14 Apr 2009

2nd Annual Derby Day

By Jared Johnson
Davenport, IA - Volunteers for Symphony is proud to announce its 2nd annual Derby Day, an evening of fun, food, and horse racing benefiting youth music education in the Quad Cities, on Saturday, May 2, at 4 PM. Derby Day is at the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club and feels like it's at Churchill Downs. The party includes horse races, authentic Derby Cuisine, a Kentucky Bourbon tasting, live auction, generous raffles, and live music. All attending will take home a commemorative mint julep glass created especially for this year's event. Derby attire is optional and the afternoon's festivities include a hat contest.

This year's auction items include a trip to the 2010 Kentucky Derby, a little black dress designed by emeDesigns, exclusive lodging at condos near Estes Park in Colorado and along the beach in California, a titanium drusy necklace from Doland Jewelers, an authentic northern Italian meal for 8 prepared by Maestro Mark Russell Smith, a wine tasting party for twelve, a four-day get away for two, and many more. For more details on all the auction items and raffle prizes, visit www.QCSymphony.com.

Derby Day is presented by Volunteers for Symphony and supports the nationally-recognized music education programs of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Association, which reach more than 30,000 Quad City area students each year. Our VfS members contribute their time, talents, and resources year-round to support the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's missions. Proceeds from VfS fundraising projects such as Derby Day and the upcoming Second Fiddle Sale are directly invested in the operation of the Youth Ensembles and other music education programs.

Derby Day is just $75 and reservations can be made at 563-322-QCSO or online at www.QCSymphony.com.

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09 Apr 2009

Youth Symphony Orchestra's Spring Concert

By Jared Johnson
The Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra concludes its 51st season with it's Spring Concert in Centennial Hall on Sunday, April 26, at 3 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10, with Seniors entering for $6 and students for $3.

Highlighted on the program is music based on Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev (The Montagues and the Capulets from Romeo and Juliet), Tchaikovsky (Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy), and Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story Selections). Also on the schedule is the second movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, The Kalendar Prince.

Featured on this final concert of the season is cellist Bridget Pasker performing Dvorak's Concerto in B Minor for Violoncello and Orchestra. Pasker is a senior at Hempstead High School in Dubuque. She began studying cello at the age of 4. She currently studies with Hans Jensen at Northwestern University and performs with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Hempstead High School Orchestra.

Finally, at the end of the program this year's annual scholarships will be announced. Nearly 30 deserving Youth Orchestra members will be recognized through the distribution of over $15,000 in scholarships.
02 Apr 2009

3rd Annual Trivia Night at the QCSC

By Jared Johnson
The Quad City Sports Center is excited to be hosting its 3rd Annual Trivia Night. The event will take place on Saturday, April 18th at 6pm. You can register now by calling the Quad City Sports Center or stopping by to pick up a registration form. Day of registration will start at 5pm on April 18th. Cost is $10 per person or $100 for a table of 10. Mr. Trivia will be here and it's sure to be lots of fun! There will be prizes for the winning team, raffles and much more!! Drink will be available for purchase, and you are welcome to bring your own snacks or grab something from our concession stand. All proceeds from this event go to assist with the further development of our One Goal and Learn to Skate programs. For more information or to register call 563-322-5220.

A full schedule of events can be found online at www.qcscskate.com or by calling 563-322-5220.

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31 Mar 2009

6,000 students take field trip to Adler Theatre

By Jared Johnson
Davenport, IA - In an era when field trips are becoming increasingly rare, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Day can still pull a crowd. On April 1, the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra will entertain and educate 6,000 area fourth and fifth grade students with its 26th annual Symphony Day. These narrated concerts at the Adler Theatre highlight the orchestra through short and varied works, while showing the students the inner workings of the orchestra on a giant overhead video projection. This year's program, "Music is a Magic Carpet Ride!" will include music from Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia, Gliere's The Red Poppy and music from Disney's animated feature Alladin. For many youths, this is the first time they have had the opportunity to attend a live symphony concert in a concert hall.

Press is welcome to attend any of the three scheduled performances: 9:15 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. Buses begin arriving a half-hour before each performance, with children streaming through the lobby until the time of the performance. Symphony Day draws from 32 different school districts, 195 public, private and home-study classrooms, all coming from within a 45-mile radius of the Quad Cities.

Symphony Day is sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, the Junior Board of Rock Island, the Rauch Foundation, Aquent Software Development Center, and Volunteers for Symphony.
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31 Mar 2009

Pianist Leon Bates performs Ravel and Ellington for Masterworks finale

By Jared Johnson
Davenport, IA-The final Masterworks concert of the 2008-09 season features Leon Bates performing music from Maurice Ravel and Duke Ellington. This sixth Masterworks concert will also feature Roman-themed music from Berlioz and Respighi. These concerts will be performed on April 4 and 5, and sponsored in memory of Stanley and Bernice Harris, by Mrs. Isador Katz. Saturday evening's concert will be at the Adler Theatre in Davenport at 8 p.m. and followed on Sunday afternoon at Centennial Hall in Rock Island at 2 p.m.

Before the concerts begin, the QCSO is inviting their audience to stop by the office at 327 Brady Street in Davenport for "Super Subscriber Saturday" from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 4. Those renewing their season tickets and those purchasing them for the first time are welcome to stop in, meet with the QCSO staff, chat with Music Director Mark Russell Smith about next year's repertoire, and enjoy coffee and donuts. One lucky subscriber will be randomly selected by a drawing at the morning's end to win a package of QCSO tickets that includes all of the non-Masterworks events and is valued at over $300.

On Thursday night, before each Masterworks concert, Quad Citians are regularly invited to go "inside the music" with conductor Mark Russell Smith at the Figge Art Museum. Inside the Music begins with wine and cheese at 5 p.m., followed by the presentation at 5:30. Expert and novice alike are sure to enjoy this casual musical conversation. Thanks to generous sponsorship from U.S. Bank, this event is free to the public.

Music Director Mark Russell Smith and pianist Leon Bates will also be available at Concert Conversations, hosted by Kai Swanson an hour before each of the weekend's concerts. At Concert Conversations, audience members will be given a quick tour of highlights of the program they are about to experience. This look into the background of the concert's repertoire, sponsored by Rich James of Wachovia Securities, is in its tenth year and has become an audience favorite.

The season culminates with pianist Leon Bates performing Ravel's Piano Concerto in G and an arrangement of Duke Ellington's music titled New World A-Comin'. Since winning the Philadelphia Orchestra Senior Auditions as a student over 20 years ago, Leon Bates has emerged as one of America's leading pianists. He has warranted critical and audience accolades in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia's Academy of Music, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Masonic Hall in San Francisco. He appeared in Naples, Italy, in two recitals and took part in the filming of the "Music in the 20th Century" telecast on PBS. His sheer mastery of his instrument has led to performances with many major symphonies in the U.S. and abroad.

Tickets for these concerts start at $10 for Saturday night and $20 for Sunday afternoon and can be purchased in person at the QCSO Box Office, 327 Brady Street in Davenport, by phone at 800.982.2787 or online at www.QCSymphony.com.

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09 Mar 2009

Trivia Night at Camp Courageous

By Jared Johnson
MONTICELLO, IA- Camp Courageous of Iowa will be holding a Trivia Night on Friday March 20, 2009. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Trivia Night consists of ten rounds of trivia questions competing in teams of 5-8 people with door prizes and team prizes. The event will be held at the camp's main lodge. The cost is $10.00 per person with refreshments and snacks provided. The event is open to all who would like to attend.

Please contact Mark Sigel at Camp Courageous by calling 319-465-5916 with any question or to reserve a table for your team.

Camp Courageous is a year-around recreational and respite care facility for people with disabilities. Individuals with mental and physical disabilities, brain injuries, hearing and visual impairments, autism and learning disabilities and other distinct groups are served. The camp is a non-profit organization run on donations, without any formal sponsorship and does not receive government funding. No camper is turned away due to financial difficulties.
26 Feb 2009

Davenport Family YMCA Hosts Family Trivia Night

By Jared Johnson
Davenport, Iowa - February 26, 2009 - The Davenport Family YMCA wants you to challenge your mind - all while making a difference in the lives of hundreds of Quad City area children, individuals and families. As part of the fundraising efforts for the 2009 Scott County Family Y Partner with Youth/Kids to Camp Annual Campaign, the YMCA will be hosting a pancake breakfast and family trivia day.

Family Trivia Day is Sunday, March 15, at 2pm. Each team must have 8 participants; three of them must be youth between the ages of 5 and 12. The cost is $10 per person, $80 per team, registration for this event is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own snacks. The Davenport Family YMCA will provide free babysitting for participants who have children ages 5 and under.

For more information about the Davenport Family YMCA's family trivia day, call (563) 322-7171. The Davenport Family YMCA is located at 606 W. Second Street, Davenport. Proceeds from these events will help the Scott County Family Y ensure that no one is turned away because of an inability to pay.

In 2008, the Scott County Family Y provided more than $1.6 million dollars in financial assistance to area children, individuals and families. Funds for this assistance program are made available thanks to the generous contributions of Quad City area business and individuals in addition to fund raising events like these. For more information about or to make a donation to the 2009 Scott County Family Y Partner with Youth/Kids to Camp campaign, visit www.ScottCountyFamilyY.org.
02 Jan 2009

Alzheimer's Association Trivia Night

By Jared Johnson
Local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is holding a trivia night at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Davenport.
14 Sep 2008

Trivia Night In LeClaire

By Jared Johnson
Image
Get your team together because its Trivia Time in LeClaire again -- we will have trivia nights at the LeClaire Civic Center on September 20th, October 18th, and November 15th.
Doors will open at 6:30 and trivia will start at 7:00 P.M. Cost is $10 per person with a $50 minimum per table (up to 8 people per table). All proceeds will go directly to local non-profits. Door prizes will be drawn.
You can bring in beer, wine, snacks  and sodas (no hard alcohol, please!) and the civic center will be selling snacks and drinks.
You don't have to be a genius to come and join the fun!
For reservations or information, call Chris at 563-505-6703.




27 Dec 2007

Trivia Night

By Jared Johnson
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The friends and family of Jared and Beth Johnson are hosting a trivia night fundraiser to help the couple with their adoption of twin boys from South Korea. Teams cost $80 and may have up to 8 members. Silent Auction items, mulligans, and a cash bar will also be available at the event. Top prize is $200. To register, contact Kim Nimrick at (309) 786-3591 or trivianight02@gmail.com.

Beth and Jared Johnson are a Quad-Cities couple building their family through international adoption. In 2005, they brought home their oldest son, Thomas Jung-hyun, from South Korea. "We are so lucky to have a strong community of support around us," said Jared. "Before we brought Thomas home, all of our friends and family pitched in to host a multi-family yard sale that raised nearly $2,000. That was enough to pay for our plane tickets to South Korea. This time, since it is not really yard sale season, they came up with this wonderful idea of having a trivia night." Jared and Beth are currently in the process of adopting a pair of twins, Russell Jin-pyo and Elliot Jin-seo, also from South Korea. All the money raised by this Trivia Night will go towards helping the Johnsons bring home their newest family members. Jared and Beth both grew up in East Moline and currently live in Davenport. Jared is the Director of Marketing for the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and Beth is staying at home with their now 3-year-old son Thomas. If you are interested in donating items for silent auction, or simply giving money to the cause, please contact Susan Curry at (309) 752-1917.

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