Tag Archives: Cincinnati Arts Association

featuring theatre-organist Ken Double,
with special guests, the Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor 

CINCINNATI, OH – The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) is pleased to announce the return of Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer to Cincinnati’s Music Hall on Thursday, December 15 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The popular holiday concert, being presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society, sold-out its two performances in December 2010.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center and Music Hall Ticket Offices. For group discount tickets (ten or more), call (513) 977-4157.

There’s nothing quite like the unique sound of the Albee Theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer – an orchestra and more all in one organ! Acclaimed theater-organist Ken Double will perform holiday favorites with all of the bells, whistles, and special effects that only an instrument as grand as the Mighty Wurlitzer can create! Special guests will include the Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor and, direct from the North Pole, Santa Claus. This memorable holiday concert promises to be a fun and festive event for the entire family.

“The excitement, joy, and fun of last year’s sold-out Mighty Wurlitzer holiday concert will definitely be repeated this season,” said Don Siekmann, SPMH President. “Everyone in the audience – from young to old – loved the experience. The uplifting music of the Mighty Wurlitzer, festive decorations, fabulous children’s choir, and special appearance by Santa will have everyone leaving Music Hall with a bounce in their step – smiling, singing, and truly happy they were with family and friends at Cincinnati’s newest holiday treat!”

The Mighty Wurlitzer was installed in the ornate Albee Theater on Fountain Square in December 1927 – one of only 2,200 theatre-organs produced at that time to accompany silent feature films. When talkies took over in 1929, the theatre organ was mainly silenced. The Albee organ was donated to the Emery Theatre in 1969 (where it played for movies and other events) and was partially rebuilt by the Ohio Valley Organ Club. It was removed from the Emery in 1999, and put into storage.

The leadership at SPMH thought the historic Music Hall Ballroom would be an ideal location for the instrument, and in June 2007, Ronald F. Wehmeier, Inc., Pipe Organ Service in Cincinnati was contacted to completely rebuild and install the Wurlitzer. A donor foundation funded the entire project in the amount of $1,410,000.00. Only a small number of Wurlitzers of this size still exist, and Cincinnati (the home of the Wurlitzer Company) is one of the few cities in the country to have an instrument of this quality.

The Wurlitzer was expanded in tonal colors and effects, from 19 ranks of pipes to 31 ranks (a rank is made up of 61 pipes, and represents orchestral sounds, such as trumpets, flutes, tubas, strings, etc.). A full array of percussion effects is also present – xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, chimes, and even a large Steinway grand piano – all playable from the giant three keyboard and pedal console, decorated in 22-karat gold leaf. Wind for the pipes is provided by a 15 HP high pressure turbine, the electrical switching is controlled by computer, and pipes range in size from 16 feet to the size of a pencil. In addition, the Wurlitzer is now fully computerized, so that it can be played without an organist through a digital input system.

Ken Double
For more than thirty years, Ken has been heard on radio and seen on television as a sportscaster, and since 1978, has been at the console of the great theatre pipe organs, indeed working hard to entertain his audiences. Born in Chicago the last of six boys, his love of sports was just a normal part of growing up. Ken parlayed that into a degree in Radio-TV from Butler University in Indianapolis, and enjoyed a career that has included play-by-play in the NHL, AHL, NBA, major college sports, the Indianapolis 500, and more.

But even after thirty-plus years of broadcasting, Ken is still better known in certain circles for his talents at the pipe organ. During his organ concert career, Ken has performed all over the world, including stops in Seattle, WA; Wilmington, DE; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; the famous Casa Loma in Toronto; and three six-week tours throughout Australia. In addition to his hundreds of concerts, he has recorded numerous CDs, including The Music of Casa Loma – the first-ever CD and first release in more than thirty years on the great Wurlitzer in the Great Hall of Toronto’s historic castle.

For a full bio, visit Ken’s website at http://kendoubleentertainment.com.

Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer is grateful for the generous support of The Walter and Olivia Kiebach Charitable Foundation (presenting sponsor) and WMKV-FM (media partner).

The Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor
A program of the Fairview-Clifton German Language School, the Kinderchor has become one of the most popular and talented children’s choirs in the city. The members of this German-language youth ensemble audition to be included in the acclaimed choir, which has performed to appreciative audiences throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. http://fairview.cps-k12.org/german_program.html

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall
The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) is a non-profit organization that provides ongoing financial and volunteer support toward maintaining and improving Cincinnati’s historic Music Hall. SPMH members are volunteers from all walks of life who are dedicated to the continuing preservation of Music Hall as a national historic monument and promoting it as one of the world’s foremost performing arts, entertainment, and rental facilities. http://www.soc-pres-music-hall.com

CALENDAR INFORMATION

WHAT: Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer featuring theatre-organist Ken Double, with special guests, the Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor

WHEN: Thursday, December 15, 2011 • 10:30 AM & 7:00 PM

WHERE: Music Hall Ballroom

PRICES: $25 / $20 (seniors, students, and groups of ten or more)

INFO: There’s nothing quite like the unique sound of the Albee Theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer – an orchestra and more all in one organ! Acclaimed theater-organist Ken Double will perform holiday favorites with all of the bells, whistles, and special effects that only an instrument as grand as the Mighty Wurlitzer can create. Special guests will include the Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor and, direct from the North Pole, Santa Claus. Relive your memories of yesterday as you create new memories of tomorrow with your friends and family.

TICKET INFORMATION – tickets on sale now!

• http://www.CincinnatiArts.ORG
• (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
• Aronoff Center and Music Hall Ticket Offices
• Group Sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4157

(CINCINNATI, OH) – The Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is pleased to announce that Summerfair Cincinnati has expanded its partnership with CAA to sponsor the entire visual art discipline of The Overture Awards. The scholarships associated with the visual art category of the competition will now be known as The Overture Awards Summerfair Cincinnati Visual Arts Scholarships.

The Overture Awards is the largest scholarship competition for high school students in the country. Last year more 500 students from a thirteen county region of the Tri-state competed for $24,000 in scholarships in six artistic disciplines – Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Dance, Drama, Creative Writing and Visual Art. The Oveture Awards have achieved such a strong reputation with college admission officers that success in the competition is considered a noteworthy accomplishment.

“We are truly excited about Summerfair Cincinnati’s sponsorship of the visual arts scholarships,” said Steve Finn, CAA Director of Education and Community Relations. “Summerfair has been very supportive of our Overture Awards programs, and we look forward to exploring other ways we can work together to expand arts education opportunities in the Tri-state.”

Summerfair Cincinnati presents its primary fundraiser – the annual Summerfair Fine Art and Craft Fair – at Coney Island, is committed to supporting the development of young and emerging artists from our region, and sponsors an annual Emerging Artists exhibition featuring selected works by five area University schools of art Juniors and Seniors. In addition, Summerfair Cincinnati has been actively involved in supporting the regional Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Competition, which recognizes outstanding art work at the high school level.

“The Overture Awards was a natural expansion of our support for the arts in this area,” said Sharon Strubbe, Executive Director of Summerfair Cincinnati. “It is an outstanding program and fits with our goal of developing and encouraging the next generation of artists. We are delighted to be working with the Cincinnati Arts Association to continue the success of this program.”

The 2012 Overture Awards competition will occur in January. The registration deadline is November 15. Interested students should contact their school guidance counselor or Overture Program Coordinator, Carolyn Phillips, at (513) 977-4163.

For more information about The Overture awards, visit www.cincinnatiarts.org/overture_competition.

For more information about Summerfair Cincinnati, visit www.summerfair.org.

Of Its “Singing With the Braodway Stars” Online Auditions

CINCINNATI, OH – Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway has announced the local winners and runners-up of its “Singing with the Broadway Stars” online auditions. The producers of the widely-acclaimed musical revue have chosen two winners and eleven runners-up from more than fifty audition submissions for the Cincinnati performance, representing the exceptionally high level of talent found in the Tri-state region. A full listing of the winners and runners-up (including age, hometown, and link to their online auditions) is at the end of this release.

Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway – a musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows that features a dazzling cast of five Broadway stars accompanied by an all-star New York band – is coming to the Aronoff Center’s Procter & Gamble Hall on Wednesday, October 12 at 8:00 PM as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s 2011-12 Season.

Tickets are now on sale at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG , (513) 621-ARTS [2787], or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Group discounts are available by calling (513) 977-4157.

Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway is a wonderful sequel to the popular 100 Years of Broadway that played the Aronoff Center in February 2009. Performed by five of Broadway’s most acclaimed singers – including Cincinnati natives Ron Bohmer and Carter Calvert, plus Sandra Joseph, Chuck Wagner, and Danny Zolli – this acclaimed show is an unforgettable evening of Broadway’s best. It’s a sprawling revue of American musical treasures from Irving Berlin to Andrew Lloyd Webber – including dazzling tributes to Rodgers and Hart, Kander and Ebb, Lerner and Lowe, George Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, and Oscar Hammerstein

“Singing with the Broadway Stars” is an on-line audition opportunity with 101 Years of Broadway that gives local talent in each market of the tour the chance to show off their singing skills with five Broadway stars and an all-star New York band. The winners and runners-up receive tickets for their family and friends to see their Broadway debut on stage at the Aronoff Center!

“It is well known in New York City’s Broadway community that the Greater Cincinnati area has a reputation for wonderful theater talent and great voices. As a matter of fact, two of the Broadway stars featured in our cast – Carter Calvert and Ron Bohmer – are originally from Cincinnati,” said Neil Berg, creator and producer of 101 Years of Broadway. “That reputation was evident in this audition process. We were blown away by large amount of audition submissions, and the incredible wealth of talent. While our panel of Broadway judges knew there was going to be a lot of talent in Cincinnati, this was even better than expected. We could easily have selected five winners – all worthy. We are honored and excited about having these formidable performers join us in our performance at the Aronoff Center!”

SINGING WITH THE BROADWAY STARS Online Auditions 

WINNERS (2)

• Nancy Corsmeier, 18, Clifton Heights, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vpoe8nmpEs
•  Gabriel Mudd, 27, Liberty Township, OH
• http://youtu.be/TjtVogJSM8E

 RUNNERS UP (11)

• Shawn Toadvine, 35, Batavia, OH
• http://youtu.be/eMsfyCnG3RA
• Danielle Muething, 37, Cincinnati, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vDOUhVRZ1I
• Kip Moore,48, Dayton, OH
• http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?=10150394585847324&saved
• John Woll, 30, Loveland, OH
• http://youtu.be/W71wN0J_9bw
• Melissa Campbell, 13, Wyoming, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBoHE7O0u1E
• Eben Franckewitz, 15, Blue Ash, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83mmMRJqEFc
• Amy Wheeler, 19, Cincinnati, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRu8iaFmOnE
• Emily Wilhelm, 14, Mason, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRhlDDdOgy0
• Melanie Woodruff, 30, Cincinnati, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-l9xQ0_T9s
• Leah Hall, 14, Mason, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR_mnNxTeDA
• Sarah Goldrainer, 17, Cincinnati, OH
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQNSbi-OcvQ