National Symphony Orchestra in Your Neighborhood 2014

I've always had a good ear for music and can pluck out a melody on the piano by ear. When I was in junior high, I joined the school band. At first, I didn't want to, because they didn't offer the violin. I had loved the violin ever since watching In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland and Van Johnson. That was also when I decided that I loved red dresses, men who read poetry, and wanted to be a carefree, independent, happy-go-lucky woman who winked at men right back. At present, I don't own any red dresses, but I've loved men who not only read, but also wrote poetry, and I dare say, I've winked back at my fair share of men and am not ashamed to admit that I've initiated a few winks of my own!

In the end, I joined the band, because of my sister. She joined to have something fun to do and to spend time with all of her friends. She's very smart my sister. She played the baritone beautifully. I decided to play the trumpet. I was determined to play with the zest of Louis Armstrong, the power of Dizzy Gillespie and the tone of Wynton Marsalis. Zest, I had in abundance, but owing to asthma, my lungs were weak. More often than not, I had to forego playing the solo during marching band, but owned it during concert season. And had excellent tone ... or so I was told. I still have the trumpet. I take it out every now again to play the scales and try to keep up my embouchure. I also have a violin that my parents bought me for 8th grade graduation. Sadly, I can't play a single note.

Still, my passion for music never waned. In fact, I create a different soundtrack for each of my plays and every character has a song for various moments in their journey.  I listen to classical music more than anything else. So, you can imagine my delight when my dear friend, Kim Peter Kovack, told me about the opportunity to write the script for the National Symphony Orchestra's In Your Neighborhood program. I knew immediately that I wanted to do it and am so appreciative for the opportunity. I'm working on the script now, and it's so much fun. As a lover of travel and adventure, I'm enjoying being transported to Austria, Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Brazil, France and across the United States through this beautiful music. I can hardly wait to share this program with all of you in January and hope that you can attend! 

Here's more information about the program:
The 2014 NSO in Your Neighborhood is the NSO’s third neighborhood specific intensive performance project in DC. Last year, over the course of seven days, more than 30 events took place in schools, churches, community centers, restaurants, and bars. Key performances took place at the restored Howard Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the University’s School of Music.

The National Symphony Orchestra will make Capitol Hill and H Street, NE, the focus of its free community engagement activities in January 2014. Between January 7 and 13, members of the NSO will break into small ensembles to perform chamber music and educational activities as requested by 20 community organizations. The events will include three orchestral concerts, one at Atlas Performing Arts Center and two at Union Station. 

The opening concert will take place at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on January 8. Built in 1938, in the area then known as Swampoodle, this recently renovated art-deco cinema has been key to the revitalization of the Near Northeast portion of DC. Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl will lead that performance and the two at Union Station on Saturday, January 11th, which I'm writing and celebrated television news anchor Andrea Roane will be narrating.

NSO AT UNION STATION 
Saturday, January 11th at 3 P.M. & 7 P.M. 
Union Station, East Hall, 50 Massachusetts Ace.,NE
Led by NSO Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl, written by Jacqueline E. Lawton and featuring WUSA Channel 9's Andrea Roane as host, the National Symphony performs two full "train-themed" concerts at Union Station.

Program to include:

• ADAMS: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
• COPLAND: John Henry
• GROFE: "Sunrise" from Grand Canyon Suite
• LUMBYE: Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop
• SIBELIUS: Finlandia
• VILLA-LOBOS: "The Little Train of Caipira" from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2
• MARQUEZ: Danzon No. 2
• IBERT: Suite Symphonique, "Paris"
• OFFENBACH: "Barcarolle" from Tales of Hoffman
• OFFENBACH: "Can Can" from Gaite Parisienne
• J. STRAUSS Jr.: Pleasure Train Polka
• J. STRAUSS Jr.: On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltz

Free. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for the full program and enjoy this video!

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We appreciate your support!

Donate now to support In Your Neighborhood Capitol Hill/H St. For 83 years the National Symphony Orchestra has been filling concert halls with unparalleled music, thrilling audiences with Brahms to Bach to Broadway.

But our music isn't only in concert halls....it's where you are.

That's why from January 7 to 13, 2014 the NSO will be calling Capitol Hill and H St. NE home, working directly with community partners to provide more than 30 FREE performances and educational activities. We are celebrating not only our love of classical music but also the community and pride right here in our unique neighborhoods. 

Donate online to NSO In Your Neighborhood Capitol Hill/H St. at Razoo

In Your Neighborhood provides free events in schools, community centers, churches, businesses, and performing arts venues throughout the area.

Become part of this important project by supporting the National Symphony Orchestra's first crowdfunding campaign.

Why crowdfunding? In Your Neighborhood can only provide free live music and education programs through the generosity of community leaders, local businesses, and our neighbors....and we still need your help!

When you donate, you'll be sharing the power of classical music with your neighbors. In Your Neighborhood is a program developed and promoted in collaboration with the community. The schedule of events will reflect requests gathered from the community itself, with the assistance of partnering organizations.

And you'll be recognized as a donor and kept updated by email as new exciting programs are added. And most of all...we'll look forward to seeing you in January!