Home for the Holidays - next Saturday!

Dear Crescendo friends!
Our December 13th concert is a week away, and it's going to be a spectacular concert I look forward to seeing you at the reception when our Jazz duo the Hiser Brothers return by popular demand to give a jazzy spin on some holiday favorites. Here is a quick promo about the concert itself:

Home for the Holidays!

See you next Saturday!
Ron Spigelman

Jazzing it UP - 4 days to go!

This Saturday is our Swing Swing Swing extravaganza!  It is our first Crescendo event of the season and I will be in the Fuldner lounge prior to the concert to welcome you all.  There will be a Jazz combo for your pre-concert entertainment and of course fine food, drink and company.  On Thursday we will be at Borders starting at 5:30pm and our special guest is Jazz Vocalist Nancy Kelly who will talk about her career as a Jazz singer.  Find out if there's anything behind singing the blues! It is not too late to join Crescendo.  Just call 864 6683!

For the next few days I will preview my program notes in sections.  Part 1:

Although I spend most of my time now in the realm of Classical music, it certainly didn’t start that way.  When I started playing the Trumpet at 7 years old, initially I didn’t learn to read music, I learnt everything by ear.  I believe this gave me my instincts for music as I wasn’t working things out by reading, but instead I was feeling, listening and watching.  The first musical group I joined was my school Jazz band in the 5^th grade, and I didn’t join an orchestra until two years after that.  Jazz essentially is where I got my start and it holds a special place for me still.  When 2 years ago I was on Dr. Nietzel’s round table radio show on KSMU discussing the arts, one of the questions was: what is missing from the arts scene in Springfield? Without hesitation, I said a vibrant jazz scene. There was certainly more than a little surprise from the other participants that I the Symphony music director would say that, but Dr. Nietzel agreed and it is a credit to him that more Jazz is appearing on campus being lead by one of our soloists tonight, Missouri State Music faculty member and master Saxophonist  Randy Hamm. 

Ron Spigelman 

Time to get LOUD!!!!!!

It is great to be here thanks for the invite Billy, sorry for the belated acceptance. I just realized that Crescendo is a Young Patron's group for the Symphony, and I turned 40 in April which means according to one now former friend that I am in the youth of my old age! Not only that, on Friday Lisa and I celebrate our 15th anniversary! I guess being Music Director means that I get a pass to be allowed to participate in my soon to be dotage. Our first concert in the Crescendo series is coming up October 18, and is going to be a blow it out loud Jazz extravaganza, with full Big Band, plus Orchestra so A REALLY BIG BAND. Don't miss it and Askinosie Chocolate for Crescendo members in the Fuldner Lounge at Juanita K, call Kelly at the office 864 6683 for details.
Hey today I recorded Lacey Lee our Harpist in performance, she played at one of the Crescendo gatherings last season. Just click HERE to check it out!
RS