PEACH WEEKENDER | MUSIC

Symphony Under the Stars returns

7/5/2018
BY WAYNE F. ANTHONY
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE
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    Music Under the Stars kicks off Sunday at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre with Stars, Stripes, and Sousa.

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  • Mercy Health, assisted by The Andersons and Taylor Automotive Group, once again presents Music Under the Stars at the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre. The Toledo Symphony chamber players join forces with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony concert band in a series of concerts exploring patriotic music and the music of film great John Williams.

    Four concerts are scheduled: Stars, Stripes, and Sousa (Sunday), Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars: The Music of John Williams (July 15), Christmas in July (July 22), and Swing, Swing Swing: Music of the Big Band Stars (July 29).

    The free concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The Zoo Amphitheatre opens at 6:30 p.m. for seating. Nonmember parking at the zoo is $8.

    The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority will once again offer shuttle service to the concerts for those wishing to participate in Park-N-Ride services. Shuttles are available from five locations: 

    • Maumee — St. Luke’s Hospital (5901 Monclova Rd.)

    • Sylvania — Centennial Terrace (main parking lot, 5773 Centennial Rd.)

    • Toledo — Franklin Park Mall (lot behind Old Navy; pick up at shelters on Royer Road) and Miracle Mile Shopping Center (near the shelter, 1727 W. Laskey Rd.)

    • Waterville — Kroger (8730 Waterville Swanton Rd.)

    Patrons should arrive at any Park-N-Ride location at 6:30 p.m. for a direct round trip ride to the Toledo Zoo’s Broadway entrance. Return trips leave 20 minutes after the end of each concert. Bus fare is $1.25 per person each way (60 cents for seniors 65 and older and Medicare cardholders).

    ■ The Maumee Community Band, directed by Kevin Heidbreder, performs its second free Music by the River concert of the summer at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the lawn of the Maumee Library, 501 River Rd., Maumee. Attendees should bring a lawn chair or blanket.

    ■ Tenor Shawn Mlynek, a Toledo native, returns to the area from Germany to present a recital of literature by Ottorino Respighi, Robert Schumann, Antonin Dvořák, and others. Pianist Valerie Pool will accompany. Mlynek’s recent credits include debuts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Slovak National Theatre, and the Stadttheater Giessen. The free concert begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at Collingwood Presbyterian Church, 2108 Collingwood Blvd.

    ■ The free Music at the Market concert series in conjunction with the Perrysburg Farmers Market features Distant Cousinz performing a diverse mix of genres and styles 7 p.m. Thursday on the Commodore Schoolyard lawn, 140 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Next week’s performance will be by Ol’ Creek Road.

    ■ The free Toledo Lucas County Public Library Brown Bag Summer Concert Series continues with Fu5ion performing R&B, hip hop, and rock from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday on the north lawn of the Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. July 18’s performance will be by Just Kiddin’ Around.

    ■ Sights and Sounds on Thursday Nights continues Thursday across downtown Chelsea, Mich. Slated performers are: Mixed Nuts (folk/Americana), North Creek Fiddlers (bluegrass/country), the Fossil Creek Band (bluegrass/Americana), Double Down (classic country/rock), Creole de Norde (Cajun Zydeco), 2x4 (tap duo), and the Lisa Mary Band (country). Music runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Family activities and food are also available. The movie at dusk is Back to the Future (PG). For more information, call 734-355-1323 or visit chelseafestivals.com.

    ■ Chicago Reed performer Shawn Maxwell’s New Tomorrow Quintet performs an evening of experimental jazz at 8 Friday; tickets are $20. Kevin Vandermark’s “Marker” ensemble explores an evening of new compositions and edge music at 8 Monday; tickets are $15. Both performances are at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. Tickets and more information at 734-769-2999 or kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

    ■ The Michigan Opera Theatre celebrates modern dance with its 2018-19 Dance Series’ schedule released this week. Performances include: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (Oct. 27), BalletMet’s The Nutcracker (Nov. 24-25), Alessandra Ferri: The Art of the Pas de Deux (Feb. 16), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (March 15-17), and the Martha Graham Dance Company (April 26-27). Subscriptions are on sale and may be purchased at up to 30 percent of single ticket prices. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 20. For more information or to purchase, call 313-237-7464 or visit michiganopera.org.

    ■ The Toledo Opera is seeking boys and girls ages 9-14 with unchanged voices to sing in the children’s chorus for its upcoming production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Performances are Feb. 8 and 10. Auditions will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 8. Vocal rehearsals begin on Oct. 21, and staging rehearsals on Jan. 28. Interested individuals should contact James Norman at 419-255-7464 or jnorman@toledoopera.org for more information or to schedule and audition.

    Send news of classical music and dance events at least two weeks in advance to classics@theblade.com.