Next 6:30 Concert Series features ‘Duets’
Performing at the Weidner Center on March 5, 2018
Green Bay, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Music’s 6:30 Concert Series continues with “Duets” on Monday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Weidner Center’s Fort Howard Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Inspired by a concept popularized by Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, saxophonist John Salerno and soprano Courtney Sherman will be accompanied by a variety of duet partners, including Michael Dewhirst, cello; Adam Gaines, trumpet; Antonio Salerno, guitar; and Christine Salerno, piano. The program will feature I Never Saw Another Butterfly, a dramatic composition by Lori Laitman based on a setting of texts by children of the Holocaust and written for soprano and alto sax.
Sherman is an associate professor of Music at UW-Green Bay, teaching courses for both the Music and Theatre programs. She regularly serves as the conductor and music director for UW-Green Bay’s musical theatre productions. As a regular interpreter of new music, she has performed the works of several of her colleagues, and has appeared as a featured performer in the Composer’s Voice concert series in New York City, premiering new works by living composers from around the world. After having collaborated on many performances with cellist Michael Dewhirst, the two formed a duo named I/You, and look forward to performing more music for cello and voice.
Professor Salerno teaches saxophone, composition, jazz ensemble and other jazz-related classes. Under his direction, the UW-Green Bay Jazz Ensemble has performed at both the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe. As a saxophonist, he has worked with a variety of notable groups and artists including The Spinners, The Jacksons, Engelbert Humperdinck, Roberta Flack, Joe Williams and many others.
Salerno is a published composer and arranger, and has written works for a variety of styles and media. He is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, judging at many jazz festivals throughout the country, including the prestigious University of Northern Colorado Jazz Festival. He directs UW-Green Bay’s annual Jazz Fest and the University’s Summer Jazz Camp — two of the longest-standing and most popular jazz events in Wisconsin.
About the 6:30 Concert Series
The 6:30 Concert Series is designed to connect the campus with the community through the exploration of music. Performances feature insightful presentations by performers, composers and special guests. The series offers new perspectives on diverse styles, often exploring the music from multiple angles. All performances take place in the Weidner Center’s Fort Howard Hall. They begin at 6:30 p.m. and last between 60 and 90 minutes. Although the performances are free and open to the public, donations are accepted for the benefit of UW-Green Bay’s Music program.
About the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
UW-Green Bay’s Weidner Center for the Performing Arts is known for its elegant design and the acoustic excellence of its 2,000-seat main hall, Cofrin Family Hall. It also houses two smaller performance spaces, the Fort Howard recital hall and the Jean Weidner Theatre, along with a dance studio and Grand Foyer. The Weidner Center has a distinct benefit in being part of a leading institution of higher learning. The Center is a home for UW-Green Bay Music and Theatre and Dance programs, community events and productions, and performances by visiting artists and touring companies. Beyond the large-scale touring productions that grace the stage, the Weidner Center also focuses on scholastic development, programming and an impactful education series — Stage Doors. For more information on the Weidner Center, visit www.WeidnerCenter.com, 920-465-2726, 800-895-0071, or follow ‘Weidner Center for the Performing Arts’ on Facebook, Twitter (@WeidnerCenter) and Instagram (@weidnercenter).
About the University Wisconsin Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate and graduate programs to 7,158 students. The University transforms lives and communities through exceptional and award-winning teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities and a problem-solving approach to education. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
