In late August of 2007, Curt Johnson – lead guitarist of legendary Flint rock group, Terry Knight and the Pack – phoned me. “Hey Rob, Mark is playing down in Pontiac at Arts Beats & Eats for Labor Day. I talked to Lisa and got our names on the list. Let’s go!”
The 45th Annual William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition took place on March 5, showcasing the best in string musicians. Twenty-five contestants auditioned, and five finalists were selected by three judges to perform in the evening program. The winner of the Competition is Xiao Wang, a violinist from China who is currently studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Gentle, resonant, sharp, clear, reverberating, splashing, cascading – these are some words that describe the melodious sound of a harp. Ever since Brittany DeYoung – harp instructor at Flint Institute of Music – was a little girl, she knew it was the instrument she wanted to play. While growing up in Utah, her whole family was musically inclined; her mother played the flute and her three sisters played the piano, flute and cello.
In celebration of Black History Month, Baker College of Flint is presenting Gospel Concert Night, which will feature talent from local churches and Baker College students, faculty and staff. The concert is tomorrow, Saturday, February 6, from 4pm to 6pm, at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 3020 Dupont Street in Flint.
Hidden deep in the woods on the outskirts of Fenton, you will find Rancho Recordo – a recording studio where Music Producer Marc Hudson works with musicians from all around the world. Marc is the studio owner, tour manager, audio engineer, and a musician. Having worked with many bands including Against Me, an American punk rock band; Saves the Day, The Swellers, Taking Back Sunday and several others, Marc himself plays the bass guitar and the violin.
The magic of Christmas is about to begin. A performance of Nutcracker, featuring the Collage Dance Collective of Memphis and the Flint School of Performing Arts kicks off the holiday season at The Whiting in the first weekend in December. It has been described as one of the best-loved and most widely known ballets of our time. Russian composer, Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky set the tale to music in the early 1890s. Under the direction of David Mairs, the Flint Symphony Orchestra performs the extraordinary score, including the all-time favorite, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” The orchestra is considered to be a “cultural icon” in the community, and one of the finest in the nation, with talented musicians from all around the country.
Local 432 has been providing area youth with a substance-free music performance venue for 30 years and celebrated three decades of music and art with concerts and a Food Fest during a gala weekend in October. Held at the Flint Farmers’ Market, the event offered ten tasting stations featuring fabulous food prepared by five local chefs and five famous chefs from around the country. About 350 people turned out, and it was also declared “Local 432 Day” by Flint Mayor Dayne Walling.
The St. Cecilia Society of Flint was founded in October, 1890, when 12 ladies met at the home of Nellie Bates, also known as Mrs. J. Dallas Dort. The ladies paid weekly dues of five cents and their original objective was “the study and improvement of music.” That objective continued to be upheld through the Society’s coordination with the Flint Institute of Music in the early 1970s. Since then, they have held meetings in a special room at the FIM dedicated to the Society.
Music tends to become a part of our hearts. Gregg Emerson Powell’s heart is attracted to the deep lull of the double bass – an instrument that, he claims, is the core of a piece of music, the “crust” of the pizza. Although he did not start playing the bass until the age of 22, he has enjoyed many significant accomplishments; one such success was getting his first gig just six months after becoming proficient with the instrument.
Making music, to John Hill, is as easy as breathing. “It’s something that’s part of me,” he shares, like talking about music is just as important as performing it.
Pharlon Randle knows all about the power of words when they’re matched with a good beat. Since the inception of his songwriting and recording program Studio on the Go in 2006, Pharlon and his team have witnessed the impact of his program on thousands of Flint-area youth from elementary age to high school: better retention of academic concepts, improved self-confidence, better public speaking skills and a lot of smiles. All this comes from metered phrases put down on paper by youth during songwriting workshops held at several area schools and youth centers.
