Music, comedy, fun with the Van-Dells

We are officially three weeks away from the opening concert in Fountain Park for this year’s Summer Music Series.  Friday, June 3, will kick off the Van Wert County Foundation’s Tenth Annual Fountain Park Summer Music Series. It also happens to be the opening concert for the Peony and ArtRageous on Main festivals. As in the past, Fountain Park and its adjoining areas will be a hub of activity.

The opening concert features the very entertaining and legendary Van-Dells. Their website says it all: “The Nation’s No. 1 Rock n Roll Revue!” They have also been called “The Three Stooges set to music!” Their blend of comedy, music from the Fifties and Sixties, costume changes, and choreography have made them favorites of young and old alike for over four decades.  I can’t think of a better way to start the summer than with the Van-Dells.

If you have looked at a brochure, you will notice that the Van Wert Area Concert Band has chosen to start their concert season in Fountain Park a week earlier on Friday, May 27.  Director Dick Sherrick has been working with the band for the past month and I have heard some of their music.  I actually thought I might be listening to a recording … a pretty good recording!  You might want to get a head start on your summer in Fountain Park by catching their first concert of the season on May 27.

The Community Concert Series renewal is going well. I want to remind everyone that the dates we have set for renewal are a courtesy to those who have supported us the previous year.  You may certainly renew after that date, but we start opening up to more and more people and, by May 23, the entire public is invited to purchase the series.

It is a long and tenuous job to accommodate seating for everyone. This is the reason we ask you to drop off or mail your renewals at this time and then we can find seats at our leisure work time. Thank you for understanding and please know that we can only put one person in a seat. In other words, you may not get the exact seat you wish, but you will get a good seat. We try to accommodate needs first and desires second. When seats are taken, we go to the next best available seat.

At any rate, it will be an exciting year, with five concerts featuring Gaudate Brass with Polaris Brass, Rockapella, Capitol Steps, Livingston Taylor with the Voices of Unity Choir, and Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show with the Toledo Jazz Orchestra. You will notice we have gone the extra mile to give added value to many of the concerts and shows. With the rich musical connections we have in this area, we are able to enhance your concert experience.

Please note (and this will be the first of many notices) the date for the Rat Pack Show was changed to Friday, May 11. It was moved by one day from the original announcement.  The website and new brochures have the new date.

Congratulations to the Van Wert High School Concert Choir and Concert Band on their “superior” (I) rated performances at state competition in Columbus this past weekend. Mrs. Gamble, Miss Kelly and all the student musicians are to be commended for representing Van Wert so well in this highly competitive musical competition. The Symphonic Band received a II (excellent) rating in the extremely difficult Class A level of competition.

Watch the news for upcoming dates for spring school concerts in the area. You know anyone is welcome to attend these free concerts. Show your support and hear some young musicians from our local schools perform and display what they have learned in the classroom rehearsals.

FINÉ.