Places A preview of Performing Arts at Johnson County Community Collegewww.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Porgy and Bess celebrates its 75th anniversary

February 2010

Philharmonia of the Nations

Band of the Irish Guards and the

Royal Regiment of Scotland

Porgy and Bess

Arts Education Reaches Out

In 1995, Justus Frantz founded a unique orchestra: the Philharmonia of the Nations. The highly talented young musicians in this multicultural philharmonic orchestra hail from more than 40 countries and five continents.Chinese perform with Americans, Irish with English and Syrians with Israelis.Their common language is music.

The Philharmonia of the Nations with Jon Nakamatsu, solo pianist, andFrantz, conductor, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in Yardley Hallof the Carlsen Center as part of the Performing Arts Series at JohnsonCounty Community College. The evening program will be Brahms’ PianoConcerto No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 Titan.

Artists Insights by Dr. Bill Everett, musicologist, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, begin at 7 p.m.

Featured soloist, American pianist Nakamatsu, came to international attention in 1997 as gold medalist in the 10th Van Cliburn InternationalPiano Competition. He performed previously in Yardley Hall with the BerlinPhilharmonic Wind Quintet in October 2000, playing two versions of PianoSextet — one by Francis Poulenc and one by Ludwig Thuille.

Enjoying a successful career as both an international pianist and as a conductor, Frantz is a tireless supporter of young musical talent, holdingworldwide auditions for positions in the orchestra. It was while workingwith Leonard Bernstein that he adopted Bernstein’s credo, “Let’s makemusic as friends.” Bernstein’s dream of an international, young professional

orchestra led Justus to form the Philharmonia of the Nations. His discoveries include star violinist Midori, pianist Evgeny Kissin and violinistMaxim Vengerov.

“I want to stress that although the musicians are young professionals, theyare very, very good,” said Charles Rogers, artistic director, Performing ArtsSeries at JCCC. “The director, Justus Frantz, is well respected in the musicworld.”

The orchestra does not have a permanent location; its home is the music.The musicians have performed more than 1,000 concerts around the worldand will continue to travel promoting musical and cultural harmony.

Their tours give proof to the fact that music can transcend cultural boundaries. In July 2001, the Philharmonia performed a private concert for Pope John Paul II in his summer residence Castel, Gandolfo. Two daysafter September 11, the orchestra gave a concert in honor of the tragedy’svictims in the church of St. Michael, Hamburg.

In January 2003, the Philharmonia of the Nations had the honor to performthe original manuscript score of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9as part of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” register. The Ninth Symphonywith its idea of joy and worldwide fraternity is a guiding principle of the Philharmonia of the Nations.

Tickets $45, $35

Philharmonia showcases international harmony

Philharmonia of the Nations

If you can’t make it to the Queen’s Birthday Parade, you can still enjoyroyal pomp and circumstance. Join the Band of the Irish Guards and thePipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of the Royal Regiment of Scotlandwhen they perform Hands Across the Sea at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 19-20, in Yardley Hall.

The Irish Guards were formed in 1900 on the expressed wish of HM QueenVictoria to commemorate the bravery of the many Irish Regiments who hadfought in the South African campaigns. More than a century later, the Bandof the Irish Guards makes its debut tour of the United States. The combinedbands have a total of 85 musicians and dancers performing the music ofIreland, Scotland, Wales and Britain.

In regimental uniform of scarlet tunic, blue overalls, Wellington boots andbearskin hats, the bands play a full program that includes national anthems(God Save the Queen, Oh, Canada and The Star Spangled Banner); musicfrom the highlands, valley, glens, royal castles and Emerald Isle; sworddances; tributes to the American Armed Forces; an opening muster; finalfanfare of Ode to Joy, Amazing Grace and Auld Lang Syne; and a finalmuster and march off with music such as Scotland the Brave.

The British Army has a tradition of bands providing musical support totroops during active service. It engenders a unique esprit de corps, and, during both World Wars, the Band of the Irish Guards regularly traveled to give morale-boosting performances to the troops.

The current band has a variety of professional ensembles that include aConcert Band, Marching Band, Salon Orchestra, Dance Band, Fanfare Trumpeters and several other smaller ensembles. The band’s main duty is toplay, in turn with the other 4 Foot Guards Bands, for the Mounting of TheQueen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace and for ceremonial occasions such

as state visits, royal weddings, royal garden parties, Guards of Honor andthe Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Color). The Band of the IrishGuards has worldwide tours, critically acclaimed recordings, and film andtelevision appearances listed in its credits.

In addition to their musical activities, musicians are trained as medics in theevent of mobilization. Three of the musicians served in the first Gulf Warand, in June 1999, the band was deployed to Kosovo as part of a NATOpeace-keeping force.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland (the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)have a combined history dating to 1881, although individually the twoHighland groups date to 1794. Their pedigrees are complex, but it is interesting to note that the name “Princess Louise’s” often applies to theregiment after Princess Louise (daughter of Queen Victoria) married theMarquise of Lorne (heir to the Duke of Argyll) in 1871.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders last appeared on a North Americantour with the Black Watch in 1989 and the 1st Battalion Queens Regimentin 1993.

Since 2002 the Highlanders have served in Iraq, Bosnia, Belize, Kenya andrecently returned from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where the Pipesand Drums were deployed as part of the heavy machine gun platoon, working closely with the U.S. Marine Corps. They are due to return to Helmand Province Afghanistan in 2010.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment ofScotland, are now based in Canterbury, Kent, England.

Tickets $40, $30

A performance fit for royalty

The Irish Guards

Sones de México, Chicago’s premier Mexican folk music ensemble, is accustomed to playing for large groups. But Sones took time out for“small” groups with its programs at the Hiersteiner Child DevelopmentCenter and local schools during its Performing Arts Outreach residency Sept. 22-25.

At the HCDC, Sones taught children a sequence of movements to accompany a song appropriately named Los Enanos, The Little Ones.While Juan Dies, bass player, led the smiling group in music, Lorena Iñiguez,dancer and instrumentalist, demonstrated the sequence of steps — frombecoming very little on the ground to becoming very big and reaching for the sky.

The HCDC classes were divided into three age categories from 12 monthsto preschool. Participation ranged from children in the youngest group clapping their hands to children in the older class alternating foot patternsin a full-fledged dance.

“Look at how absorbed and involved they are,” said Sara McElhenny, director, HCDC. “This kind of workshop helps bring a new culture to thechildren, helps them learn rhythm and allows them to experience the joy of doing things together.”

In addition to the HCDC, Angel Mercier, program director, PAS Arts Education, arranged for Sones to work with grade-school to middle-schoolstudents at four area schools, the Paola Community Center and TLC forChildren and Families, which serves children and youth in crisis.

Sones also taught two separate lessons – one Mexican dance lesson and asecond about its 70 acoustic instruments – in the Carlsen Center before the performance, enriching the audience’s experience.

Performing Arts reach out

HCDC student Dayton Brown took a liking to Juan Dies and his guitar.

Acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel issued an invite to the public to experience his technique close up and engage in a Q & A. Approximately 218 people attended the session that preceded his sold-out evening performance in Yardley Hall.

It may have looked like hocus-pocus, but Kevin Spencer was teaching rehabilitation therapy techniques to health professionals in his Healing ofMagic workshop at JCCC in October. Using objects as simple as a rubberband, dollar bill and scarf, Spencer was teaching therapy modalities through sleight of hand.

“It is all about spatial relationship,” Spencer calls to the class as they practice jumping a rubber band from one set of fingers to another. “Thinkabout how you can use this trick to enhance your clients’ strength, flexibility, muscular development and cognitive abilities.”

As part of the Performing Arts Series, Kevin and Cindy Spencer, the 2009Magicians of the Year, performed Theatre of Illusion Oct. 10 in Yardley Hall.During a weeklong residency preceding the performance, Kevin Spencerand two assistants, Alan Matheny and Etan Schneider, worked magic on the community as part of the PAS Arts Education program.

Two seminars were cosponsored by Arts Education and JCCC’s Health andHuman Services — Healing of Magic on Oct. 6 and Hocus Focus for RNs,LPNs, social workers, counselors, psychologists and education professionalsworking with children or adults who have behavioral or learning disabilitieson Oct. 8.

Glenna Young, RN, who specializes in mental health, enrolled in the Healing of Magic workshop to benefit her grandson, who has ADD, ADHDand autism. Occupational therapist Jennifer Bennett said using magic

techniques in rehab was new to her. She enjoyed the hands-on techniquesthat could improve clients’ quality of life and give them something to enjoy.

“Sometimes people get depressed with a lot of the medical treatment andrehabilitation,” Bennett said. “The magic tricks require the motions theyneed, and they have a fun purpose.”

Once a trick was mastered, Spencer asked the therapists to adapt it forsomeone who was arthritic, had only one hand or was quadraplegic. ButSpencer was sure to emphasize the “ah” factor.

“Work on presentation with your clients,” he said. “You don’t want to practice good therapy and bad magic tricks.”

In addition to the two seminars, Spencer and his assistants performedhands-on activities with patients at the oncology and dialysis units at Children’s Mercy Hospital and with children and mothers at SAFEHOME.They also had a special interactive performance created for adults with developmental disabilities or severe learning disabilities in JCCC’s CLEARprogram.

“After a memorable experience working with the brave children at Children’s Mercy Hospital, we moved on to another group of very bravekids. This time, they weren’t in a hospital. These children and their motherswere in a safe house for the abused and neglected. Working with thesekids literally brought tears to our eyes as we watched them play, learn and laugh,” Spencer said.

Magic brings healing and fun

Kevin Spencer assists Glenna Young, RN, with the

“secret move” of the double-jumping

rubber bands trick.

“Our objective this year with Performing Arts Outreach is to keep the artists a little longer and build a comprehensive experience around that,” Mercier said. “With each artist or ensemble, we are aimingto keep components educational and fun and to involve the community and campus at all ages.”

Artists Insights by Dr. Bill Everett, musicologist, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Dr. Paul Laird, musicologist, the University of Kansas, begin at 7 p.m.

The title roles are performed by Samuel Stevenson, Metropolitan Opera veteran, as Porgy, and Peabody Conservatory-trained Jerris Cates as Bess.The cast’s virtuosic singing and powerful acting consistently receive enthusiastic reviews.

Considered by many to be America’s greatest opera, Porgy and Bess’ placein history was years in the making. Summertime, I Got Plenty of Nuttin’ andBess, You Is My Woman Now are well-known favorites today, but Gershwintook a gamble when he premiered the work in New York in 1935 with anall-black cast.

Based on a novel by DuBose Heyward (who collaborated with Ira Gershwinon the lyrics), the classic story is set in the fictitious slum of Catfish Row in1912 Charleston and follows the bittersweet love of the crippled beggarPorgy who tries to save the beautiful, haunted Bess from the seductive lifeof dope and prostitution.

Before Gershwin started work on the score and orchestration, he spent a

summer on Folly Island near Charleston, becoming familiar with the musicand customs of the area. The language of Porgy and Bess, the Gullah language, is a Creole-blend of English and African languages.

Although Gershwin billed it as an “American folk opera,” the musical/operacontains no folk tunes. Instead, Porgy and Bess uses popular song styles –jazz, blues and Gershwin’s special orchestration to achieve a story that intertwines pride, prejudice, pathos and passions.

The music, plot and language stunned music and drama critics at its Broadway premiere. While critical success was mixed, the show was considered a commercial failure. History proved it otherwise. Critical andpopular attitude is now unreserved acclaim. Porgy and Bess has taken its place alongside Carmen and Die Meistersinger on the world’s stages, according to Roger Kimball, musical theater historian, who has written excellent program notes for this production.

Black History Month is an appropriate time to attend this carefully researched production of Porgy and Bess. At its 70th anniversary, NPR saidGershwin’s landmark opera remains “a controversial mirror of America’sevolving attitudes about race, culture and class.”

At its 75th anniversary, the opera’s genius continues, underscored by theemotion of its music, historical context and eternal optimism that Porgy is on his way to rescue Bess.

Tickets $50, $40

At 75, Porgy and Bess remains a powerful force

Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin’s masterpiece Porgy and Bess celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2010 with a new production featuring an all-star cast of 30 and live orchestra at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 26-27,in Yardley Hall.

Performing Arts EventsJ o h n s o n C o u n t y C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e

February 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

For best seats, order early.

Call 913-469-4445or buy tickets onlinewww.jccc.edu/TheSeriesfor tickets and information.

Service fee applicable.

Purchase live online

Box Office: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4445Tickets are required for most events in Polsky Theatre and Yardley Hall. Programs, dates and times are subject to change. There is a $1 per ticket handling charge at the JCCC box office. Discounts are available for music, theater and dance students.

Carlsen Center Administrative Office: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4450A request for interpretative services must be made 72 hours before a performance. Call the box office at 913-469-4445 orTDD/TTY 913-469-4485.

Persons with disabilities who desire additional support services may contact services for patrons with disabilities, 913-469-8500, ext. 3521, or TDD/TTY 913-469-3885.

*free-admission event

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Philharmonia of the Nationswith pianist

Jon NakamatsuClassics Series

8 p.m. Yardley Hall$45, $35

*Frederic Chen, pianoRuel Joyce

Recital Seriesnoon Recital Hall

Kansas City SymphonyClassical SeriesStern conductsBeethoven and

Tchaikovsky2 p.m. Yardley Hall

$55, $45, $12 youth

*Brookside StringQuartet

Ruel Joyce Recital Series

noon Recital Hall

*Candace Evans TrioJazz Series

noon Recital Hall

Viva la Fashion, Spring It On!JCCC Fashion

Merchandising & Designnoon and 7 p.m. Polsky Theatre

$8 public in advance, $10 at the door

$5 students /employees

Band of the Irish Guards and Royal Regiment of Scotland

Center Stage Series8 p.m. Yardley Hall

$40, $30

Porgy and Bess, 75th anniversary production

Classics Series8 p.m. Yardley Hall

$50, $40

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Band of the Irish GuardsFrederic Chen

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Porgy and Bess

Brookside StringQuartet

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Johnson County

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www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Paul Taylor Dance Company and JCCCThe Paul Taylor Dance Company performed Brief Encounters, a co-commission of the Performing Arts Series, Nov. 13-14 at Yardley Hall. PAS has supported Taylor and his dance company through the years, commissioning or co-commissioning four previous dances: Black Tuesday (2001), Dante Variations (2004), Banquet of Vultures (2006) and De Sueños que se Repiten (2007).

This photo was captured during an open rehearsal by the company before the November performance.

Bettie de Jong, Paul Taylor Dance Company rehearsal director for 34 years, gives notes to dancers Laura Halzack and Orion Duckstein.