Friends of Music swing into spring with Tuxedo Junction

On Friday, May 30th, the Friends of Music, a non-profit organization dedicated to offering the finest musical performances and educational opportunities in the region, is hosting Tuxedo Junction, a spring black-tie Gala celebrating the era of the big band at the incomparable Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV. Guests will be able to relive the elegant nightlife, a time when ladies in evening gowns and men in smart tuxedos dined out and danced the night away. In addition to cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction and a sumptuous banquet, there will be dancing to the sounds of Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller as performed by the Shepherd University Jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Mark McCoy and Dr. Mark Cook. 

“Our Tuxedo Junction Committee has been working all year to ensure a wonderful evening," said Sue Pellish and Alice Barkus, co-chairs for the event. The evening will begin at 6:00 pm with champagne, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and an enticing Silent Auction. Dinner features a choice of West Virginia stuffed trout or petite fillet mignon. Among the many and varied auction items are concert tickets, weekend excursions, jewelry, artwork, a luncheon for six with Lou Cox, a picnic for eight couples featuring the music of the Speakeasy Boys, a painting by Larry Drechsler, garden work, piano lessons, an evening with Guy Frank, a week at the Lighthouse Cove Resort in Pompano Beach, and much more.

Dr. McCoy is pleased that the Shepherd University Jazz Ensemble is taking part in the evening, “The students and faculty are excited to share their expertise for the enjoyment of our community." The ensemble has performed throughout the East Coast and Europe and is in great demand as a feature band in Jazz Festivals around the globe. Invited to the world-renowned Montreux Jazz festival in 2003, the Jazz Ensemble played throughout Switzerland and Italy on a 9-day concert tour. In 1999, the band took their Ellington Tour to England and France. In the United States they have been featured at the Longwood, the Blue Ridge, and The East Coast Jazz Festivals, as well as regional festivals throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.

Proceeds from the evening will go to Friends of Music, a non-profit organization, and its mission to support musical excellence at Shepherd University and to bring world-class music to Shepherdstown and neighboring communities. Seating is limited for this exclusive event. For reservation information call 304-876-5711 or visit www.sufom.org.

The Friends of Music have an exciting new venture — a professional chamber orchestra for the Eastern Panhandle! The TWO RIVERS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA will make its debut on Saturday, March 15, 2008, in the Frank Arts Center Theater of Shepherd University. This orchestra will be comprised of many of the finest musicians in the Baltimore-Washington area, including many of our own stellar faculty.  The inaugural concert will feature Dr. Scott Beard on our wonderful Fazioli piano performing the Mozart Piano Concerto in A, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No.1, Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture and John Rutter’s beautifully transcendent Five Meditations for Orchestra.

If our single performance in 2008 is successful, the orchestra will perform two concerts in the 2008-2009 season, each with second performances in Charles Town and/or Martinsburg. With sufficient community support, the 2009-2010 season will expand to three concerts including performances in three counties—Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson. Each of these concerts will feature an outstanding guest soloist, staples of the classical chamber orchestra repertoire and at least one new, beautiful or unusual piece, so that each program will have something for every listener, regardless of age, education or prior exposure to classical music. The ultimate goal is an annual three-concert season.

We are thrilled about the possibilities and the cultural enrichment our local orchestra will provide, and our beautiful new logo, combining a string instrument with the two rivers that outline our corner of West Virginia, affirms our commitment to the people and communities of our state. However, this endeavor is a major challenge as orchestras around the world have downsized, shortened seasons or folded altogether in recent years. Even for the most successful organizations, ticket sales account for a very small percentage of orchestral costs, and this is an ambitious though appropriately cautious artistic plan. Our success, as we take this first step to bring professional orchestral music to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, will depend largely upon individuals such as you, who are committed to building a better community through the arts.

Take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be instrumental in what will be a great source of beauty and pride for our region, by becoming a TWO RIVERS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA FOUNDER with an initial one-thousand dollar tax-deductible gift. Your one-thousand dollar gift will place your name on the “Orchestra Founders” display as well as in the program listing of founders. The “Founders List” will be prominently displayed at all future performances of the 2RCO, noting your vital role in this endeavor for years to come. You will receive two complimentary tickets to the premiere performance, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with the performers at a “Founders Only” VIP Reception immediately following the performance, where we will present you a special gift in appreciation. Your contribution will also provide you membership in the Friends of Music and a Shepherd University “Music Access Card”. Your MAC card is valid for admission for two to ALL of the 2007-2008 Shepherd University Music Department concerts. (A $300 value!)

Only those who respond now to this unique opportunity will be recognized as a Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra Founder. Click here to become a founder - PDF format | Word format