Ice skating returns to the Holiday Pops as Olympic ice skater Todd Eldredge, couples skating team Andy and Lindsey Seitz, and the Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities join the Quad City Symphony Orchestra for this year's Holiday Pops! Guest conductor Michael Butterman, a favorite with the Holiday Pops audience, also returns to lead this star-studded spectacular. Holiday Pops is on November 19 at 7:30 PM and kicks off Quad City Arts' Festival of Trees, along with the Festival of Trees Parade and the Lighting of the Commons. This concert is sponsored by John Deere.

Conductor Michael Butterman and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will also be joined on stage by actor John Getz, known for his roles in such films as the Social Network and Zodiac, and jazz trumpeter Jon Faddis. Both John Getz and Jon Faddis are brought to the Quad Cities by Quad City Arts. And of course the Holiday Pops concert would not be complete without the hundreds of voices from the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, and the Holiday Pops Children's Chorus.

Tickets are on sale now at the i wireless Center box office, at 800.745.3000, or online at www.qcsymphony.com. Tables along the ice are $45 per seat, with tiered pricing in the arena ranging from $15 to $35. Seniors and children can save $2 per ticket and groups of 15 or more can save even more by calling the i wireless Center group sales department at 309.277.1356.

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US ARMY COMMISSIONS LETTERS FROM WAR FOR CENTER PIECE OF "BE SAFE- MAKE IT HOME" CAMPAIGN

New York, NY - (August 5, 2011) Platinum selling recording artist, author and activist, Mark Schultz, readies to release his new SIMON & SCHUSTER Novel LETTERS FROM WAR.  The composition tells the story of a mother's unwavering hope and steadfast prayers for her son to return from war.  All stems from the success of his critically acclaimed hit single, "LETTERS FROM WAR."  After 10 #1's on the CHR charts, the success of this track gained him #4 AC Slot and held steady at the #6 position on the AC charts for several weeks.   Mark revels, "'Letters From War', the song, gets a standing ovation every night we perform. It honors those who serve as well as their families. I wanted to write a book that would inspire and encourage a new generation who enjoy those freedoms."

Such buzz in the industry coupled with the excitement and encouragement among troops garnered the eyes and ears of the US ARMY to commission a music video for the top charting single, donning as centerpiece of their "BE SAFE- MAKE IT HOME" Campaign.  This campaign was put into place with aim to allow soldiers a safe journey home and a positive transition into civilian life.   The song has become the theme for many Armed Forces Facilities across America inspiring Schultz to tour and perform the anthem throughout.

Massive acclaim came from leading officials across these bases; with much of the recognition mirroring the praise came of Colonel William H. Mott, Commander 37th Training Wing, Lackland Airforce Base, "...Mark Schultz's involvement in the Armed Forces is without a doubt transformational.  His concern, interest and connection is truly motivating and will stay with us for a lifetime."  Some of his contemporaries also have commented on Schultz's recent high flying career-

"The first time I heard Mark Schultz's song, Letters from War, I was speechless. Now, seeing the heart of that message poured into a full-length novel, I'm not just speechless, but amazed at the sacrifice our men and women in uniform?and their families?so willingly make to protect our freedom. Thanks, Mark, for reminding us all of the cost of liberty."
-- Dave Ramsey, host of The Dave Ramsey Show and best-selling author of The Total Money Makeover

"As Americans we understand and admire the courage and strength of our military, but now Mark Schultz has taken us into the hearts of these freedom fighters. We, as the reader, can almost feel the love, worry, and pain that they and their families experience during their service."
-- Lee Greenwood, multi-platinum-selling recording artist, Grammy Award winner, composer/singer of "God Bless the USA"

Schultz will be supporting the release of the book with his debut instrumental album RENAISSANCE, which has already pre-sold an astonishing 50,000 units before its National release later this year.   With one listen to this album listeners can see the imagery that was reflected from a journey that Schultz took while living in Europe for 9 months to get the inspiration for this album and the book.  From the Beaches of Normandy to the golden fields of Tuscany to the magic of Paris at night truly shows the intricate tapestry of this album.  The album assuredly sets the tone for his continued prowess in heartfelt composing amidst his already established audience and emerging listeners.

2^nd annual Peace Concert in Clinton on Sunday, October 30th

Gratitude, source of peace, is the theme for this year's ecumenical Peace Concert at Zion Lutheran Church, 439-3^rd Ave. So., Clinton, on Sunday afternoon, October 30, beginning at 3 pm.

"As we approach the Thanksgiving season, we pause to give thanks for all that is and we receive peace in return," said Clinton Franciscan Sister Mary Smith, co-chair of the annual concert  sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis and Zion Lutheran Church. The concert is free and open to the public.

Ruth Blom, Associate in Ministry for Word and Service at Zion and co-chair of the Peace Concert, announced that six area congregations will be participating in this year's concert which will feature voice and bell choirs from three different churches.

Participating choirs include Zion Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran and Faith Lutheran of Andover in addition to singers from Prince of Peace Catholic, Unity Center and the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton.

A special feature of the 2^nd annual concert will be a solo organ performance by David Gaulrapp, organist at First United Presbyterian church, Clinton, and retired Coordinator of Instrumental and Vocal Music for the Clinton, Iowa Public Schools and Director of Bands for Clinton Senior High School.  He has also played organ recitals in Innsbruck and Vienna, Austria as well as in many area churches.

The massed choir will be directed by Dr. Michael Zemek, Assistant Professor of choral music education at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., where he conducts the Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and Ascension Singers, teaches music methods and conducting courses, supervises music education students, and advises the collegiate MENC and ACDA chapters. He came to Augustana after eight years of teaching choral music in Minnesota and Iowa. In addition to his responsibilities at Augustana, Dr. Zemek conducts the high school Youth Choir at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa.

Dr. Zemek received the Doctor of Education degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal, Instrumental, and Classroom Music Education, summa cum laude, from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The massed choir will be featured singing "Jubilate Deo," "Peace I Give to You" and "The Lord is Beautiful."  The concert will also involve the audience in singing "This Is My Song," "Come, All You People" and "Beautiful Savior."

Promoting peace through music is not new. Song has been part of the history of change in human society from earliest time.

"Music has been part of the everyday life and struggle of people worldwide," said Janice Cebula OSF, president of the Clinton Franciscans. "It is a form of power that knows no boundaries. It has motivated individuals and nations to work together for change, freedom, equality. Music and song are often the first signs of growing community support in response to repression. And it is nonviolent."

"The unity generated by our community concert is a prime reason for our effort in presenting the annual concert," said Rev. Jennifer Henry, pastor of Zion Lutheran.

The sponsors chose October 30th for the concert because it is falls just after the international celebration of the "Spirit of Assisi" and at the beginning of the national celebration of Thanksgiving.

The "Spirit of Assisi" was the expression coined by the late Pope John Paul II to describe the October 27, 1986, gathering of leaders of all the world's religions in Assisi, Italy, home of St. Francis and St. Clare, which he convened.  According to observers, it served to unify those diverse leaders, calling all to community: a hallmark of the teaching of the 13^th century Saint Francis known also for his love of music.

"Francis was not only a preacher, he was a poet," noted Cebula. "He wrote not only prayers that were poems, some of the first to be written in the vernacular Italian, but he composed melodies to go with them. "One of his most famous compositions is 'The Canticle of Creation.'  He recognized the power of music, poetry and drama to teach and inspire and his message was always peace. He is referred to as 'The Troubadour of God.'"

"The goal of the concert is to inspire, connect, and promote peace in the world through gratitude and music," explained Ruth Blom.  "Together we can make a difference! We are delighted that so many choirs and individual singers are planning to take part in this celebration of peace through music."

Besides Blom, Pastor Henry and Sister Smith, the event planning committee includes Clinton Franciscan Sisters Marilyn Shea and Hilary Mullany and Sallyann McCarthy and Laura Anderson, co-coordinators of the Clinton Franciscan Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking.

For details, call Sisters of St. Francis, 563-242-7611 or visit www.clintonfranciscans.com.    ###

Quad City Arts is proud to announce the participation of Moline native, John Getz in their prestigious Cary Grant Residency program. The residency was established in 1986 when Cary Grant died while in Davenport for the inaugural Festival of Trees. The purpose of this residency is to encourage the growth of the theatrical arts in the Quad Cities through the presentation of artists whose careers in acting, or the professional development of actors, parallel the level of commitment to the theatrical arts as exemplified by Mr. Grant.

Previous participants in the Cary Grant Artists-in-Residence include :

Joan Benny

Colleen Dewhurst

Lawrence Luckenbill

Robert Cohen

Robert Falls

Seattle Mime Theatre

Guy Davis

Anna Deavere Smith

Edward Albee

B.D. Wong

John Getz is a stage-trained actor who studied at the University of Iowa and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco after growing up in Moline, IL and graduating from Moline High School. Recently, he portrayed "Sy", the attorney to Mark Zuckerburg's character in the academy award winning Social Network movie. He starred on Broadway in M. Butterfly and They're Playing Our Song, and had leading roles in the Coen brothers' Blood Simple which lead to feature film roles in The Fly, The Fly II, Born on the Fourth of July, Curly Sue, A Day Without A Mexican among others; he is also remembered for his series regular roles on "MacGruder" and "Loud".

In addition to his educational work in the schools, John will have a narrative role during the Holiday Pops concert, November 19, 2011, 7:30 at the iwireless; tickets go on sale October 15, 2011. Tickets are available by calling the Symphony Office, 563-322-0931.