Main Street Medina - World Tour of Music Series 2009/10

Main Street Medina is proud to announce a stellar line up of musical and vocal performances for the third season of the World Tour of Music Concert Series. The series has grown over the past three years into a recognized showcase of regional, national, and even international talent, including past performances by the University of Akron Steel Drum Band, the Maidens IV, pianist Sedmara Rutstein, vocalist Scott Skiba with pianist Steven Gross, Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Big Band, and the St. Petersburg String Quartet.

The Series kicks off on September 11, 2010, with the Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band, featuring Dixieland Jazz, based in the heart of Cincinnati. This group of well-seasoned musicians, whose specialty is Classic Traditional Jazz, has a musical effect that is at once entertaining, humorous and infectious. Founded in 1994 by veteran banjo artist and showman, Bob Adams, the band has performed at numerous jazz clubs, festivals, on many river boat cruises, and continues to gain an increasing number of fans on domestic and international stages.

N’Dias will grace the stage of November 6, 2010. The Mix (N'Dias) is an African Traditional World Beat Band, founded by Alassane Sarr, a Senegalese Griot/Drummer/Dancer/Singer from Dakar, Senegal (West Africa). Alassane, rooted in African tradition, strives to elevate and educate the public in the beauty of Traditional West African drumming and dancing. This versatile collection of performers, musicians, dancers and singers consists of Africans born in Africa and America. This make up is complimentary and living proof of the eternal stamp of Internal African spirit. The intensity of all their performances are magnified by the accompaniment of powerful African drums and a host of other African strings, reeds and percussion instruments.

On February 5, 2011, Australian tenor, Brad Cooper, will make his North American debut with “Love Songs from Around the Globe”. Prepare for an evening of aural luxury as Mr. Cooper treats your ears to beautiful melodies of amore. A student of Marilyn Horne and the recipient of a Joan Sutherland scholarship, Brad has been sweeping Europe by storm. In his performance of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville at Opera Holland Park, London, England, MusicalCriticism.com wrote, “A star was born when tenor Brad Cooper opened his mouth.” Music Web International called his debut recording of Jonathan Dove’s Siren Song on Chandos Classics, “simply brilliant”. Brad has graced the stages of the English National Opera, Nationale Reisopera, Kammeroper and the Grachtenfestival in The Netherlands, The Wexford Festival in Ireland, Oper Köln in Germany and the the Opèra Comique in Paris. He has performed in Moscow with Russian diva Anna Netrebko and Romanian star Ruxandra Donose.

The season ends with a fantastic and rich performance by The Oberlin Brass Ensemble, directed by James de Sano, on Saturday, April 2, 2011. Mr. de Sano played in the Cleveland Orchestra for 33 years and served as Principal Trombone from 1989-2003. He has performed under the direction of Leopold Stokowsky, Erich Leinsdorf, Daniel Barenboim, Raphael Kubelik, George Solti, Riccardo Chailly, Claudio Abbaddio, Lorin Maazel, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Pierre Boulez, John Cage, Lukas Foss and many other distinguished conductors.

Season tickets are $80 for all four shows, a savings of $20 off the regular price. Individual tickets are $25 for adults, and $20 for Main Street Medina members, seniors 60+, students, and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased by calling 330-952-0910. All performances are held in Broadway Street Hall, 144 N. Broadway, Medina, OH 44256. Free parking is available behind the Hall. The Hall is completely accessible. Seating is general admission only. Doors open at 7:30pm and performances begin at 8pm.