John Williams News

Conductor Benjamin Wallfisch will lead the North Carolina Symphony, guest pianist Christopher Taylor and the North Carolina Master Chorale in a 'Composer Portraits' tribute to American trailblazer John Adams.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has announced the premiere of the Bravo! Series for 2011-2012. The new series will combine Dance, Classical, Orchestra and other unique performances.

Conductor Benjamin Wallfisch will lead the North Carolina Symphony, guest pianist Christopher Taylor and the North Carolina Master Chorale in a 'Composer Portraits' tribute to American trailblazer John Adams.

Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, invites audiences to an old-fashioned St. Patrick's Day celebration with the award-winning Irish duo, SWITCHBACK, at 7:30 p.m. on March 17.

"Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY," the international concert phenomenon featuring Nobuo Uematsu's stirring music from the award-winning role-playing video game FINAL FANTASY under the direction of Grammy Award winner Arnie Roth, will make its New York debut April 1-2, 2011 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn.

The Orion Ensemble's 2010-11 season concludes in May with a program featuring Mahler, Mozart, Bolcom and Williams, as well as special guest artists. Performances take place May 1 at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, May 8 at Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston and May 18 at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall in Chicago.

Quintessence Theatre Group presents Molière's DON JUAN, in the professional American premiere of a new translation by Neil Bartlett, to be directed by Alexander Burns. The production will close Sunday, March 13.

The third New York Philharmonic Young People's Concert (YPC) of the 2010-11 season will take place Saturday, March 12, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., led by Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Daniel Boico. The concert will focus on the Romantic era as part of the season's theme, "The Ages of Music," which explores the four major periods of orchestral music. Philharmonic Director of Education Theodore Wiprud is the host of the series, designed for youngsters 6 to 12 years of age, with programs written and directed by Tom Dulack. This concert will feature violinist Erno Kallai - one of four young violinists who are appearing as soloists on the YPCs this season - and actors Adam Alexander and Alesia Lawson.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Hair,' the 'Hair' 'Be-In' at Sidetrack, the 'West Side Story' tour, 'Peter Pan,' Michael Mahler's week, radio Gershwin, Mandy Patinkin in Glencoe, two Evanston summer workshops, more....

Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY,' the international concert phenomenon featuring Nobuo Uematsu's stirring music from the award-winning role-playing video game FINAL FANTASY under the direction of Grammy Award winner Arnie Roth, will make its New York debut April 1-2, 2011 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn. AWR Music Productions' concert is presented by Infinite Wave, in association with Columbia Artists Management, Inc.

Continuing a 125-year tradition of bringing the best American music to audiences in New England and across the country, the legendary Boston Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart present a spring season brimming with a rich variety of American popular music and favorite light classics, May 11 - June 26, at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA. A kaleidoscope of American musical styles, including jazz, bluegrass, Dixieland, country, gospel, pop, rhythm & blues, and the show-stopping songs of Broadway and Hollywood, will be featured during the 2011 Boston Pops Season, as the orchestra performs many of the most celebrated styles of our national musical legacy. The season showcases the phenomenal talents of musical theater greats Linda Eder, Julia Murney, and New York Pops conductor Steven Reineke; Boston Pops Gospel Night conductor Charles Floyd; film music master and Boston Pops Laureate Conductor John Williams; jazz trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling; bluegrass king Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder; Ray Charles protégé Ellis Hall; pop music all-star Kenny Loggins; New Orleans jazz ambassadors Dukes of Dixieland; and the great interpreter of the American Songbook, Michael Feinstein.

THE FOLLOWING ARTISTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO TEN EVENTS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED: Eddie Izzard, Stripped to the Bowl - Hailed as one of the foremost stand-ups of his generation, Emmy-winning comic genius Eddie Izzard makes Hollywood Bowl history with Stripped to the Bowl, the first-ever all-comedy presentation at the iconic venue. (Wednesday, July 20 at 8:00 pm)

In a first-time collaboration, The Orion Ensemble, Chicago's nationally recognized and critically acclaimed chamber music ensemble, joins Ballet Chicago dancers for the world premiere of 'Instruments of Revelation' by Victoria Bond, on a program that also includes works by Rezsö Kókai and Franz Schubert. Performances take place March 6 at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva and March 9 at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall in Chicago.

Fresh off their well-attended month-long residency at Club Spaceland in Silverlake, Los Angeles band The Belle Brigade, fronted by siblings Barbara and Ethan Gruska, will hit the road for a series of spring U.S. tour dates in support of their upcoming self-titled debut album, which will be released by Reprise Records on April 19th, 2011. The band's single 'Losers' will be available from all digital retailers beginning February 1st.

In a first-time collaboration, The Orion Ensemble, Chicago's nationally recognized and critically acclaimed chamber music ensemble, joins Ballet Chicago dancers for the world premiere of 'Instruments of Revelation' by Victoria Bond, on a program that also includes works by Rezsö Kókai and Franz Schubert. Performances take place February 27 at Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, March 6 at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva and March 9 at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall in Chicago.

Violinist Itzhak Perlman will perform music from Vienna and Hollywood with the New York Philharmonic on Monday, April 11, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., conducted by Music Director Alan Gilbert. The program replaces the previously announced Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario, narrated by Christopher Plummer. Mr. Plummer has had to reschedule his appearance with the Orchestra due to the extended filming of Barrymore; a new concert date will be announced at a later time. Repertoire for Mr. Perlman's program will be announced shortly.

Boston pops announces first-ever summer tour of minor league ballparks, under the direction of Keith Lockhart, with special guest Kenny Loggins. Boston pops performs great music inspired by our national pastime and Hollywood hits from the iconic film scores of our time. 10-city tour to include stops at the homes of the Durham Bulls, Charlotte Knights, Gwinnett Braves, Nashville Sounds, Memphis Redbirds, Birmingham Barons, Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings, Syracuse Chiefs, and New Britain Rock Cats

Whatever it is, you'll find your music in March at the Palladium! Blues legends Rory Block, Roy Book Binder, Paul Geremia and Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes will raise the roof with our first concert of the month on March 5, The Greatest Blues Show on Earth! The timeless jazz of Peggy Lee, Duke Ellington, Anita O'Day, Joni Mitchell, Carmen McRae, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn and Ella Fitzgerald graces the stages of Hough Hall and the Side Door in numerous concerts throughout the month.

MSG Network received a whopping 60 nominations Thursday for the 54th Annual New York Emmy Awards. Among the other regional sports networks, the YES Network notched 46 nominations, while MSG Varsity picked up 32 nods. SNY was recognized 23 times.

The JCC Thurnauer School of Music's 21st annual Gift of Music Gala Benefit Concert, held February 9 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, N.J., has raised nearly $100,000 toward high-quality, comprehensive music education at the school