Dallas Brass to join Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus for Saturday concert

QUINCY — The Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Chorus will be joined by special guests Dallas Brass at a holiday concert at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Morrison Theater at Quincy Junior High School.

Since its founding in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion.

“A Dallas Brass concert is intended for the entire family,” Levine said in a press release. “Our ideal audience has a range of ages from 5 to 95. Our goal is to entertain and enrich by playing great music while showing our audience how much we enjoy what we do.”

The Dallas Brass has a strong dedication to working with young musicians, frequently going into schools to present clinics and workshops for students of all ages. Their short-term residency in Illinois includes instruction for students in Macomb and Quincy.

The winner of Encore’s “Battle for the Baton” contest will lead the orchestra in Leroy Anderson’s version of “Sleigh Ride.” Five local fans — Nora Baldner, Adam Duesterhaus, Monica Hinkamper, Josh Jones and Tim Schrage — are waging a fundraising competition for the right to conduct. The public gets to vote for their choice. Votes are $10/apiece. Go to encorequincy.com to vote before Nov. 29.

Concert-goers are asked to bring non-perishable food to stock The Crossing’s local food pantry.  Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a charity that builds beds for children, also will be highlighted at the event.

Single tickets are available in advance from Quincy HyVee stores, County Market, Sturhahn Jewelers and the QSOA website. Single ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts and are encouraged to attend.

The concert is sponsored by Quincy Recycle, Homebank, KHQA and the Stevenson Paxton Group of Wells Fargo Advisors.

All 75th anniversary programs are made possible by Blessing Health System, Knapheide Manufacturing Company and grants from the Marion Gardner Jackson Charitable Trust, the Tracy Family Foundation, the Katherine Broemmel Endowment for the Arts through the Community Foundation, the Stillwell Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency. 

In-depth information is available at www.qsoa.org or by calling 217-222-2856.