Around the World in 80 Minutes Concert

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Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor
Cost:	$ see below
Category:	Music & Concerts

We begin our journey in New England, and then travel south to the Caribbean Islands, to the island of Puerto Rico with 'America,' from West Side Story. Continuing our journey south, we visit Evita’s Argentina, then sail the Atlantic to the western coast of Africa with music from the movie Amistad. We'll cross the jungles of Africa and enter the deserts of Lawrence's Arabia, then a quick trip to the west to arrive in Casablanca for a vocal performance of 'As Time Goes By.'

Traveling to Europe and central Spain, we will spend time with Don Quixote, The Man Of La Mancha, and sidekick, Sancho Panza, as they dream “The Impossible Dream.” Our next stop will be Austria, where the world-famous Von Trapp Family is immortalized in the classic musical, The Sound of Music. Then it’s off to a small, peasant village in Russia to be entertained by the Fiddler on the Roof. We will then travel to the Orient and enter Thailand, or Siam, as it was called in the musical, “The King and I.”

Beginning the journey home, we will lay to port in the South Pacific, home to sun-kissed beaches, grass huts and grass skirts. Our whirlwind tour will take us from South Sea breezes to the heart of tornado country as we stop off at a small Kansas farm where a young girl dreams of a better place 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Nearing home, we will make a brief stop in “Chicago,” the Windy City, before being transported back to the Big Apple with the “Theme from New York, New York.”

Returning to New England, we visit a small fishing village on the coast of Maine, the setting of the musical Carousel. And, as we touch down again in Wakefield, we will realize just 'What a Wonderful World' it really is.

Wakefield‘s own Middlesex Concert Band, with over 60 volunteer performers, plays traditional and contemporary wind ensemble music, marches, big band sounds, folk tunes and music from Broadway and Hollywood. From September to May, the Middlesex Concert Band presents a series of pops and holiday concerts with the Wakefield Choral Society. During the summer months, the band can be heard playing traditional outdoor concerts in town parks and commons throughout the region.

This concert will be co-conducted by Mr. James O’Dell of Melrose and Mr. Mark E. Olson of Arlington. Mr. O'Dell has been the music director of the Middlesex Concert band for the past five years. He is currently Acting Dean of Academic Affairs at The Boston Conservatory and teaches brass, tuba, euphonium and conducting. This will be his last performance with the band, as he will soon be leading the Concord Band.

Mr. Olson will be taking the baton from Mr. O’Dell as music director of the Middlesex Concert Band. He is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Harvard University, where he also conducts the Sunday Jazz Ensemble, co-conducts the Wind Ensemble, works with the Harvard University Band, and assists with the administration of the band program. The Middlesex Concert band is very pleased to have both directors involved in this special performance.

HOURS

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Sat 3/21/09 8:00pm
Sun 3/22/09 3:00pm

COST

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Sat 8pm $18, $15 seniors/children; Sun 3pm $15, $12 seniors/children

WEBSITE

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www.MCBconcertband.org/aroundtheworld.htm

LOCATION

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467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880 map
Phone: 781-279-0108

The Americal Civic Center is located at 467 Main Street, Wakefield,
Massachusetts and is handicapped accessible.