorian times when the British navy… “Rule Britiannia, Britiannia rules the waves!” represented England’s dominance in the world.
Swedish Folksong
Based on the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” this arrangement of this well-known hymn provides a calming influence in the program.
Hands Across the Sea
John Philip Sousa’s march was written by the “March King” to represent the many friends and countries that the U.S. had developed during Sousa’s era.
Jabba the Hutt
For those familiar with the Star Wars movies, Jabba the Hutt was a monstrous extra-large, slug-like creature that rarely moved in his movie role. Our Bb Tubist Thomas Chesnut will be the featured soloist on this selection, which is very unique in its style to depict this unusual movie character.
March Militaire Francaise
This is another classic of music literature. Composed after the Franco-Prussian war in 1879, it represented a period of time when French military music was particularly in vogue. This selection shows the versatility of the SSSB to play this well-known, but challenging, selection.
Irish Blessing
This selection closes the concert with this old Irish hymn that many in the audience may be familiar with and know of the lyrics. “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be at your back. May you keep safe in the gentle, loving arms of God.”
This concert is sponsored by the following:
Bed & Biscuit Kennel; Fairfield Glade Rotary; Dwight & Diane Wages; Keith & Carol Pontius; Pete Bisbee – Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Adult tickets are $22 and Students are admitted free. Advance tickets can be obtained at: SDP Financial Planning (Fairfield Glade Mall); First National Bank of TN branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade; and Bed & Biscuit Kennel off of Peavine Road (153 Fence Lane) or at the door on concert day.
Doors open for seating at 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. concert. Any questions, please contact Dwight Wages at 931-484-6939.