The Federated Music Teachers Association of the Quad-Cities recently held its 37th Annual Classical Piano Competition, with submissions turned in by video and instead of judged in person. The Federated Music Teachers Association (FMTA) – part of the 122-year-old National Federation of Music Clubs — is a group of local music teachers that runs a Classical Festival one year, alternating with a Baroque Festival the following year. In the Classical Piano Festival, entrants needed to perform one sonata or sonatina from the Classical period (1750-1820) and depending on their level, a second piece... Read More

A Davenport teenager is baking up something really special for his holiday break this year — 13-year-old Trey Gordon will be a contestant on the Food Network’s Kids’ Baking Championship! Trey shared the awesome news on his Facebook page, saying, “I have a huge announcement! I am so excited I’m able to tell you guys this.  I am going to be on Kids Baking Championship, season nine, with Food Network. Tune in on December 28 for a two-episode premiere!” Even at a young age, Trey has had a distinguished career in the arts and other pursuits. He’s been on stage... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Giving Tuesday is a worldwide fundraising movement held the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and Western Illinois University has taken part since 2014. The 2020 event, which was held Dec. 1, is the most successful in WIU’s six-year Giving Tuesday history, raising over $35,000, and a matching gift challenge of $5,000 for the WIU Student Emergency Fund set by WIU alumna Jody McCamey, in memory of her late husband Bill, a 30-year WIU law enforcement and justice administration professor, was also met during the 24-hour giving event. This year’s goal was to raise at... Read More

Two local nonprofit institutions – the Figge Art Museum and United Way Quad Cities – are holding unique online auctions. The Figge (225 W. 2nd St., Davenport) is having its first “Art Off the Wall” auction, aiming to raise $15,000 for the museum and its mission “to bring art and people together through the healing power of art.” It first provided member-only access (Dec. 7-10) to bid on the 86 donated pieces of painting, sculpture, jewelry and other beautiful objects, and the public auction online will go through Sunday, said Tessa Pozzi, membership and database manager. All bidding... Read More

This has undoubtedly been a bear of a year. No joke, 2020 has been brutal. And it’s still hanging in there being surly. BUT… there IS good news in the Quad-Cities! And every month, we at QuadCities.com, in partnership with our friends at KWQC-TV6 and “Paula Sands Live,” present you with What’s The Good News? a column on some of the positive things happening in and around the area. So, what’s the good news for December? Glad you asked… Local Author Jason Platt Honored For Young Adult Series Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again... Read More

Janessa Calderon’s young, fast-growing career has led her to exactly the perfect place. The driven, 26-year-old native of Muscatine, Iowa, is the new executive director (and the youngest Latina in the job) of the Greater Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC). After more than two years working for the nonprofit, the board promoted Calderon to the position – its only paid staff — effective Dec. 1, 2020. “I’m very excited about it,” she said Monday. Calderon succeeds Zenaida Landeros, the first Latina executive director of the chamber, who resigned this past spring to become executive... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a weekly look at a personality, place, trend or topic of interest to the Quad-Cities. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com. Samantha Pauly, a 2008 graduate of Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, was set to co-star in one of this year’s most anticipated new musicals on Broadway, “Six.” A flashy, feminist retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII (as a high-tech pop concert), the show played a month of previews in New York City and was to open March 12 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.... Read More

There are just 28 days left in this nightmare of a year. But will 2021 really be much better? Yes, but we’ll need to be patient, according to an economic forecast Thursday presented by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “Pivot and acceleration are two new favorite words in our dictionary,” Paul Rumler, chamber president/CEO, said before the formal virtual presentation, done online. “The Quad Cities Chamber has pivoted very aggressively this year to meet the increased demand,” he said. “We are so gratified to hear about your resiliency and determination to fight through 2020, and be... Read More

Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again made the Texas Library Association’s 2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List for his “Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist.” The TLA is the country’s largest state library association and Platt’s 2019 debut graphic novel, “Middle School Misadventures,” was named to the 2020 list as well. Released on Dec. 1, the list is a recommended reading list of 83 graphic novels nationwide designed for children in grades K-5. The books were selected by public and school librarians who are members of the Texas... Read More

Got a perfect pupper? A great good boi? A darn awesome doggo? QuadCities.com wants to feature your dog in our new Pupper Of The Week feature! Just send a picture of your pet with their name, your name, and a sentence or two about them and we’ll post their pic and story on QuadCities.com. Message your doggo pics and info to Sean@QuadCities.com. And get ready to check out some cool doggos on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! This week’s pupper is Reeeanch, the pupper of Deanne Saddoris. Here’s a picture of Reeeeanch:  Read More