Come join us for a night of musical magic at the Middleton Performance Art Center, Friday, December 12th at 7:30 PM
Featuring the MHS Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, 7 O'Clock Jazz, Jazz Orchestra
& Professional Guest Musician Victor Goines
TICKETS
Adults: $17.00
Students (10+): $5
9 & Under: Free
but still require a ticket
MHS Jazz Bands
The 7 O'Clock Jazz Band with Jazz Orchestra will perform Duke Ellington's "The Nutcracker Suite," a jazz adaptation of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's famous ballet "The Nutcracker." Ellington and his collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, reimagined Tchaikovsky's classical compositions with a jazzy and swing style. The suite was first recorded in 1960 and features Ellington's signature big band sound, incorporating elements of jazz, blues, and swing into the well-known melodies from "The Nutcracker." This innovative interpretation of the holiday classic adds a new dimension to the music, blending the worlds of classical and jazz in a way that showcases Ellington's unique musical vision.
MIDDLETON ORCHESTRA
The Middleton High School Symphony Orchestra with Symphonic Winds, led by conductor Steve Kurr, will perform the enchanting and traditional "Nutcracker" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. You'll be mesmerized by the Sugar Plum Fairy’s graceful dance, the exciting battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker, and all the magic of the Land of Sweets.
Guest Musician
New Orleans native Victor Goines has been a member of the "Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra" and the Wynton Marsalis Septet since 1993. He has released seven leader albums, composing more than 50 original works including Crescent City, premiered by the JLCO in 2014.
He has recorded and/or performed with Ahmad Jamal, Ruth Brown, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Dizzy Gillespie, Lenny Kravitz, Branford Marsalis, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder, among other distinct artists.
Goines served as Artistic Director of Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School and Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Music at Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University; he continues to serve as an education consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center.
In 2022, Goines became President and CEO of Jazz St. Louis. He received his bachelor of music from Loyola University, and his master of music from Virginia Commonwealth University. Goines is pursuing his doctor of musical arts in music education (ABD) at Boston University.
Middleton High School Directors
Orchestra Director
Band Directors
History of "The Nutcracker Suite"
The Nutcracker Suite, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, premiered as a two-act ballet in 1892, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." Initially, the ballet received mixed reviews but gradually gained popularity as an annual holiday tradition. Melodies, such as the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" and the "Waltz of the Flowers," captivated audiences. Over the past 131 years, various adaptations and interpretations have emerged, making The Nutcracker an integral part of cultural celebrations worldwide.
TICKETS
Adults
Students (10+)
9 & Under
$17.00
$ 5
Free
In order to allow the most people to attend this event, please DO NOT leave a single open seat between you and other guests when selecting your seats. There are a several wheelchair accessible seats that are available in the back orchestra row for those who need them.