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President: Rob Schimmelpfennig Executive Vice President: Judy Robson Vice President: Mike Fedler Vice President: Bill Kline Treasurer: Rich Vanek Secretary: Debbi Waring BOARD MEMBERS: Baerbel Baginski, WSL Steve Candella Neroy Carter Arnie Esterer Adele Herzog Mary Ellen Higley Ken Johnson Mark Jones Randy Jones Gloria Kaull Kim Laurello Ed Looman Chris McClure Tom Picken Scot Sinkler Linda VanBuren Joseph Varckette Ellen Winer Phyllis Duffy-Zala | ||||
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Executive Director Cindy Rimpela Business Manager Pamela Hammond Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator Shelagh Dubsky Dance Coordinator Lyn Savarise Music Coordinator Meeghan Humphrey Visual Arts Coordinator Phil Mullet Technical Liason Joe Ford Maintenance Coordinator Marquitta Mollick Evening Desk Coordinator | ||||
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 2928 West 13th St. Ashtabula, Ohio 44004 phone: 440-964-3396 |
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Posted: Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Dust off your lawn chairs and pack your lunches! The Brown Bag Concert Series is returning to parks in Ashtabula and Jefferson this summer, with performances you won't want to miss!  Brown Bag concerts are held outdoors twice a week from mid-July to mid-August. Ashtabula concerts are held on Wednesdays at the North Park Gazebo in downtown Ashtabula, while Jefferson concerts take place on Thursdays at Village Park on east Jefferson Street in Jefferson (a few blocks from downtown). All concerts begin at noon and last about an hour. The entertainment is for all ages and all concerts are free. To kick off this summer series we have the blues group Hambone and Chubby performing in Ashtabula on July 7 and in Jefferson on July 8.  Chubby (Steve Lowery) is a Pittsburgh native who started playing blues in his teens. In 1988 he joined the Blues Project, and he continues to perform with the group to this day, making him one of the longest participating members. Lowery also serves as a musician for Peoples Baptist Church, and is a member of the group God’s Own Chosen. Hambone (Jim Fuller) started his music career very young, and was introduced to blues and jazz in his teens by Spencer Thomas. He has performed in many area bands, and is currently a member of Kingpins and Blues Project 2004. He also serves Lutheran area churches. This duo covers a lot of territory, performing blues music of many eras. Their range includes delta blues like "Hoochie Coochie Man," Chicago blues like "Sweet Home Chicago," upbeat blues like "Two Fisted Papa," and sad blues such as "Born Under a Bad Sign." Next up in Ashtabula is the Buzz Cronquist Trio on July 14 and on August 5 in Jefferson. The trio consists of Buzz Cronquist on woodwinds, Carl Fogel as the group's percussionist and Tom Poultney on keyboards. Tom became sightless at age 11 but can play and interpret anything he hears in the finest jazz tradition. In a unique way they offer jazz standards that we have all come to know and love over the years. During the third week of our series we offer The Entertainment Five, performing in Ashtabula on July 21 and in Jefferson on July 22. Five local teenagers who were seen in "Les Miserables" will be entertaining audiences this summer as The Entertainment Five. The group consists of Alex Lowe, Jacob Lowe, Eric Grapatin, Karen Zondag, and Kim Godfrey. Alex Lowe, a 2004 graduate of Geneva High School will be attending Ohio State University this fall to major in political science and music education. Alex was last seen onstage as Madame Thenardier in "Les Miserables" and is musical director for this summer’s "Little Shop of Horrors" and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Jacob Lowe will be a junior at Geneva High School this fall and was last seen onstage at the Arts Center as Jean ValJean in "Les Miserables.” Later this summer he will be seen as the title role in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Eric Grapatin will be a senior at Perry High School this fall and played Inspector Javert in "Les Miserables." This summer he will be appearing as in Rabbit Run's production of "Honk," and as Nick Arnstein in Straw Hat's "Funny Girl." Karen Zondag graduated from Perry in 2004 and will be attending Shenandoah University in Virginia to major in musical theatre. She played Cossette in "Les Miserables" and Audrey in the recent production of "Little Shop of Horrors." Kim Godfrey graduated from Perry in 2004 and will attend Baldwin-Wallace College in the fall to study musical theatre. She preformed the role of Eponine in "Les Miserables" and Ronnette in "Little Shop of Horrors." Week four will bring one of Ohio's finest brass quintets, Bridge Street Brass. The group consists of Chuck Heusinger, Jerry Benson, Gail Collister, Jim Lindberg, and Doug Burdick.  Chuck Heusinger (trumpet) is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a degree in music education. Chuck is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Lakeside High School in Ashtabula. His focus is Lakeside High ninth grade band and LHS Jazz Program. Ashtabula resident Gail Collister (horn) is also a graduate of YSU School of Music. She has been active in the Ashtabula Area Orchestra, Ashtabula Symphonic Band, Broadway Brass, Erie Heights Brass, and Northeasterly Winds. Jerry Benson (trumpet) studied music at Ohio University. He has performed locally with the Kilpi Symphonic Band and Brass Quintet, as well as the Ashtabula Symphonic Band and the pit bands for several Conneaut High School productions.,Doug Burdick (trombone) is a graduate of Heidelberg College. He was a former member of the Mansfield Symphony and played several seasons with the Mansfield Summer Theater Orchestra. Locally he has performed with the Kilpi Band, Lighthouse Dixieland Jazz Band, and Ashtabula Area Orchestra. Jim Lindberg (tuba) studied at the U.S. Navy School of Music and played at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. He currently plays with the Ashtabula Area Orchestra, Broadway Brass, The Frank Montanero Big Band and the Lighthouse Dixieland Jazz Band. On August 4 in Ashtabula and August 12 in Jefferson Singing Strings will be performing. The Singing Strings play Appalachian Mountain lap dulcimers, accompanied by an Autoharp and enhanced with a soloist. The lap dulcimer is one of a few true native instruments and its creation is credited to the people of the Appalachian Mountains. Their repertoire includes mountain ballads, traditional folk songs, fiddle tunes, Gospel and spiritual music and old songs from the British Isles. To conclude our series in Jefferson, Bev Newbold will be performing on July 15 and on August 11 in Ashtabula. Originally from Western Kentucky, Bev Newbold was raised on Southern gospel and traditional music. As a child she studied classical piano and voice. After moving to Northeastern Ohio she became a part of popular folk duo "Patchwork" and, along with Sandy Kasper, performed at schools and festivals around the area. Demonstrating diversified talents, Bev has a rich expressive voice, a unique musical style and an outgoing personality that has made her a favorite with audiences throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The Brown Bag Concert Series is sponsored by the Ashtabula Arts Center, the Star Beacon and Gazette Publications. All concerts are free and open to the public.  SCHEDULE OF PERFORMERS Ashtabula Series - North Park Gazebo, Uptown Rain Site: First Presbyterian Church, Park Ave. July 7 - Hambone and Chubby July 14 - Buzz Cronquist Trio July 21 - The Entertainment Five July 28 - Bridge Street Brass August 4 - Singing Strings August 11 - Bev Newbold Jefferson Series - Villiage Park, East Jefferson Street Rain Site: United Methodist Church (adjacent to the park) July 8 - Hambone and Chubby July 15 - Bev Newbold July 22 - The Entertainment Five July 29 - Bridge Street Brass August 5 - Buzz Cronquist Trio August 12 - Singing Strings | ||||