The Giant Jam Sandwich 2009

Ticket Availability: No ticketing

Seating: General admission

Description

These concerts will introduce the audience to the families of the orchestra and include a performance of The Giant Jam Sandwich, a work for narrator and orchestra by Iowa native Philip Wharton based on the famous children's book by John Vernon Lord and Janet Burroway.

The concerts will be conducted by Carey Bostian and will feature several local soloists representing each family of the orchestra. Violinists Philip Wharton and Miera Kim will perform a concerto for two violins by Vivaldi. Benjamin Coelho, bassoonist, will premiere a new work for bassoon and strings. The brass family will be represented by Matthew Cameron, trombonist who will be joined by double bassist John Hall in the Vivo from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite. The concert will open with an exciting work by University of Iowa composer Michael Eckert. The Giant Jam Sandwich, commissioned by Carey Bostian for last year's inaugural family concerts, will be narrated by Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey and includes 130 projections of Pulitzer Prize winning John Vernon Lord's illustrations. The Giant Jam Sandwich is a wonderful children’s book first published in 1972, which tells the story of a community coming together in the face of a great natural disaster (four million wasps). The verse was written by former UI Writer’s Workshop faculty member Janet Burroway. Ms. Burroway is the author of eight novels, plays, poetry, essays, texts for dance, and children’s books. She will be reading from her new novel Bridge of Sand at Prairie Lights on Friday, June 5th at 7pm.

The ICCSO is a non-profit organization which gives two formal concerts at The Englert Theatre each season. All performers for this production have volunteered their time and talents. These family concerts are a new addition to the season and are being produced in conjunction with The Englert Theatre as a Community Spotlight event and as a part of the Summer of the Arts. The concerts are intended for students of all ages and their parents. No tickets are required.

The Community Spotlight Series, sponsored by the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Community Foundation of Johnson County, is designed to focus on the talents of local musicians, artists and writers. All events in the Series are free and open to the public.

“Iowa City has needed access to family orchestra concerts for a long time. Building on the success of last year’s event, I believe that these concerts represent the very best in community art-making. The story of The Giant Jam Sandwich is about a community coming together to make itself a better place and that is exactly what these concerts are all about. These events would not be possible without the Community Spotlight Series and the Englert.” – Carey Bostian