Oregon Public Broadcasting

ASTORIA - The North Coast Symphonic Band will offer North Coast residents a musical respite from the winter blues with its "Winter Break Fun in the Sun" concert Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center at 16th Street and Franklin Avenue. The program features such sunny numbers as Gottshalk's "Souvenir de Porto Rico," Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" with its signature tune "Summertime," and Joplin's "Sunflower Slow Drag." To remind the audience of North Coast weather realities, Loesser's "Baby, it's Cold Outside" will also be performed.

The afternoon will begin at 1:30 p.m. with pre-concert music from the Oregon State University Steel Drum Ensemble. Led by professor of percussion Robert Brudvig, the ensemble will perform tropical tunes from Trinidad and beyond. The North Coast Symphonic Band will take the stage to perform its sunny program at 2 p.m.

Retired Lewis and Clark College Director of Bands David Becker returns to conduct the second concert of the 2011-12 season. Becker developed the climate-controlled theme and song selection, explaining, "January can be kind of grim at the coast. (This program) will brighten up our musicians and audience for an afternoon in the midst of what can often be some dark and dreary weather." Becker is quite familiar with sunny music from warmer climates, having just returned from one of his many trips to Hawaii.

Becker has invited several soloists to share their talents with the local audience. Retired Baker University professors John and Susan Buehler of Cannon Beach will join the band on vocals for two selections that were arranged especially for them by NCSB resident arranger Dave Robertson of Rockaway Beach. John Buehler, who currently conducts the Cannon Beach Chorus, will also narrate a special band arrangement of the well-known poem "Casey at the Bat." The OSU Percussion Ensemble will return to the stage after intermission to perform a solo piece, and Brudvig will solo alongside the band in an arrangement of "The Golden Age of the Xylophone" that features early 20th-century popular music.

During intermission, NCSB percussionist and former Peace Corps volunteer Matt Crichton will be available in the lobby to chat about his installation of photos and artifacts from his two-year stay in Western Samoa. Thundermuck Coffee from Columbia River Coffee Roasters and other refreshments will be on sale in the lobby before the concert and during intermission.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for regular admission and $8 for students with I.D. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free with an adult. Advance tickets are available at Thiel's Music in downtown Astoria. Day-of-show tickets will be available at the box office, which will open at 1 p.m. The auditorium doors will open at 1:15 p.m.

For more information about the North Coast Symphonic Band or its concerts, email ncsband@charter.net or call (503) 325-2431.

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