Hudson – The Arts Alliance is beginning a new tradition this year with the inaugural Artist Appreciation Concert, scheduled for Wednesday, June 20 at Wood Park, 65 Park St., Hudson. Each year a different artist who has contributed to the arts in the area, dedicating themselves to the cultural enrichment of our community, will be honored with a concert in the park. For this first Artist Appreciation Concert, the Arts Alliance has selected Jan E. Patterson to honor.
Patterson has dedicated herself to the arts in this community for over 25 years. She is the founder and was the director of the Arts Alliance until her retirement this past January. She has been a driving force in the arts, building the foundation for the many arts programs offered community wide by the Arts Alliance including the River's Edge Community Band and Chorale, the Pro Musica Youth Chorus, the Community Arts series, Afterschool Band Lessons, Arts Afterschool, Focus on the Arts, Saturday Morning Discovery Series, Visual Art Programs and the River's Edge Players.
Performing at the concert will be the River's Edge Community Band under the direction of Jason Caron. The over-40 members rehearse weekly. Among the selections the band will be playing are the Midway March by John Williams, and the National Emblem March by E.E. Bagley, the Symphonic Suite from “Band of Brothers”, and The Olympic Spirit by John Williams.
Also performing is the River's Edge Chorale, under the direction of Paul Johnson, which has been concentrating on music from Broadway and will be performing music from Rogers and Hammerstein's musicals including The King and I, Sound of Music, South Pacific and Oklahoma. The chorale rehearses in the fall for the River's Edge Holiday Concert and during the spring to perform outdoors at the Artist Appreciation Concert.
Rounding out the list of performers are the children of the Pro Musica Youth Chorus under the direction of Jan Patterson. The Youth Chorus will be performing selections from their repertoire and also some special summer selections including the familiar 76 Trombones from The Music Man.
For the finale of the program the Band will lead the Chorale and Youth Chorus in a rousing medley of music from The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Avida, Cats and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat called Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Concert Celebration.
An additional feature of the concert is the visual art display by some member artists. Come early to the park and pick out a nice seat on the lawn. You are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnics, and to enjoy soft breezes coming from the beautiful Assabet River for whom the performing groups are named.
In case of inclement weather the concert will be held at Hudson High School, 69 Brigham St., which can accommodate your picnics in the cafeteria outside of the auditorium.
For more information about the River's Edge Community Band and Chorale or the Pro Musica Youth Chorus, and all programs of the Arts Alliance, visit www.upwitharts.org or call 978-562-1646.
