The regional concert season begins this evening with South County Concert Association's American Jukebox, featuring hits of the 1950s, Motown and disco performed by six singers and dancers backed by a six-piece band at Southern High School.
On Saturday, the Performing Arts Association of Linthicum opens its season at Chesapeake Art Center's Hammonds Lane Theatre with the Tamburitzans, a Duquesne University ensemble offering an Eastern European program of song and dance.
On Tuesday, the Anne Arundel Community Concert Association opens its 57th season with the five musicians of Wholly Brass. All AACCA concerts will be held at Severna Park High School.
Season subscriptions will be sold at all three sites, and package deals for South County and AACCA concerts are available.
AACCA President Gale Gillespie said the season's opening fanfare of brass will be followed the next month by "a traditional look at China after our Summer Olympics view of contemporary China," referring to the scheduled Oct. 18 performance of the Yu Wei Chinese Dance Collection.
Jan. 16 brings Daniel Narducci, whom Gillespie described as "a mellow baritone." Bronn and Katherine Journey, harpist and vocalist, will play March 10.
The Journeys are also scheduled to perform five days later at PAAL's series. "This close scheduling occurs out of convenience for artists and presenters," Gillespie said. "I don't view this as a problem because Linthicum is far enough away from Severna Park to attract a different audience."
Looking forward to the last concert of the season, Gillespie said, "We also enjoy being able to bring local artists into the mix, which we're doing with our closing Klezmer Quintet concert on May 6. One of our board members had heard this group based in College Park and brought us their CD."
After American Jukebox, the South County Concert Association will continue its 33rd season Oct. 16 with Pavlo and Four Musicians, a mix of Mediterranean music performed by guitarist and singer Pavlo.
Local talent will be spotlighted beginning Jan. 27 with barbershop harmony featuring pops classics and jazz from the 1930s to 1990s performed by award-winning groups including Chorus of the Chesapeake and Harbor City Music Company.
Annapolis pianist Brian Ganz takes the stage Feb. 18 to offer classical favorites. The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra directed by Jose-Luis Novo will present Music of Spain in March, featuring guitarist Jason Vieaux.
