PATRONS FOR JAZZ CONCERT
Donation protected
GREETINGS MUSIC LOVERS,
This is Russ Wilson - Musician, Singer, Bandleader & Conductor.
On August 31, 2013 I gave a concert at Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville, NC presenting the music of the King Of Jazz, Paul Whiteman. With over 30 musicians we presented the hot jazz of the roaring 20's to an ecstatic audience. The video clip above is from that very concert.
This was one of the greatest artistic achievements of my life. It was also an expensive undertaking. Fortunately, we had one patron (an "angel" if you will!) who funded the entire project.
We couldn't have done it without him.
We are planning another "Whiteman" style concert on May 12, 2017 (the original date of November 12, 2016, unfortunately, had to be postponed. It was announced back in August that Bob Dylan would be performing in Asheville on the very same night as our concert. We knew we could not compete with him so we looked for another date. The first available at DWT was May 12, 2017).
This is our own version of his 1924
EXPERIMENT IN MODERN MUSIC.
The new concert will feature 2 of the pieces performed on Whiteman's original "Experiment". Victor Herbert's "Suite of Serenades" and George Gershwins "Rhapsody In Blue". In addition, our concert will also premier SIX original orchestral jazz compositions by Asheville jazz musician/composers
Richard Shulman's "Indigo Fantasy"
Michael Jefry Stevens' "Canvas #1 for Orchestra"
Alan Theisen's "Scott and Zelda",
Hank West's "Hachi Mani"
Ben Hovey's original composition (yet to be titled)
and Steve Alford's original composition
(yet to be titled).
These pieces will be conducted by me and performed by a hand picked 40 piece orchestra.
However, this time we don't have our "angel" patron.
So we are coming to you and asking for your help.
A concert of this magnitude does not come cheap.
Here's a breakdown of the total cost.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsal Pay for 40 musicians at $50 per rehearsal.
3 days of rehearsals - $150 x 40 = $6000.00
COMPOSER'S HONORARIUM
$1000 per composer - 6 composers = $6000.00
PIANO SOLOIST (Rhapsody In Blue) = $500 (minimum)
DIANA WORTHAM THEATER - RENTAL FEES
Stage/Event Rental $750
Piano Rental & Tuning $235
Tech. Director & Staff $550
House Manager $100 (approximate figure)
Building Manager $100 (approximate figure)
Box Office Set Up $ 75
Web Banner/Marquee $125
Audio Engineer $200
Promotion $1,000
TOTAL $3,135.00
GRAND TOTAL $15,635.00
After much discussion and thinking we've decided to lower the goal to $5000. That would pay for the theater rental and advertising/promotion.
It is our hope that we can fill the theater and, from ticket sales be able to pay all of the musicians what they deserve and our other expenses out of the ticket sales.
But we still need your help.
For those who have already given we thank you.
This event promises to be a cultural watershed in our Asheville area, a region already blessed with an abundance of great music. The presentation of six world premiers for a jazz orchestra by internationally known composers living right here is a feat not normally attempted in communities of our size. We invite and welcome your generous contributions to support this project!
This is Russ Wilson - Musician, Singer, Bandleader & Conductor.
On August 31, 2013 I gave a concert at Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville, NC presenting the music of the King Of Jazz, Paul Whiteman. With over 30 musicians we presented the hot jazz of the roaring 20's to an ecstatic audience. The video clip above is from that very concert.
This was one of the greatest artistic achievements of my life. It was also an expensive undertaking. Fortunately, we had one patron (an "angel" if you will!) who funded the entire project.
We couldn't have done it without him.
We are planning another "Whiteman" style concert on May 12, 2017 (the original date of November 12, 2016, unfortunately, had to be postponed. It was announced back in August that Bob Dylan would be performing in Asheville on the very same night as our concert. We knew we could not compete with him so we looked for another date. The first available at DWT was May 12, 2017).
This is our own version of his 1924
EXPERIMENT IN MODERN MUSIC.
The new concert will feature 2 of the pieces performed on Whiteman's original "Experiment". Victor Herbert's "Suite of Serenades" and George Gershwins "Rhapsody In Blue". In addition, our concert will also premier SIX original orchestral jazz compositions by Asheville jazz musician/composers
Richard Shulman's "Indigo Fantasy"
Michael Jefry Stevens' "Canvas #1 for Orchestra"
Alan Theisen's "Scott and Zelda",
Hank West's "Hachi Mani"
Ben Hovey's original composition (yet to be titled)
and Steve Alford's original composition
(yet to be titled).
These pieces will be conducted by me and performed by a hand picked 40 piece orchestra.
However, this time we don't have our "angel" patron.
So we are coming to you and asking for your help.
A concert of this magnitude does not come cheap.
Here's a breakdown of the total cost.
REHEARSALS
Rehearsal Pay for 40 musicians at $50 per rehearsal.
3 days of rehearsals - $150 x 40 = $6000.00
COMPOSER'S HONORARIUM
$1000 per composer - 6 composers = $6000.00
PIANO SOLOIST (Rhapsody In Blue) = $500 (minimum)
DIANA WORTHAM THEATER - RENTAL FEES
Stage/Event Rental $750
Piano Rental & Tuning $235
Tech. Director & Staff $550
House Manager $100 (approximate figure)
Building Manager $100 (approximate figure)
Box Office Set Up $ 75
Web Banner/Marquee $125
Audio Engineer $200
Promotion $1,000
TOTAL $3,135.00
GRAND TOTAL $15,635.00
After much discussion and thinking we've decided to lower the goal to $5000. That would pay for the theater rental and advertising/promotion.
It is our hope that we can fill the theater and, from ticket sales be able to pay all of the musicians what they deserve and our other expenses out of the ticket sales.
But we still need your help.
For those who have already given we thank you.
This event promises to be a cultural watershed in our Asheville area, a region already blessed with an abundance of great music. The presentation of six world premiers for a jazz orchestra by internationally known composers living right here is a feat not normally attempted in communities of our size. We invite and welcome your generous contributions to support this project!
Organizer
Russ Wilson
Organizer
Asheville, NC