Gibbs Gardens presents... 2013 "Music in the Gardens"

Mother’s Day Weekend

May 11, Saturday, 11:30 to 2:30

• Sweetwater, a guitar-dulcimer duo, at the Arbor Café

• Roswell High School String Quartet in the Arbor Café
• Strolling musicians Arthur McClenton and and Tara Byrdsong on on flutes in the Valley Gardens
• Angelica Hairston on harp at the Manor House

Memorial Day 

May 27, Monday, 11:30 to 2:30   

• Strolling Musicians Arthur McClenton and Tara Byrdsong on flutes, Keanu Mitanga on violin in the Valley Gardens
• Angelica Hairston on harp at the Manor House

Red, White, and Blooms: Fourth of July Weekend

July 4, Thursday, 11:30 to 2:30

• Sharptop Mt. Brass (3 trumpets, 2 trombones and tuba) Arbor Café
• Strolling Musicians Arthur McClenton and Tara Byrdsong on flutes in the Valley Gardens
• Off the Record, a guitar duo, at the Manor House

• Roman Festival Brass (32-piece brass band) in the Valley Gardens from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
• Sweetwater, guitar and dulcimer duo, in the Arbor Café from 11:30 to 2:30

Labor Day Weekend

August 31, Saturday, 11:30 to 2:30

• Off the Record, guitar duo, Arbor Café.

       September 2, Monday, 11:30 to 2:30

• Strolling Musicians Arthur McClenton and Tara Byrdsong on flutes, Keanu Mitanga on violin in the Valley Gardens
• Angelica Hairston, harpist at the Manor House
• Bay Cagle, vocalist with electric piano at Arbor Café

Japanese Maples Festival Weekend

October 19, Saturday 1-3

• Music - TBD
• Strolling Musicians Arthur McClenton and Tara Byrdsong on flutes, Keanu Mitanga on violin in the Valley Gardens

       October 20, Sunday - TBD
 

Meet the musicians:

Don’t miss the Roman Festival Brass on Saturday, July 6

Jim Gibbs is pleased to present the second annual “Red, White and Blooms” music festival to honor America. Join us on July 4 & 6 in the Valley Gardens to hear patriotic music expertly played by the amazing 32-piece Roman Festival Brass. Located in scenic northwest Georgia, Roman Festival Brass is a local brass band based on the instrumentation of the popular British Brass Band that has a rich heritage in the United Kingdom. This type of ensemble utilizes a full section of cornets, flugelhorn, tenor horns, baritones, trombones, euphoniums, tubas and percussion. Though not common to the United States, British Brass Bands have a wealth of literature.
One of the cornerstone concerts of the Roman Festival Brass is the God and Country concert series celebrating the freedoms of our Country through patriotic music. This year, Roman Festival Brass embarks on its 10th annual God and County concert series. Roman Festival Brass has also performed on the national stage at The Great American Brass Band Festival and competed in the North American Brass Band Association festival.
Roman Festival Brass is a performing group of Roman Festival, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3). The mission of Roman Festival, Inc. is the education and promotion of British and American brass music. Roman Festival Brass has a very diverse membership. From physicians to educators, retired to graduating seniors, the group brings together 33 volunteer brass and percussion musicians from three states with a common goal to promote this unique genre of music. Our wealth of excellent music educators fosters this mission in an unparalleled fashion.

Roman Festival Brass plays numerous concerts throughout the year including
seasonal Christmas and 4th of July concerts as well as thematic concerts

Sharptop Mountain Brass, based in Jasper, Ga., performs regularly for various public and private functions. The group performs a wide variety of musical styles from classical to patriotic to pop. Performers for July 4 in the Valley Gardens at Gibbs Gardens: Patrick Gallagher, Steven Watson, Daniel Johnson, Joel Griswell, Garrick Cheyne and James Land performing on three trumpets, two trombones and a tuba.


 

Sweetwater musicians Cynthia Cero and Vince Ciliberto describe their musical style as “a warm blend of tight harmonies with a unique blend of guitar and dulcimer acoustic backup covering multiple genres including folk, contemporary, blues, country and pop.” A sampling of some favorite songwriters whose songs they play include: The Beatles, “Norwegian wood;” Ray Charles, “Crying Time;” George Gershwin, “Summertime;” Nancy Griffith, “Going Back to Georgia;” John Prine ,”Angels From Montgomery;” and Simon and Garfunkle,  “ The Sounds of Silence.” Sweetwater will perform in the Gardens on Saturday, May 11 and Saturday, July 6. 



The Roswell High School String Quartet. The string quartet musicians are: Emily Register, violin II, who has been playing the violin since she was four years old. She currently takes lesson from North Atlanta Talent Education(NATE), and is in the freshman orchestra at Roswell High School. Grace Peoples, cello, is the principle cellist of the Roswell High School Freshman Orchestra. She is 15 years old, has been in orchestra for six years, and has played the cello for five years.  Bonnie Sun, violin I, principle violin in the Freshman Orchestra and has been playing for six years and is currently a member of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. Essie Lawrence, viola, plays in the Roswell Freshman Orchestra and sits first chair in her section. She has played since 4^th grade and takes lessons at NATE. The Roswell High School String Quartet performs under the direction of Sara Payne. The Roswell High School String Quartet will perform in the Gardens on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.

Off the Record Frank Lozano and Shiraz Alikhan
Off the Record features guitar duo Shiraz Alikhan and Frank Lozano. Shiraz Alikhan, a musical performer and songwriter, grew up in northern California where he performed in coffee houses in San Francisco. He was a member of the Northern California Songwriters and Nashville Songwriters associations. Frank Lozano, originally a drummer developed a knack for the guitar. While living in Texas, he provided guitar, bass and drum tracks on several recordings for local aspiring singers and songwriters. He performed with the Inteplast Jazz Ensemble while he was employed at this large petrochemical firm. Off the Record will perform at the Gardens on Thursday, July 4 and Saturday, August 31.

Strolling Musicians: Your favorite strolling musicians from last season return for 2013 Music in the Gardens

Flutist Arthur McClenton entertained and delighted Gibbs Gardens' members and guests when he performed in 2012. We are pleased to welcome him back for our 2013 season. The founder of McClenton Institute of Music, Inc. -- established in 1983 to provide artistic, academic, and moral development for underprivileged youth -- he was the 1997 music ambassador to Africa (Ethiopia) with The Religious Heritage of the African World and an advisor to the most recent and historically comprehensive African American Hymnal.  His eclectic selections include: “You are the Sunshine,” “You'll Never Walk Alone,” “Been So Long,” “Satin Doll,” “Summertime,” “Blue Bossa,” “Japanese Folk Song,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Jesu Joy,” “Always,” “With you I’m Born Again,” “Ribbon In the Sky,” “Living for the Love of you,” “Sugar,” “Sonny,” “Stop! In The Name of Love,” “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” “Sweet Love,” and “The Girl From Ipanema.” Arthur McClenton will perform at the Gardens on Sunday, May 12; Monday, May 27; Thursday, July 4; Monday, Sept. 2; and Saturday, Oct. 19.

Tara Byrdsong greeted visitors last year with beautiful flute music as they strolled through the Valley Gardens. Tara holds a Master of Music degree in flute performance from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. A former member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, she participated in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony. She performed with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and was a finalist in the United States Army Fife and Drum Corps audition. She is the band director at Martin Luther King Middle School, a member of Delta Omicron, the South Carolina Flute Society, Arts Enterprise, the National Flute Association (NFA), the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), and The National Association for Music Education (MENC). Tara Byrdsong will perform at the Gardens on Sunday, May 12; Monday, May 27; Thursday, July 4; Monday, Sept. 2; and Saturday, Oct. 19.

Keanu Mitanga entertained Gibbs Garden members and visitors last year with his moving performances in the Waterlily Gardens. He began playing the violin at age four; by age nine, he was selected for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program. He now holds the position of Principal Second Violin for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Keanu has played under conductors Jere Flint, Robert Spano, William Wiedrich, Bruce Dinkins, and James Paul. He attends the Atlanta International School where he is working towards the International Baccalaureate Program. Keanu Mitanga will perform at the Gardens on Monday, May 27; Monday, Sept. 2; and Saturday, Oct. 19.

Angelica Hairston charmed Gibbs Gardens’ visitors last year with her mastery of the harp. She will perform again this year on the harp in the courtyard of the Manor House Gardens. She has performed with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and on National Public Radio. Attending The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, she is pursuing a degree in harp performance. She participated in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program for six years and is a recipient of the 2011 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. She studied at the World Harp Congress in Vancouver and the Judith Liber 13^th International Master class for Harp in Lake Como, Italy. Angelica Hairston will perform at the Gardens on Sunday, May 12; Monday, May 27; and Monday, Sept. 2.