WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The annual Summer Concert Series at the Purdue Memorial Union features dinner and the diverse musical styles of local bands. The series kicks off on July 8, 2009 on the West Lafayette campus. The performances are free to attend, and dinner is available for a $5.00 meal ticket or ala carte.

Guitarist Michael Kelsey interacts with the crowd at his 2008 Summer Concert Series performance. (Photo by Guy Louis Martin, gLouis@Flickr)

The four free Wednesday shows begin at 6:30 p.m. on the union’s front lawn. Seating for the concerts is limited. Concert goers are advised to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets.

Scheduled performances:

• July 8 – Michael Kelsey (Acoustic rock)
• July 15 – Woodstove Flapjacks String Band (Americana)
• July 22 – Laugh at Linus (Acoustic funk) and Root Hog (Psychedelic, Americana)
• July 29 – Big James and the Chicago Playboys (Blues)

In case of rain the concert will be moved inside to the Purdue Memorial Union’s North Ballroom.

The series is sponsored by the Purdue Memorial Union and Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Some 700 student performers will take the stage during a series of four concerts Friday through Sunday (April 24-26) at Purdue University.

All four concerts are free and open to the public.

The first concert is an 8 p.m. Friday (April 24) show featuring the Purdue Symphonic and Concert bands at Elliott Hall of Music. Two more concerts will be offered at Elliott Hall of Music on Saturday (April 25), including a 6 p.m. performance featuring the Purdue Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras and an 8 p.m. show highlighting the University and Collegiate Concert bands. The weekend’s final performance is Jazz on the Hill at 2:30 p.m. Sunday (April 26) at Slayter Center of Performing Arts.

The weekend's events will serve as a finale of the 2008-09 performing season for Purdue Bands & Orchestra.

The ensembles will perform a variety of styles including classical, street music, Latin and jazz, with some groups emphasizing music written by contemporary composer Roger Cichy. He will be on hand to work with a few of the groups and conduct a number of his own compositions. Some of the Cichy pieces the bands will tackle include “Bugs,” “Colours,” “Reliance,” “T-Rex” and “Interpretations.”

The Jazz on the Hill concert will pay tribute to jazz composer Stan Kenton, with performances by the Purdue Jazz Band, American Music Repertory Ensemble, Lab Jazz Band, Concert Jazz Band and the Jazz Conception Ensemble. The show will be outdoors, and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for comfortable seating.

The weekend’s events will serve as a finale of the 2008-09 performing season for Purdue Bands & Orchestra.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Long Center Theater in Downtown Lafayette will host the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra’s next concert on January 10, 2009.

Peter Vinograde

The concert, “The Splendor of Vienna”, will feature guest pianist, Peter Vinograde, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major. Mozart completed this concerto in December of 1786, and it is the last of the twelve great piano concertos written in Vienna, and currently regarded as one of his greatest works. Dr. Vinograde teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and according to the New York Times, listeners will be “instantly impressed with his big technique, lively mind, and passionate commitment to the music”.

Featured Works:

• STRAUSS – On the Beautiful Danube
• MOZART – Piano Concert #25 in C Major, Peter Vinograde, piano
• BEETHOVEN – Symphony #6 “Pastorale”

Featured Performer: Peter Vinograde, piano
Conductor: Nicholas Palmer
Curtain: 7:30 PM Saturday
Date: January 10, 2009
Location: Long Center for Performing Arts, 111 N 6th St, Lafayette, IN 47901
For Information: (765) 742-5664

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — President France A. Córdova and first gentleman Chris Foster conducting “Hail Purdue” will be among the highlights of the annual Stars and Stripes concert and fireworks display at Purdue University’s Slayter Center of Performing Arts on July 4.

The Big Swing Band of Lafayette will kick off the concert at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. the Lafayette Citizens Band, under the direction of William D. Kisinger, takes over along with the Greater Lafayette Freedom Singers, a community chorus directed by Eric VanCleave. Twana Harris, conductor of the Black Voices of Inspiration at Purdue, will perform “God Bless America” as a soloist with the Freedom Singers.

Other patriotic tunes at the concert will include “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless the USA,” “Armed Forces Salute,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The Tippecanoe Fife and Drum Corps will take the stage around 9 p.m. while the Lafayette Citizens Band takes a short break. The band will resume playing around 9:15 p.m.

The band will finish with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” and fireworks will begin about 10 p.m.

The Purdue Jazz Band, which has performed in the past several Stars and Stripes concerts, will not be in the event this year because of a recently concluded tour to Italy.

Due to various construction projects around campus, the university has created a guide for best travel routes and parking.

Motorists coming from the north or east are advised to take U.S. 52 W. to Northwestern Avenue to Cherry Lane. From the south, take U.S. 231 to State Street, and from the north and west follow McCormick Road to State Street. Stadium Avenue will be closed from McCormick Road to Russell Street.

Parking will be available at the Ross-Ade Stadium parking lots, Northwestern and University parking garages, and Intramural Field. Parking is prohibited along McCormick Road and Cherry Lane, and violators will be towed.

VIP and handicap-accessible parking locations are available off of North Intramural Drive.

VIP tickets are available for $20 at all locations of Chase Bank, Lafayette Bank & Trust, Lafayette Savings Bank and Regions Bank. Tickets also are available this year at Pay Less Super Markets, 65 Beck Lane, Lafayette; 2200 Greenbush, Lafayette; 2513 Maple Point Drive, Lafayette; and 1032 Sagamore Pkwy. W., West Lafayette.

Pets, personal fireworks and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. An information booth will be located on the south side of Slayter Center for lost children and other event information.

To help eliminate traffic congestion on Indiana 26 in Lafayette and West Lafayette following the fireworks, vehicles may be redirected, and officers may be in the street directing traffic, said Purdue police Lt. Kevin Booker.