National Arts and Humanities Month (NAHM) is a coast-to-coast celebration of culture in America. Held every October and coordinated by Americans for the Arts, NAHM is the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation. President Obama has issued a White House proclamation that recognizes the value of the arts and humanities and kicks off this month’s celebrations. Within the proclamation, President Obama states:
 
"Millions of Americans earn a living in the arts and humanities, and the non-profit and for-profit arts industries are important parts of both our cultural heritage and our economy...We must recognize the contributions of the arts and humanities not only by supporting the artists of today, but also by giving opportunities to the creative thinkers of tomorrow. Educators across our country are opening young minds, fostering innovation, and developing imaginations through arts education."

 
PARTICIPATE LOCALLY National Arts and Humanities Month Events Map: Learn more about the NAHM events happening nationwide this October.

Greetings,
My name is Katrina Cropp and I am the Event Coordinator for the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. I am looking to host our first Winter Concert Festival here at our facility, and am looking for artists and vendors that would be available and interested is setting up displays and selling their goods to our guests. In addition to local artist we also have various musicians/ orchestras and wineries from our area coming to do wine tasting along with other various food vendors. I have several confirmed dates for this event (listed below) and I would love to see as many local artisans as possible take part in our concert series. If you could please contact me back expressing your interest and your availability. 

If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me at the number listed below. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you all the best.

Scheduled Dates:
11/18/11
12/16/11
1/20/12
2/17/12
3/16/12

Times: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Regards,

Katrina Cropp
Event Coordinator
Southern Maryland Higher Education Center
Phone: (301) 737-2500
Fax: (301) 737-2542

Deadline of Jan. 13 Set for High School Pianists to Apply to Compete

Expanded opportunities for high school pianists to be recognized for their talents will be available during the fourth annual Southern Maryland Piano Competition to be held April 28 and 29, 2012 at the College of Southern Maryland’s Prince Frederick Campus.

The high-level juried competition is open to any high school student within the region as an opportunity to promote piano performance and reward and encourage young pianists within Southern Maryland.

This year’s competition will include expanded opportunities to recognize pianists by awarding a grand prize as well as awards for best performances of a Baroque or Classical work as well as of a Romantic or Contemporary work, both at the freshman/sophomore level and the junior/senior level for both categories.

Committee chair and CSM Professor Dr. Stephen Johnson said the competition is an opportunity for talented, young artists within Southern Maryland to showcase their level of musical expression and technical excellence as they perform on the college’s “magnificent, handcrafted Bösendorfer.”

“By having four categories in addition to the Grand Prize based on age group and historical styles, younger pianists as well as their older, more accomplished peers will be able to experience the benefits
of the competition. We think it will encourage younger high school performers to audition,” Johnson said.

Deadline for applications for CSM’s and ArtLinks Southern Maryland Piano Competition is Jan. 13, 2012. The auditions will be on Saturday, April 28 on the piano, which is the centerpiece of the college’s Ward
Virts Concert Series and located at the Prince Frederick Campus. The piano was given to the community by the Ward Virts Piano Project Group as a tribute to the late Ward Virts, a talented concert trained pianist
from the region and who died in 1993.

The Sunday performance on April 29 will feature the competition winners. The finalists will also be presented with certificates and cash awards.

Applications as well as the competition rules are available at
www.csmd.edu/SoMdPianoCompetition.

CSM’s campuses are accessible to patrons with disabilities. Audio
description for the visually impaired and sign language interpretation
for the hearing impaired are available with a minimum two week advanced
notice. If you are interested in these services, please contact the
academic support/ADA coordinator at 301-934-7614.

Cecil's Country Store announces the arrival of the 2011 Kiwanis Club Christmas ornaments.  A holiday tradition, these ornaments are specially designed representations of local historical sites. This year's ornament features Cecil's Old Mill and Country Store. It's a beautiful depiction of Cecil's Old Mill and Country Store in a glittering gold finish with cutouts that catch the light and create a three-dimensional look.  

Quantities are limited , so pick up your ornament today! The cost of the ornament is only $10 and 100% of the proceeds go to benefit our local Kiwanis Club.

The St. Mary's County Kiwanis Club sponsors children and young adults who serve their schools and our community in Kiwanis K-Kids Clubs, Builders Clubs, Key Clubs and CKI Clubs in St. Mary's County. Proceeds from  the sale of these ornaments  directly benefit students in local schools who participate in Kiwanis-sponsored Service Leadership programs. 

Cecil's Country Store is located at 20853 Indian Bridge Road, California, MD.  Regular store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am-5:30pm, and Sunday, 11am-5:30pm.

 For additional information, contact Dawna Wible at 301-994-9622.. Questions may be e-mailed to Dawna Wible at dmwible@gmail.com

 

Christ Church Concerts is proud to present concert saxophonist Ashu and his piano partner, Kuang-Hao Huang, at 7:30 on Saturday, October 8, in conjunction with an exhibition of art works by local artists.

The young saxophonist Ashu, who goes by a single name, has established an extraordinary ability to communicate with audiences around the world through his charismatic performance style.  His virtuosity thrills listeners, and his artistry exhibits his unique personality and musical voice.  He has repeatedly defied conventions by winning major competitions traditionally won by pianists and violinists.

Ashu began playing the saxophone at age 10 in his native state of California.  He soon began entering competitions and found himself receiving a wide range of opportunities.  He made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall and his concerto debut at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.  Since then, solo performances have taken him to Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Portugal, West Indies, and the USA, with upcoming concerts in Russia, South Africa, Montreal, London, New Zealand, Poland, Finland, and more.

Regularly touring as a soloist with renowned orchestras throughout the USA and Europe, Ashu recently performed with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Metropolitan Orchestra of Lisbon.  Critics rave that he's "Riveting, brilliant, with pizzazz to burn!" (NPR) and"just as much fun to watch as he is to listen to" (Dallas Morning News).

Ashu has a wide variety of musical interests.  His concert repertoire ranges from original soprano and alto saxophone works by Ibert, Glazunov, and Debussy to his own arrangements of Piazzolla, Rachmaninoff, and Morricone.

While most people have never heard the saxophone in concert music, Ashu has begun to change this.  He says, "It's really an incredible instrument. It can play with such emotional intensity, sing like a voice, and effortlessly project in the largest of halls.  It's capable of a lot of really beautiful things." For a glimpse of his style, check out his website: www.ashuonline.com.

The concert will be preceded by an art show in the parish hall.  Select members of the Mattawoman Creek Art Center (MCAC), who have won numerous awards, will display paintings, monotype, photography, and stained glass works.  Items from the art center’s gift shop will also be for sale, with 25% of the proceeds going to MCAC.  The art exhibit runs from 6:00 p.m. until 7:15 and again at the reception after the concert.  The cost for the event will be $15 general admission/$12 seniors and students, payable at the door. 

Think you know everything about DRACULA? You’ve never seen it like this before! So, how about sinking your teeth into the Twin Beach Players’ stylish, scary, and sometimes funny version?  In this version, written by Ted Tiller, you will encounter some funny dialog amongst the dark deeds retelling the familiar tale. And, just when you have breathed a sigh of relief or a chuckle, you will find yourself scared out of your wits all over again!

A dark cloud has settled over the castle-sanatorium of Dr. Seward's estate outside of London. What should be a happy time for the coming marriage of Mina Murray, Dr Seward's ward, and Jonathan Harker, has become, instead, Mina's sickbed as a strange illness has beset her. Also, her best friend from childhood, Lucy Westerna, has recently passed with a similar symptom that has beset Mina, and all involved are greatly concerned for her health and welfare.

 A strange Count has appeared next door in the formerly abandoned Castle Carfax. The members of the village are upset by the Count’s presence and the inmates of the sanatorium have begun acting very disturbed since his arrival; in particular; one fellow named Renfield. Renfield’s demands to feast on insects and his constant escapes have left the staff in a tizzy. Attendants Hennessey and Wesley have been left in a continuing state of exhaustion attempting to chase Renfield down and control his weird feasting, his demanding of blood to satisfy his crazed appetite. The Maid senses the evil, stares silently, bewildered by the strange goings on in the household, but keeps the rooms clean in spite of the malignant destruction she perceives.

 Dr Seward has sent for his colleague and college friend, the esteemed Dr. Van Helsing, as Van Helsing has devoted a life to science but has also dabbled heavily in studies of the occult, the black science that may in some way tie into the visitations that have taken place by the mysterious Count. As if destroying a vampire wasn’t enough of a challenge,  Van Helsing is faced with a bigger obstacle- convincing everyone that vampires DO exist! And, if something isn’t done about it, and soon, Mina, and everyone else is in gravedanger!

 And could all of this have come about, because, Sybil Seward, Dr. Seward's, rambling, well-meaning sister has invited into their home the Count, to cross the threshold, never knowing what destruction, an invitation to a vampire, a hideous creature of the night, COUNT DRACULA, can cause.

 You following so far? Good. So, follow us down to North Beach Volunteer Fire Department for one of our 11 performances. Bring a spouse, a date, or a friend to cling to! And, if you come in costume (and we mean a REAL costume) we’ll even give you a free popcorn or soda!

Tickets are $15 General Admission, $13 for Seniors, Military, Students and TBP Members. Groups of 10 or more can buy tickets to the same performance for $10!!!

So, what are you waiting for?!!! There are plenty of tricks, and lots of treats in this version.  So, for a bloody good time, call and reserve your tickets at 410-474-4214 or at tbptickets@hotmail.com . Reservations MUST be made at least 3 hours before performance you are attending. 
 
(North Beach Volunteer Fire Department is located on Rt. 261 at 8536 Bayside Rd. Chesapeake Beach, MD. 20732 and is easilyaccessible to residents of Maryland DC and Virginia!)
 
PERFORMANCE TIMES:
FRIDAY, 10/21 at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, 10/22 at 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, 10/23 at 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, 10/27 at 8 p.m. (SPECIAL $8 SHOW)
FRIDAY, 10/28 at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, 10/29 at 8 p.m. 
SATURDAY, 10/29 at 12 (SPECIAL MIDNIGHT SHOW)
SUNDAY, 10/30 6 at p.m.
FRIDAY, 11/4 at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY, 11/5 at 8 p.m.
SUNDAY, 11/6 at 6 p.m.