The popular Sunday morning series continues in its fourth season! Join us for light breakfast and live music from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Atrium at the Reading Public Museum. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, February 14 - Basic'ly Brass!

During its 21 year history, Basic'ly Brass! has performed hundreds of engagements throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. Some of the "Brass's" most noted venues have been Rowaton Connecticut's Five Mile River Concert Series, Bethlehem Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt, Longwood Gardens, Albright College, Lebanon Valley College, performing with the Susquehana Chorale and Lebanon Valley College Alumni Chorale, Berks County’s Gring’s Mill Park, Lebanon’s Coleman’s Park, Reading's Scenic River Days, Fall Festival of the Arts, and the New York Brass Conference, where the quintet finished in the top three in the 1990 Brass Quintet competition.

Basic'ly Brass! enjoys performing a wide variety of music spanning five centuries and including all genres. For this concert, they'll include some Bach pieces, light classics, jazzy standards, marches, Broadway tunes and even some love songs, in honor of Valentine's Day. Hence the slogan:

The Best in Brass from Bach to Beatles and Beyond!

Christopher D. Campbell has been teaching music in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District for the past eighteen years. In addition to his duties there teaching string orchestra for grades 3-5 and 9-12, Dr. Campbell is an adjunct professor of trumpet at Lebanon Valley College where he maintains an active studio of ten students and teaches classes in trumpet literature and trumpet pedegogy. As a performer, Dr. Campbell specializes in the Baroque trumpet and is a three time finalist in the Historic Division of the National Trumpet Competition. In addition, Dr. Campbell performs with many regional orchestral and chamber ensembles and plays solo cornet in the Lancaster British Brass Band.

John Copenhaver has performed at the Hershey Theatre for numerous National Broadway Road Tour productions and has performed at Hershey Park, the American Music theatre, the Sovereign center and the Whitaker center. He has played 1st trumpet for entertainers including Bobby Vinton, Bobby Rydell, Petula Clark, Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford, Jack Jones, Andy Williams, Tommy Tune, The Spinners, The Temptations and Diane Bish. John is currently performing with the “Lancaster British Brass Band”, “Basic'ly Brass!" and "By Request". He is an instrumental music teacher and music coordinator for the Lebanon School District and is an adjunct professor of trumpet at Lebanon Valley College.

Alan “Al” Stokes has performed with the Allentown, Pottstown, and Schuylkill Symphonies as well as the Ringgold Band and Concert Band of Lancaster. He is presently principal horn with the Reading Pops Orchestra and principal horn with Dave Stahl and his Sacred Orchestra. Stokes freelances with numerous other groups and ensembles in the eastern Pennsylvania area and teaches French horn privately.

John Lemke is presently on staff at Millersville University teaching Trombone. As a professional musician, Lemke brings a wealth of experience having performed with over one hundred big name stars and also with scores of national Broadway touring companies. For several years Mr. Lemke served as the staff trombonist at the American Music Theater located in Lancaster. His freelance performing also includes appearances with The Harrisburg Symphony, The Lancaster Pops, The Altoona Symphony, many of the areas Big Bands and other music ensembles.

Ken Kemmerer can be heard performing throughout Pennsylvania on Tuba and Bass Trombone with numerous groups, including Basic’ly Brass!, the Reading Pops Orchestra, Hesse’s Nasty 9, The Snack Club, The Dave Stahl Sacred Orchestra and Big Band, the Lancaster British Brass Band and many others. Ken is presently in his 23rd year as Instrumental Music Director at the Muhlenberg Elementary Center and is Music Director of the Cadet Band of Reading.

 

Sunday, March 21 - Genesius Theatre Presents the Music of Hollywood

In celebration of the current exhibition, The Magic of Hollywood: The Gene London Costume Collection, Genesius Theatre presents a revue featuring music from top movie musicals and Academy Award winning songs! Whether you are 12 or 92, the films that we’ve enjoyed have had an undeniable effect on our lives. The characters are old friends. The stories informed us, moved us, and helped us to shape our attitudes and philosophies and the music -- the music transports us back to the first time we saw the film.

With this is mind, Genesius Theatre has assembled some of its favorite singers to perform early classics to recent favorites -- The Music of Hollywood. Dan Smith, who has performed in Genesius’ production of Follies and The Laramie Project, will perform "The Way We Were" with his current costar in Come Back Little Sheba, Anita Lewis. Richard Bradbury, most recently seen in Genesius’ production of A Chorus Line as Zach, will sing and dance with our choreographer, Jenny Parker Scott to the beloved Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers song – "Cheek to Cheek." You’ll enjoy "The Trolley Song" from Meet Me In St. Louis, "Moon River," "Swing on A Star" and many more performed by more than 15 actors and singers. John Gancar, who has been acting and directing in many community theatre productions, will entertain the audience with his loving send up of Nick Clooney and the other hosts on TCM and AMC as "The Ultimate Movie Fan."

What a wonderful way to spend the first day of spring. Be transported through your memories with these wonderful songs from the films of your life. You’ll enjoy a light breakfast, the incredible Gene London Costume Exhibition and of course, The Music of Hollywood.

 

Admission to Bagels & Bach is $25 for Non-Members and $15 for Members and includes light breakfast, the concert and admission to the Museum after the show. Reservations suggested, but not necessary (for food count). Call 610-3711-5850 x264.