PlacesA preview of Performing Arts at

Johnson County Community Collegewww.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Janis Ian

Opole, Philharmonic of Poland with soprano Izabela Matula and violinist Marta Kowalczyk

Hot Tuna Blues

Backstage

Janis Ian

I Have a Dream

Vince Gill

March 2011

Soprano Izabela Matula is the star soloist in a generous program of 20works with some “surprise” pieces featuring the violin. The mix of orchestral,vocal and violin music includes waltzes, arias and polkas composed by Johann Strauss, Johann Strauss, Jr., and Franz Lehar.

Artists Insights by William Everett, musicologist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, begins at 7 p.m.

The history of the Opole, Philharmonic of Poland can be traced back to the years immediately following World War II, when it became the residentOrchestra of Opole in 1947 as the city began rebuilding its cultural identity.In 1952, a major Performing Arts Center was built in the city of Opole aspermanent home to the orchestra.

In 1999 Dawidow was appointed music director and principal conductor ofthe Opole, Philharmonic of Poland. Under his leadership, the orchestra hashosted a continually growing number of world-famous musicians, winnersof international piano, violin and conducting competitions.

Among them are the two evening soloists. Polish soprano Matula is known for performances of the oratory repertoire. She performed Mozart’sCoronation Mass, under Wojciech Czepiel in Kraków Philharmonic Hall

(2005) and under Lex Wiersm, also in Kraków (2006). Her operatic repertoire includes the roles of Dido in H. Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas; theCountess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro; Margarita in Gounod’s Faust;and Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen. In 2010 she performed as a soloist inKrzysztof Penderecki’s Symphony No. 8, in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and in Mikolaj Górecki’s Symphony No. 2 in Krakow during the celebrations of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald.

Violin soloist Marta Kowalczyk, born in 1991, has been performing as asoloist with the Symphonic Orchestra of Koszalin Philharmonic, Polish Radio Orchestra and Sinfonia Varsovia. She has performed as a soloist and withorchestra in countries such as Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Norway,Canada and China, and won many prizes in Polish and international competitions.

The Opole, Philharmonic of Poland was the only Polish Orchestra invited toparticipate in the Gala Concert in Rome to mark the 80th birthday of PopeJohn Paul II in May 2000. In the winter of 2011, the Opole, Philharmonic ofPoland has undertaken its first cross-country tour of the United States.

Tickets $45, $55

A cosmopolitan evening pairs Polish orchestra with Viennese classics

Opole, Philharmonic of Poland

One of its country’s leading orchestras, Opole, Philharmonic of Poland, under the baton of Boguslaw Dawidow, will perform a Vienna Gala featuringlight Viennese classics at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 4, in Yardley Hall.

Hot Tuna, the American blues band created by bassist Jack Casady andguitarist Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane, is joined by blues-harp player Charlie Musselwhite, and country-and-bluegrassartist Jim Lauderdale in Hot Tuna Blues at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in Yardley Hall.

The Kaukonen-Casady duo created much of Jefferson Airplane’s signaturesound, and Kaukonen’s lead and finger-style guitar playing characterizessome of the band’s most memorable tracks. As Jefferson Airplane wounddown, Hot Tuna began playing independently in 1970, and the group hasrecorded and toured ever since.

After two decades of acoustic and electric concerts and albums, the 1990sbrought a new focus on acoustic music to Hot Tuna. They played more intimate venues with more individual connection to the audience. The loudelectric music and the truckful of equipment disappeared entirely from Hot Tuna tours.

Along the way, they have been joined by a succession of talented musicians. For this performance, Musselwhite incorporates his musical experiences — from early Mississippi Delta days to immersion in Chicagourban blues that make him “the world’s greatest living blues harmonica

player” (New York Press). Although he has 18 W.C. Handy (“Father ofBlues”) Awards, six Grammy nominations and the Mississippi Governor’sAward for Excellence in the Arts, Musselwhite says he is constantly workingon new material. He is famous for his quote, “Blues is tough.”

Two-time Grammy Award-winner Lauderdale, one of the premier Americanaand bluegrass artists in music today, is a multi-talented musician and songwriter. He is among Nashville’s “A” list of songwriters with songsrecorded by artists such as Patty Loveless, The Dixie Chicks, Mark Chesnutt,Vince Gill, George Strait and Kathy Mattea. He has hosted the AmericanMusic Association for seven years, and won “Artist of the Year” and “Songof the Year” from the Association.

While Kaukonen and Casady, along with members of the Jefferson Airplane,were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, Hot Tuna’ssound today is primarily original and traditional blues songs. From psychedelic rock to blues, the musicians have changed, but two things havenot: they still love to play music together, and they plan to continue theirmusical odyssey.

Tickets $35, $45, $80

Nothing fishy about Hot Tuna’s blues

Jack CasadyJorma Kaukonen

• The Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College celebrated its 20th anniversary on Sept. 25, 2010, with singer Natalie Cole. A sold-out audience in Yardley Hallenjoyed Cole’s extensive repertoire backed by a big band, including 12 Kansas City musicians.

The event raised about $40,000 with corporate sponsorships from AT&T, Commerce Bank,Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Garmin, PGAVArchitects, Capitol Federal Foundation andthe Marriott-Overland Park.

Backstage peek

Natalie Cole and Sandy Price,JCCC Foundation president

Rachel Franklin, JCCC student, andHarvey S. Bodker, event patron/donor

JCCC trustees Melody Rayl, Dr. Bob Drummond and Lynn Mitchelson; Natalie Cole; Dr. Terry Calaway, JCCC president; and Jon Stewart, JCCC trustee

Menorah Medical Center event donors Jennifer Eslinger, Brent Eslinger, Dr. MakebaWilliams Boatwright, Susan Krouse, Dan Krouse, Wanda Wilkinson, Steve Wilkinson, Nancy Mellard and Ken Mellard attend a post-show reception in the Polsky Theatre.

Steve Hahn, president, AT&T Kansas; Phyllis Brownlee; Doug Brownlee; Sen. Karin Brownlee;Natalie Cole; Phyllis Merrick; Rep. Ray Merrick, Kansas majority leader; Beth Carroll andChris Carroll, regional director, AT&T

• Country music star LeAnn Rimes appearedNov. 14, 2010. The audience included loyalout-of-town groupies as well as local fans.Here she is seen with lucky attendees beforethe show.

Marlene and Dr. Terry Calaway, JCCC president, with LeAnn Rimes

Dana Spoor, Rimes and Melody Rayl, JCCC trustee

Jeff and Terri Schlicht, executive assistant to the president and board, Rimes

Tom Mitchell, DLR Group, Rimes and Chanie Mitchel

Jill Stinson and her husband Don Barnum, Rimes

Alicia and Lynn Mitchelson, JCCC trustee, Rimes

LeAnn Rimes and Nga “Thy” Do, JCCC Dining Services, assistant

Janis Ian catapulted to fame as a 15-year-old with her controversial song Society’s Child about interracial romance. That was 1966, and Ian is still making headlines. The singer, guitarist and songwriter will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in Polsky Theatre.

Born in 1951, Ian has been the voice of a generation in two different periods of her life. Fans who grew up during the early rock years alreadyknow the artist, her early hits and soulful voice. A great American songwriter of the 1960s and ’70s, she wrote Jesse, a song recorded by so many others that few remember Ian wrote it, and Stars, recorded by artists as diverse as Mel Torme and Cher.

A new generation is discovering her formidable talent through her 2008two-CD autobiography of songs, Best of Janis Ian, and book, Society’s Child,in which she candidly discusses her roller-coaster life.

With her family under surveillance by the FBI during the Cold War era, Ian grew up looking over her shoulder. By the age of 16, she was a regularperformer at the Gaslight in Greenwich Village, had played to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall and was nominated for a Grammy — all while living with her parents and younger brother in their Upper West Side

apartment. A versatile and talented performer, known for her “substance,depth and musicality” (New York Times), Ian refused to be pigeonholed as a “protest singer.” Her 1975 hit At Seventeen, an anthem about teenagedangst, would garner her five Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards.She performed it on the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live that October.

While her counterparts, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, met early deaths, Iansurvived despite challenges — unsuccessful abusive relationships with bothmen and women, health crises, financial problems and a nine-year hiatusfrom the music business. In 1992, she staged her musical comeback withGrammy-nominated Breaking Silence. Since then she has enjoyed CDs, abook, tours and speaking engagements.

Ian is still touring in cabaret-style venues and haunting people with a voicethat stands alone or with her guitar. (Chet Atkins once said, “Singer? Youought to hear that girl play guitar; she gives me a run for my money.”) Shealso shares short stories.

For those “who learned the truth at 17,” Ian is a champion of “ugly ducklinggirls,” a woman whose spirit and soul have triumphed over beauty queens.

Tickets $35

Janis Ian is a voice re-mastered

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

For best seats, order early.

Call 913-469-4445or buy tickets onlinewww.jccc.edu/TheSeriesfor tickets and information.

Service fee applicable.

Purchase live online

Box Office: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4445Tickets are required for most events in Polsky Theatre and Yardley Hall. Programs, dates and times are subject to change. Discounts are available for music, theater and dance students.

PAS Administrative Office: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4450A request for interpretative services must be made 72 hours before a performance. Call the box office at 913-469-4445 or TDD/TTY 913-469-4485.

Persons with disabilities who desire additional support services may contact services for patrons with disabilities, 913-469-8500, ext. 3521, or TDD/TTY 913-469-3885.

*free-admission event

*Jazz Nights7:30 p.m.

Polsky Theatre

*JCCC Chamber Choir7:30 p.m.

Polsky Theatre

Vince GillCohen Series

8 p.m. Yardley Hall$50, $65, $100

*Kansas City BaroqueConsortium

Ruel Joyce Recital noon Recital Hall

Kansas City Symphony SundayFour Dances from

Estancia, plus Mozart2 p.m. Yardley Hall$18 (youth)-$58

*Nathan GrannerBeau Bledsoe

Ruel Joyce Recitalnoon Recital Hall

Janis Ian8 p.m.

Polsky Theatre$35

*Brown & Gold Men’s Follies

1 p.m. reception, lobby2 p.m performance

Polsky Theatre

*Fontana TrioRuel Joyce Recitalnoon Recital Hall

*Killer StrayhornJazz Series

noon Recital Hall

David Basse and

City Light OrchestraJazz Series

noon Yardley Hall

*Marimba Sol de Chiapas

Ruel Joyce Recitalnoon Recital Hall

*Dennis WinslettQuartet

Jazz Seriesnoon Recital Hall

*James Ward TrioJazz Series

noon Recital Hall

I Have a Dream — The Life and Times ofMartin Luther King, Jr.

9:45 a.m., noon Yardley Hall

$5

FLAUNTJCCC fashion show

noon, 7 p.m. Polsky Theatre

*Mark Lowrey Triowith Shay Estes

Jazz Seriesnoon Recital Hall

*JCCC Concert Band7:30 p.m.

Polsky Theatre

*The Odd Couple,JCCC academic

theatre 2 p.m. Bodker Black

Box Theatre

Youth Symphony ofKansas City

*Concerto Showcase4 p.m. Yardley Hall

Hot Tuna Blues8 p.m. Yardley Hall

$35, $45, $80

*The Odd Couple, JCCC academic theatre 7:30 p.m. Bodker Black Box Theatre

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Opole, Philharmonic of Poland

with soprano Izabela Matula8 p.m. Yardley Hall`

$45, $55

March 2011

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Watch for 2011-2012 season

announcement.

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

12345 COLLEGE BLVD

OVERLAND PARK KS 66210-1299

NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Johnson County

Community College

www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Fans thrill to ‘An Evening with Vince Gill’

Good news for country music fans — superstar Vince Gill performs at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in Yardley Hall as this year’s presenter for the Cohen Community Series. All proceeds for this event go to JCCCscholarships and educational programs.

An Evening with Vince Gill will feature Gill performing hits from his 30-yearcareer backed by a live band. The playlist includes favorites like One MoreLast Chance, I Still Believe in You and What the Cowgirls Do. One of themost popular singers in modern country music, Gill has a love for countrymusic, top-notch songwriting, and world-class guitar playing, all wrapped

in a warm tenor and a quick and easy wit.

Gill’s music career has garnered 20 Grammy Awards and sold more than 26 million albums. In 2007, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the youngest inductees ever.

If anyone in country music defines humility, it is Gill. His generosity andkindness are legendary. Hailing from Norman, Okla., Gill achieved his bigbreakthrough with When I Call Your Name, which won the Country MusicAssociation’s Single of the Year award. Since then, he has won 17 moreCMA honors, including Song of the Year four times.

Gill co-hosted the CMA Awards for the first time in 1992. He continued to host Country Music’s Biggest Night for 12 consecutive years, ending hisrun in 2003. He has recorded 25 albums, including 2006’s These Days, successfully weaving country, pop, gospel and rock influences together in a groundbreaking four-CD set.

As a strong influential force on the country music scene, he has been a coveted duet partner, collaborating with Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand andhis wife, celebrated singer Amy Grant. A true humanitarian, Gill has beenactive in hundreds of charity events including Boys & Girls Clubs of America,Special Olympics, and his own Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament (“TheVinny”), supporting junior golf programs in Tennessee.

Gill is the fourth presenter in the Cohen Community Series, inaugurated in2008 in honor of the late Barton P. Cohen, president of Metcalf Bancshares,vice chairman and general counsel of Metcalf Bank and an attorney withBlackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP. The Cohen Community Series wasfunded through a gift from Jon Stewart, vice chairman of the JCCC board oftrustees, college alumnus, and former president of Metcalf Bank. Previouspresenters have been George Will, Phil Vassar and Marcus Buckingham.

Tickets $50, $65, $100

Vince Gill