The 30 professional musicians of the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) have prepared a wide variety of music for the Brasstacular Moments! concert on Sunday, Feb. 16 beginning at 3 p.m. Central Time. The concert takes place in the beautiful (and wonderfully-sounding!) 1,200 seat hall of the Stone Memorial High School, located at 2800 Cook Road in Crossville, TN.

Dr. Steven Sudduth (Music Director) and Dwight Wages (Artistic Director) have selected music that is guaranteed to provide “Premium Entertainment” for which the SSSB have become renowned. Michael Ruff is the featured vocalist, and many have enjoyed his roles at the Cumberland County Playhouse in such works as: Driving Miss Daisy, The Odd Couple, Johnny and the Devil’s Box, and White Christmas. For this concert, Michael will be performing from the Big Band era, including the great Cab Calloway hit Minnie the Moocher, and for a change of pace, the beautiful ballad, Someone to Watch Over Me.

The SSSB will also feature two of their own musicians for soloist presentations which will demonstrate the versatility of their skills. Principal Euphoniumist, Briana Englebert-Vogt, will perform Harmonious Blacksmith by George Frederick Handel. Principal cornet, Scott Hagarty (TTU trumpet professor), will perform a jazz version of Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho with the title Joshua Swings the Battle which adds a new swing perspective on that particular song!

The remainder of the concert includes the following:
John Philip Sousa Marches: Sound-Off, and for our Michagander’s, The Wolverine March.
Leroy Anderson’s Belle of the Ball
The popular swing version of On the Sunny Side of the Street.

In addition, the brass band is tackling the very challenging brass band arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Finale from Symphony #4.The band performed Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture in their 23/24 season to great audience response, and Dr. Sudduth and Mr. Wages, felt it appropriate to perform another symphonic classic to challenge the musicians and reward the audience with the selection of this world-renowned piece by a classic composer.

Sponsors for this concert are Susan & Barry Midelton, R.L. & Holly Clark, and Paul & Marty Wennermark. Tickets are available in advance at Atlas Realty in the Village Mall of Fairfield Glade, and First National Bank of Tennessee branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade as well as at the door on the day of the concert.

Adult tickets are $22 and Students are admitted FREE. A “short season” ticket for this Feb. 16 concert and the last one of the season on Sunday, May 4, are a bargain for $35. The concert on May 4 is entitled Lollipops and Cracker Jacks and will feature music related to the circus and baseball games, in addition to featured soloists from the Cumberland County Playhouse.

Regina Pullin is a retired US Air Force vocalist from the premiere Washington, DC location and has been featured in several shows at the Playhouse including the Wizard of OZ opening in February. Lydia Sias is a 10-year-old young lady from the Playhouse’s Triple Threat group, and she will be performing as well in the May 4 concert.

So put these dates on your calendar to come hear this premiere instrumental ensemble of 11 cornets, 3 alto horns, flugelhorn, 2 baritones, 2 euphoniums , 3 tenor trombones, a bass trombone, 2 Eb tubas, 2 Bb tubas and 4 percussionists performing a full battery of orchestral percussion equipment.

These professional musicians include university music professors, secondary music educators, and freelance musicians who come from the TN areas of Knoxville, Chattanooga, Crossville, Cookeville, Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Nashville, and Clarksville for rehearsals and concerts.

For more details, contact Dwight Wages @ 931-484-6939