EXCLUSIVE: It’s fair to say that anyone who will attend Renee Elise Goldsberry’s outdoor concert Saturday, May 15 at Davenport’s LeClaire Park will be “Satisfied.” The beautiful 50-year-old California native — best known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway smash “Hamilton” – will make her post-Covid live performance debut in the 7:30 p.m. concert, for a long-awaited evening of Broadway, pop, and soul favorites, backed by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. “It’s kind of mind-blowing,” Goldsberry said in a Friday phone interview, noting her entire... Read More

If you get your Covid vaccine at the Rock Island County mass vaccination clinic in Milan between April 14 and May 20, there will be something special that’s literally music to your ears. Taking inspiration from famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent impromptu performance during his Covid vaccine observation period, the Rock Island County Health Department and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) are partnering to bring live music to the mass vaccination site at Camden Centre in Milan. “Vaccine Variations” is an initiative that arranges for one-hour performances by QCSO musicians starting April... Read More

Quad City Symphony Orchestra is bringing “Masterworks VI: For America” to the Quad-Cities The concert will be held on April 10 (2 & 7:30 pm) at the Adler Theatre with $1 from every ticket sold benefiting the AALS United Way. In celebration of the Figge Art Museum’s “For America” exhibit, the concert weaves together different American musical traditions and celebrates diversity. Stream the concert On Demand via Digital Access from April 11 – May 11 or enjoy in person on April 10. For your support for #UnitedWayQC and AALS, you will receive 30% off the price of your digital... Read More

Why did Marc Zyla of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra start a new podcast? Because, literally. Inspired by the 2019 children’s book of the same name, Zyla launched “Because” in early March, with new episodes released every other Monday, peeling back the curtain on the classical music world. A friendly 35-year-old native of Parkersburg, W.Va., he plays principal horn with the QCSO, as well as working as director of education and community engagement, and is the orchestra personnel manager. “What you need to know about this show is that it’s very geared towards answering the question... Read More

Fortunately, there are technically just 10 days left in winter – but our yearlong battle with loneliness and isolation may continue in spring. Baritone Nathan Windt and pianist Marian Lee on Friday will present selections from the preeminent song cycle on this season of discontent and its profound connection to life today. The St. Ambrose University assistant professors will perform from Franz Schubert’s 1827 “Winterreise” — considered by many to be the pinnacle of the German song-cycle repertoire. Written nearly 200 years ago, it may seem that the story of a wanderer making sense... Read More

“Hamilton” actress and singer Renée Elise Goldsberry will join the Quad City Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, May 15, 2021 for an outdoor 7:30 p.m. concert at Davenport’s LeClaire Park. The special concert (of Broadway, pop, and soul favorites) was originally scheduled for Davenport’s Adler Theatre and was first announced in early February 2020. QCSO executive director Brian Baxter said Friday they decided in December to move the show outdoors, due to Covid concerns, rather than cancel or postpone. “We’ve considered everything. I would say every option was weighed,” he said,... Read More

Two members of the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles (QCYSE) have been named winners of the annual Concerto Competition – a pianist from Alleman High School and a trumpeter from Pleasant Valley High. Last month, eight Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) members auditioned to win one of two prizes. The YSO Prize winner is typically awarded the opportunity to play their concerto at the QCSYE Winter Concert in February, accompanied by the YSO. The Grand Prize winner performs their concerto with the QCSO at the QCSO/QCSYE Side-by-Side Concert in April. Winners are selected by a committee consisting... Read More

The day last August that Marian Lee was to be the first female pianist to play for Iowa Public Radio’s (IPR) Steinway Café series, was the day after the devastating derecho swept through the Midwest. The St. Ambrose University associate professor of piano rescheduled her virtual appearance to this Monday at noon. Lee’s pre-recorded 45-minute program (filmed at SAU’s Madsen Hall) will be available on IPR’s Facebook page and Ambrose music department’s Facebook. Lee will be watching and answering viewer questions in real time on the IPR site. “I was really surprised to find I was the... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a comprehensive weekly feature looking at a trend, personality, or major subject involving the Quad-Cities arts and entertainment scene. Making it through nearly five months of a paralyzing pandemic was bad enough, but for those of us in Iowa and the Quad-Cities, Aug. 10, 2020 and the days that followed seemed especially cruel. I’ll never forget that Monday afternoon, working on my laptop in the basement, a prisoner in my home trying not to go insane during a crazy year. The power suddenly went out, as a freak inland hurricane (or “derecho” – duh-RAY-cho – as everyone... Read More

Hannah Holman, principal cellist with the Quad City Symphony, got an early Christmas present this month – the keys to the historic Deanery at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Davenport. She’s had a longtime dream to start a new music school, which she did online in September, and she is Executive Artistic Director of the Quad City Music Academy. Following months of negotiations between the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s Vestry and her academy’s Board of Directors, Holman now has a 15-year lease on the 90-year-old building and the QCMA will rename it The Deanery School of Music. “It’s so... Read More