Music is all around in local venues

Concerts bring wide range to area audiences

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A beautiful concert, “Shakespeare in Love,” conducted by Rene Knetsch, presented by the Parker Symphony Orchestra at the PACE Center on Feb. 24, led me to thinking about how rich we are with music in this south Denver suburban area ... Parker has events scheduled on many weekends, including Jimmy Bu ett’s “Escape to Margaritaville” June 23 to July 16.

As a longtime Littleton resident, I can remember a smaller start-up by cellist Jurgen de Lemos of the Littleton Symphony Orchestra which once tted onto Town Hall Arts Center’s modest stage and soon needed more space ... It now performs at the well-designed Littleton United Methodist Church, 5894 S. Datura St., and has a concert called “Out Like A Lion” scheduled at 7:30 p.m. March 22, featuring Dvorak Symphony #8 in G major, op 88. Also on the program: Hansen Jazz Violin Concerto, performed by Claude Sim, associate concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony. e Littleton orchestra’s new conductor, Catherine Sailer, will lead into the 39th season.

“Appalachian Spring” will follow on May 19 ...

A few years after the launch of LSO, another call for musicians resulted in the start of the Arapahoe Philharmonic Orchestra, which has performed in several venues in Englewood and Littleton over the years and had a somewhat rocky time recently, but has managed some special programming for children as well as general public and holiday concerts. “Tamiko and the Magic Violin” is scheduled at 11 a.m. April 14 at Hope United Methodist Church, 5101 S. Dayton St. And, looking forward: on July 3, “Stars and Stripes Forever” at 8 p.m. at Breckenridge Brewery — with reworks! I think this one involves picnics on the green. Watch for more information as the weather warms up. Sounds particularly nice with the present chill in the air!

No word yet on summer events at Hudson Gardens or the Littleton Museum or in Greenwood Village. We will inquire soon. South Suburban Parks and Recreation District will oversee Hudson Gardens’ operations following the retirement of the director there.

Organizations around the metro area are showing more signs of life after the di cult stretch for all involved with events that involve gatherings ... My computer reports new bits of info here and there — now and then ... I was alarmed to see information about another possible epidemic hovering ... current Littleton Fine Arts Guild exhibit at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Winners are: Allen Voss, Judith Bennett, Peggy Dietz, Bob Ellert, Carl Paulson and Karen Shaw. See townhallartscenter.org.

Parker, Lone Tree and Castle Rock will probably all host Independence Day events as well. We’ll watch for announcements. Nice to see the world coming back to life after a long COVID scare.

(I see that some organizations are requiring masks and it will probably be a good idea to carry one with you, I’d imagine — or at least several in the car.)

Also ahead at PACE on March 18: “John Tesh: Big Band Live!” and March 24 “Friday Night Jazz with the CJRO: Ladies of Jazz.” Colorado Brass and Colorado Wind Ensemble will team up for a concert and the McTeggart Irish Step Dancers will perform at Bemis Library in Littleton at 2:45 on March 19.

Enjoy!

On stage

Town Hall Arts Center: “La Cage Aux Folles” plays April 7-30 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. See townhallartscenter. org.

Garden club e next Littleton Garden Club meeting will be the rst Wednesday in April, April 5, at 6 p.m. at the

Littleton Public Schools Education Services Center, 5776 S. Crocker St., Littleton. New members and guests are welcome. ere will probably be a speaker. Leo Ortiz is the new president. Members learned of the death of longtime member Barbara Boardman. Donations in her name can be made to the Barbara Hyde Boardman Endowment for the Master Gardener Program at Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Service.

Ballet Ariel

Ballet Ariel will perform “Firebird” at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on April 8 at Elaine Wolf eatre at the JCC, 350 S. Dahlia St.; and 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 2 p.m. April 3 at Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood. Tickets: $20-$30. 303-282-9828, balletariel. org.