On Wednesday July 18th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Snowbelt Musical Arts Association (SMAA) will be sponsoring an evening of outdoor fun on Chardon Square in Chardon, Ohio. This music-filled event, which is free and open to all, will feature two of SMAA’s three ensembles, plus mini-performances by individual SMAA musicians who will be jamming in the park pre-concert beginning at 6:15 p.m. In addition to the many fine restaurants along the square that will be open to concert goers that evening, attendees are invited to bring a picnic or purchase refreshments from food trucks offering hot dogs, bratwurst, and ice cream.
The Blizzard Youth Winds ensemble will perform first and will feature vocal soloist Faith Peters, who will be a senior at Cardinal High School in the fall, singing Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.” Also featured will be highlights from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” as well as the Blizzard Youth Winds robust trombone section performing James Ployhar’s “Cool Blues for Trombones.”
The Lake Effect Concert Band will open their performance with excerpts from Richard Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger.” Other numbers being performed that evening will include a medley of tunes from various Disney movies, circa 1940-1990, entitled “Disney at the Movies,” as well as Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” and Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” being performed by local favorite, vocalist Lindsay Sandham Leonard.
The SMAA, under the direction of conductor and educator Greg Hillis, is dedicated to expanding opportunities for people of all ages, in the Snowbelt region of Northeast Ohio, to perform and enjoy musical activities. Since its founding a little over one year ago, SMAA has engaged the talents of over 200 community-based musicians of all ages. Its first annual Giving Day is intended to raise funding via donations to purchase much needed percussion equipment and to help fund operational expenses for the coming year.
According to conductor Greg Hillis, “Every SMAA concert is a gift to our community, as all events are entirely free and held in easily accessible public spaces throughout Geauga and Lake Counties. Our first annual Giving Day is an informal fund raiser designed to provide an evening of quality entertainment while encouraging those who appreciate the value of live concerts to help support our efforts.”
The Giving Day Concert will move to Park Auditorium on Chardon Square should weather prevent outdoor entertainment. For more information about SMAA and a schedule of other upcoming concerts, visit Snowbelt Musical or Facebook, email snowbeltmusical@gmail.com or call 440-296-9610.
Pictured In Cover Photo: Greg Hillis conducting a 2017 concert on Chardon Square
