Each week, arts writer Meredith Moss highlights the events and individuals making arts news in our region. If you have news you’d like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com
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The Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 25th anniversary season with an exciting program entitled “Freedom and Joy.” The concert commemorates the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.
The special event, which will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 3, at the Bellbrook High School auditorium (3737 Upper Bellbrook Road), will feature well-known poet Herbert Woodward Martin narrating Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” The second half of the concert will feature Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony performed with a chorus of 80 community members. Soloists from the University of Dayton faculty include soprano Minnita Daniel-Cox, mezzo Ryu-Kyung Kim and tenor David Sievers. Also performing will be Wright State University faculty member baritone Peter Keates, who sang the role of Javert in the Symphony’s October production of “Les Miserables.”
The community orchestra is comprised of about 80 volunteer musicians and traces its history back to 1989. Over the years, it has provided a wide range of musical entertainment — symphonic music, opera, ballet, silent film scores and musical theater.
Tickets to the event — $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students — can be purchased at the door or online at www.mvso.org
Artists announced for two library branches
Continuing its terrific project of matching area artists with new libraries, the Dayton Metro Library has selected artists for the New Lebanon and Brookville Branches. Eventually, each new or newly-remodeled building will feature original art created by local artists thanks to the ReImagining Works project.
The innovative project invites artists to use pieces from the Dayton Art Institute’s permanent collection as inspiration for new library artwork. It’s all possible because of an anonymous bequest designed to integrate original art and innovative programming at the 17 new or renovated Library buildings.
Three proposals have been accepted for the New Lebanon Branch. Shon Walters will create a hand-carved wood relief sculpture for the Marketplace wall. Amy Kollar Anderson will create a pentaptych (a five-paneled work) on birch panels for the Quiet Reading Room. James Michael and Co., a team of glassblowers, will create a colorful window for the Children’s Room.
Four artist proposals were accepted for Brookville: James Michael and Co. will create an installation of up to 30 glass vessels to be suspended from a cable system in the Marketplace area of the Library; Darren Kall will create a painting on site after the Library is open, allowing the public to see and interact with him as he paints. Suzanne Ley will create two acrylic paintings on canvas reflecting the landscape of Brookville, and Ron Rollins will create a three-panel work for the Quiet Reading Room.
You can read more about ReImagining Works at DaytonMetroLibrary.org or call (937) 463-BOOK.
Bach Society ends season will May 10 concert
The Bach Society of Dayton’s will host its final concert of the season, “South American Accents: Music from the Americas,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 10, at Kettering Adventist Church, 3939 Stonebridge Road in Kettering.
Under the direction of music director John Neely, the program features music from North and South America, including the unique “Misa Criolla” by Argentinian composer Ariel Ramirez. The performance highlights Dayton’s own Jim McCutcheon on guitar, tenor soloists Emmanuel Vargas and Pedro Arroyo and Thomas Garcia on charango (a 10-stringed lute).
A concert preview at 3 p.m. will be hosted by Jaime Morales-Matos, associate professor of music at Miami University and music director of the Central Ohio Symphony, Clermont Philharmonic and Latin music ensemble Son del Caribe.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for students, and free for children 12 and under. They can be ordered by phone at (937) 294.2224, online at www.bachsocietyofdayton.org, or purchased at the door the day of the concert. Parking is free and the facility is handicap accessible.
Kettering announces Art Celebration
Here’s exciting news from Kettering: A party to celebrate the city’s new permanent art collection at the Government Center is slated for 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 12. The free event, which will begin with an artist meet-and-greet followed by 30-minute guided tours at 5 and 5:45 p.m., is being hosted by The City of Kettering and the Art in Public Places Committee. Remarks by Mayor Don Patterson and committee chair Chair Linda Lombard will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The collection reflects the natural world through black and white photographs, colorful oil paintings and multi-process relief prints. Regional artists represented include Pam Adams, Gretchen Durst Jacobs, Susie King, Mary Koch, Jean Koeller, Richard Malogorski, Fred Niles, Andrea Starkey, Doug Taylor, Kim Vito, Paula Willmot Kraus and Maury Wyckoff.
The event will also mark the acquisition of newly commissioned CitySites artworks. Site-specific oil paintings by Katherine Kadish and Jean Koeller, a steel sculpture by Hamilton Dixon and a purchased oil pastel by Willis “Bing” Davis, are on permanent display in the entrances of the Government Center buildings. The Center is located at 3600 Shroyer Road.
Urban farming film slated for May 2
The Montgomery County Food Policy Coalition will host a free screening of the film “Growing Cities” at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at The Neon Theater movie theater, 130 E. Fifth St. in Dayton.
The movie focuses on urban farming in America. “At a time when so much negative attention is paid to the food system — from mad cows to factory farms — this film tells the inspiring stories of city-dwellers who are transforming their communities, one vacant lot, backyard beehive and rooftop farm at a time,” states the press information.
To reserve a seat, call (937) 225-6470 or email bradforde@mcohio.org.
Dayton Celebration Chorus performing today
The Annual Spring Concert of the Dayton Celebration Chorus takes places this afternoon at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, corner of Fifth and Ludlow streets in downtown Dayton.
Today’s concert will include sacred songs, spirituals, jazz and musical theater. The concert is free and open to the public and has free parking behind the church. The chorus is a community choir affiliated with the University of Dayton Office of Continuing Education and Special Programs.
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