Darien Library
Music Sheet Piano Keys Studio Showcase Series Darien Library

Concert and Open Lesson: Studio Showcase Series at Darien Library, 5 PM Sunday

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Darien Library and pianist Zachary Saffa will team up to bring you a one-of-a-kind concert experience. Up-and-coming musicians will perform uninterrupted, followed by an open lesson for all to enjoy. — an announcement from Darien Library

During the Studio Showcase, you will see first-hand how music teaching can have a transformative effect on a student’s musicianship, perspective, and character. Zach will be joined by violinist Lindsey Castellano for this performance. This month Zach would like to honor longtime Darien resident Marc Thorne, who unexpectedly passed on the date of our December showcase last year.

Music
Little River Band Stamford Palace Theatre 2020 Facebook

The ’70s and ’80s Hit Machine, Little River Band, Plays at Palace Theatre on Saturday, Feb 8

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Stamford’s Palace Theatre hosts the Little River Band with a concert starting at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 8. You can still get tickets. — an announcement from the Palace Theatre

The Eagles founding member, the late Glenn Frey, knew what he was saying when he dubbed Little River Band “the best singing band in the world.”

Through the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits like: “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We Two,” “Man On Your Mind,” “The Other Guy,” and “It’s A Long Way There.”

Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. And in 1982 LRB set a record for having had Top 10 hits for six consecutive years — In fact, they were the very first band to achieve that remarkable plateau!

Film
South Pacific Cast Sept 8 Norwalk Concert

‘South Pacific’-Themed Dinner, Concert and IMAX Movie on Saturday, Feb 8 in Norwalk

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For one night only, Saturday, Feb. 8, you can have a “South Pacific”-themed dinner and a concert along with an IMAX movie in Norwalk. The “midwinter tropical escape” has three parts:

The highlight is a concert with Broadway actors and Norwalk Symphony Orchestra performing songs from the musical “South Pacific”; also, a prix fixe dinner at one of several Norwalk restaurants; and before all that, an IMAX movie at the Maritime Aquarium, “Journey to the South Pacific” will be presented twice in the afternoon. The Show (a Concert Adaptation)
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra is producing the famed Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, “South Pacific,” for one night only in a unique collaboration with actors and singers of New Paradigm Theatre of Stamford. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in Norwalk City Hall’s Concert Hall.

Darien Library
Linda Ronstadt by Carl Lender https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LindaRonstadtPerforming.jpg

‘The Sound of My Voice’ About Linda Ronstadt Is Darien Library’s Next Friday Night Feature

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“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” a “musical biography” documentary about the singer, will be shown from 7 to 8:45 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31 at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library

The 2019 film is about of one of the most successful and versatile female singers of the 20th century — and one of the most successful recording artists of all time. At the height of unprecedented success, Ronstadt, a restless and adventurous artist, turned away from pop music to explore an astonishing variety of musical styles. Withstanding constant pressure from a risk-averse industry, Linda insisted on following her musical instincts.

Music
Ludwig van Beethoven portrait

Stamford Symphony’s ‘Beethoven250’ Season Continues Celebration of Beethoven’s 250th Birthday Year

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On May 3, 2020, New York-pianist David Kaplan will play a program of three Beethoven Piano Sonatas at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford. One of the sonatas played will be chosen by the audience. — an announcement from Stamford Symphony

The Stamford Symphony has announced a year-long celebration to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the iconic composer Ludwig van Beethoven, born in December 1770. “We are delighted to present this survey of Beethoven’s works that demonstrate his longevity and genius,” said Stamford Symphony President & CEO, Russell Jones.

Darien Library
Songs for Seeds

Songs for Seeds, a Kiddie Rock Band, Gives 30-Minute Concert Friday Morning at Darien Library

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Songs for Seeds, a kiddie rock band featuring interactive performances that appeal to all ages, will perform a 30-minute concert Friday morning in the Community Room at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library

Performances include original songs and covers of top 40 hits from various decades that will have even the adults toe-tapping. Your little one will be ready to dance and sing during this high-energy concert! The concert, which runs from 10:30 to 11 a.m., is free and open without registration. All ages are welcome, but children must have a caregiver present.

Classes

Music Classes Begin in January at Darien Arts Center: You Can Register Your Kid Now

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Registration is available now for music classes that begin in January at Darien Arts Center. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

DAC instructors, professionals chosen for their individual artistry and teaching skills, include Juanita Bosee, Music Director, Christine DeMaio, Anthony DiTaranto, Christine Geeding, Daniel Hague, Sharon Levin, Stephanie Wong and Daniel Saulpaugh. Private Music Instruction

The DAC Music Program includes private lessons for cello, guitar, flute, violin, voice, piano, and music theory as well as group classes. Private music instruction is available for

— students as young as five years if the young student is ready

— older students including middle and high school students, who develop skills to play music they enjoy,

— adults who have decided to acquire a new skill or to keep minds and hands nimble. Qualified students have the opportunity to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music Program, which offers adjudicated testing in both music theory and practical application.

Music

Persian Music and Poetry To Be Spoken, Played and Discussed at St Luke’s on Jan 11

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Persian music and poetry will be featured at an evening concert-talk, “Gifts From the Magi: Music and Poetry of the Near East,” by Amir Vahab and Ensemble at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at St. Luke’s Darien. — an announcement from St. Luke’s Parish

Vahab is one of New York’s most celebrated composer/vocalists of Sufi and Near Eastern music.

Holidays
Gunsmoke band members November 2019

Gunsmoke ‘Home for the Holidays’ Benefit Concert on Dec 7 at the Piedmont Club

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Gunsmoke, the award-winning, Nashville-recording country western band formed in Darien, will perform its latest Music for Hope benefit concert, Home for the Holidays at the Piedmont Club on Saturday, Dec. 7. — an announcement from Gunsmoke

Admission is $15. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Arts & Entertainment
A Minor

An ‘Interactive A Cappella’ Concert by UConn’s A Minor Sunday Afternoon, Nov 3 at Darien Library

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Darien Library presents interactive a cappella event on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 3 with the University of Connecticut’s a cappella group A Minor. The concert is free and takes place from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the library. About A Minor

A Minor has been performing together for 15 years. They competed in the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella in 2016 and 2018, and both times placed top 2 in quarter finals and made it to the semi finals.

Music

Connecticut Choral Festival Coming to Greenwich on Saturday, Oct 19

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The First Congregational Church in Greenwich will be hosting the Connecticut Choral Festival concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 19 with a day-long rehearsal, meal, and evening concert. — This article was originally published by GreenwichFreePress.com

The guest conductor will be Tom Trenney, minister of music at First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. This festival is also sponsored by the United Church of Church Musicians Association and the Fairfield-West Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Tom Trenney shares his passion as pastoral musician, composer, and teacher in worship with his home congregation, First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the college classroom, and in performances, hymn festivals, choral, and organ workshops and master classes all around the country. Dr. Craig Scott Symons, Minister of Music at First Congregational Church of Greenwich says that, so far, there are singers attending the festival from West Hartford, Guilford, Stamford, and Greenwich.

Darien Library
John Lehmann-Haupt

Classical and Contemporary Guitar Concert at Darien Library, 5 PM, Sunday

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John Lehmann-Haupt. will perform a mix of classical works and his own arrangements of popular and traditional songs, including works by Bach, Jobim, Albeniz, Stevie Wonder, and James Taylor, as Darien Library’s Music in the Stacks series returns for a fall performance, Sunday, Sept. 29. You’re invited to the performance from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room. John Lehmann-Haupt, a New York-based guitarist, draws on the wide range of music he has explored over the years, from folk songs and blues, through popular standards new and old, and on to the varied expanses of the classical realm.

Art Exhibits
Nobu Miki art Artists at Grove Street Plaza

Darien-Made, Paris-Themed: You Can Savor Art, Music and Food in ‘Artists at Grove Street Plaza’ Art Show, Sept 21

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The fifth annual Artists at Grove Street Plaza open-air art show will feature top local painters, photographers and ceramicists, with live chamber music and five food vendors as part of a Paris-style exhibit produced with Darien talent. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday Sept. 21 (the rain date is the following Saturday, Sept. 28.)

— This article is adapted from an announcement from Artists at Grove Street Plaza, with further information from the group’s website. Artists at Grove Street Plaza will feature framed canvases, prints, photographs and ceramics.

Music
Exit Ramp band

Exit Ramp Band Performs Friday Night at Grove Street Plaza

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Exit Ramp Band performs contemporary rock and “neo-soul” outdoors Friday night, Sept. 6 at Grove Street Plaza as part of the Darien Summer Nights concert series. — an announcement from Darien Summer Nights

Formed in 2017 for special event performances, Exit Ramp Band features some of the best musicians in the area who’ve played individually and together for decades and in multiple bands: Frank Barrese (guitar), Luis Cotto (vocals), Paula Gallo (vocals), John Lamb (keyboard), Richard Colligan, who grew up in Darien playing “Battle of the Bands at the Barn” (percussion). They have a playlist of contemporary rock and neo-soul, clean and powerfully delivered, including: Maroon5, Bruno Mars, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel, Kings of Leon among others you know well and dance to. (The forecast says it will be cool, in the low 60s, and there’s a chance — 30 to 40% — of rain.

Food & Drink, Restaurants & Bars

Blues and Views Festival in Westport on Saturday and Sunday, Aug 31 and Sept 1

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The Blues & Views Festival returns to Westport with two days of sensational music, soulful sounds, tantalizing tastes and a swingin’ street party vibe along the banks of the Saugatuck River. — information from the Blues & Views Festival announcement and website, where you’ll find directions, links to ticket sales and other information about the annual festival. Once again, the Blues & Views Festival will feature an awesome variety of powerhouse artists, from established acts to breakout bands. A Fairfield County tradition since  2008, the festival will feature an awesome variety of established bands and soon-to-be-famous acts on the way up. FOOD
Food trucks and vendors include Bobby Q’s Cue & Co, Melt Mobile, Rory’s, The Mac Factor, Trolley Dogs, Greek Style Grill and the Westport Library Cafe.