Mike Conrad, founder and director of The Iowa Jazz Composers Orchestra, talks about some of his experiences as a renowned composer and gets us excited for upcoming IJCO gig at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on Jan 21 at 2pm.   Tickets at www.coralvillearts.org. More info on the band at www.iowajazzcomposersorchestra.com. Subscribe to … Continue reading

It’s time for another night at the opera with the Cedar Rapids Opera’s upcoming production of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca. Cast members Chaz’men Williams-Ali, Maria Natale, and Norman Garrett share insight to Puccini’s dramatic work and spoiler alert, you’re going to want to stay for Act II. Shows are Friday, January 19 at 7:30pm and Sunday, … Continue reading

“Charlie and the Wolf” is an opera for young people commissioned by Cedar Rapids Opera. Bored middle schooler Logan dozes off, only to have Wolfgang Mozart and Charlie Parker appear to teach her about music and friendship. Cast members Brittany Graham, Evan J. Nelson, Lindsay Paradise, and Rene Vazquez will bring this fanciful tale to … Continue reading

Culture Crawl 884 “Here’s The Weird Thing We’re Doing This Year” After inviting the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra to be Iowa Orchestra’s special guest for this year’s Holiday Spectacular, Tim Hankewich discovered that there are HARDLY ANY existing charts for symphony orchestra and jazz big band. Fortunately, the Orchestra has a secret weapon: Arranger Steve … Continue reading

Culture Crawl 883 “We Don’t Fit in the Rehearsal Room” The Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra celebrates its tenth anniversary this season, kicking off the celebration with a Winter Concert, Dec. 10 at 3pm in Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium. The orchestra is composed of students from Kirkwood and Coe Colleges, as well as a dedicated core of … Continue reading

22 years ago Jim Engelbach and Kyle Patrick brought the TubaChristmas tradition to Cedar Rapids. Anyone with a Tuba is invited to get together for a day-of rehearsal followed by an informal concert open to the public.  This year’s concert will be at the Cedar Rapids Downtown Library at 3pm on Dec 9. Players can … Continue reading

Lisa Barnes was a patron of the annual Holiday Thieves Market Fine Arts Show for years before she brought the event to Summer of the Arts. The Thieves Market features more than 85 fine artists Dec. 9 & 10 at the Hyatt Regency Expo Center in Coralville. Admission is free! Schedule and more info at … Continue reading

Carol Montag brings “A Carol Christmas” to CSPS on December 7. In the band will be former Iowan Bruce Millard (driving from Boston so he can bring the maximum amount of gear), along with Carol’s one-time guitar student Riley Thurm and Dillon Rairdin. Carol and Bruce have mined some vintage recordings for some unique holiday … Continue reading

Join Gerry Kreitzer and the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale December 2nd for an evening of exultant arias and joyous refrains from Handel’s “Messiah” (Part One). The First Lutheran choir (and audience!) will join in for a grand finale singing the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus.  It’s Dec 2nd, 7:30pm @First Lutheran Church Tickets go fast, get yours … Continue reading

The holidays are fast approaching and TKM Theatrical Productions has just the festive thing for the whole family to enjoy! “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” opens December 1 at The Amana Performing Arts Center and Tim Milligan & Quanda Hood are here to tell us all about it. December 1-3 & 8-10, … Continue reading