Area Arts

Artisan Fair: Mark Your Calendars! Fiddlehead Holiday Artisan Fair, Saturday November 29th 2003, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at 83 Pineland Drive, Pineland Campus, New Gloucester. Capturing the spirit of the season through a celebration of the arts…A special occasion to find that special gift! Featured Artists Include:

John Bourassa- Pottery, Kathy Hogue-Jewelry, Peter Asselynn-Wood Turner, Marie Reimensnyder-Hand Printed Works, John Wise-Jeweler, Jodi Fein-Re-invented Children's Wear, Artists interested in participating please contact Mary Jo Marquis at 688-2244 or maryjo@fiddleheadcenter.org

Play-"Red Herring": The Public Theatre kicks off its 2003 season with zany comedy, Sam Spade meets I Love Lucy. Performances are Oct 10-19, Thurs. through Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 seniors and students. FMI call the box office at 782-3200.

Organ Concert: The First Congregational Christian Church of New Gloucester welcomes the public to a free evening concert by guest organist Ray Cornils on Saturday, October 25th, at 7:30 pm. Cornils will play the church's historic 1857 George Stevens organ.

Cornils is the City of Portland's Municipal Organist, master of the "mighty Kotzschmar" organ at Merrill Auditorium, Music Director of Brunswick's First Parish United Church of Christ, and faculty member at Bowdoin College, the University of Southern Maine, and the Portland Conservatory of Music.
The church is located at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, just off Route 231 in the Lower Village of New Gloucester. For further information and directions, call 207-926-3260.

Gallery 302 Featured Artist: Varvara Harmon, artist and illustrator, will be featured as the Guild's first guest artist. Harmon's work will be showcased from October 10 through the 25th at Gallery 302 in downtown Bridgton. Ms. Harmon, born in a small Russian city 500 miles east of Moscow, began studying art early and graduated with an Arts Studies degree.

Her interest in geology took Varvara to Moscow where she studies at the Geological Exploration Academy. After graduating, her career in geology took Harmon to some of Russia's most remote and spectacularly beautiful locations. Varvara's landscapes, in acrylic, oils, watercolors and pencil, reflect vividly the scenery and skyscapes of a Russia few westerners have ever seen. The artists' fine skills of illustration allow her to render architectural landscapes as well as portraits with stunning accuracy.

Vavara, the first guest artist featured at Gallery 302, will be on hand to greet visitors and talk about her work on Saturday, October 18 from 3 to 5 PM.
The Bridgton Art Guild, begun in June, is a cooperative of some 80 artists and artisans from the Lakes Region and Sacopee Valley. Gallery 302 is exclusively staffed by the exhibiting artists who are also Guild members. A small percentage of sales goes to sustain the Guild and further its work in community arts education.

This event, sponsored by the Bridgton Art Guild, is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available. For more information, please call Gallery 302 207-647-2787.

Dramatic Reading: Gerard Robichaud, author of "Papa Martel" seems right at home in the Director's Chair at a dramatic reading from scenes of his novel at Community Little Theatre's Annual Membership meeting. Written several years ago, the book tells the poignant and humorous story of a typical Franco-American family living in a fictional Maine city very similar to Lewiston during the early 1900s. The reading was presented under the auspices of the Lewiston Public Library.

Octubafest! You've heard of " OctoberFest," - well, swap your steins for horns and attend the 2nd Annual Octubafest the 24th and 25th of "Octuba" (October!) 2003. All events will be held in Corthell Hall on the University of Southern Maine Gorham campus. Octubafest is hosted by USM artist faculty of tuba and euphonium, Michael S. Milnarik. (Bio below.) Saturday's finale concert will feature special guest artist, Swiss euphonium virtuoso, Roland Froscher, a three-year, grand prize winner of the Swiss National Euphonium Competition from 1995 -1997. Concert held at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 in Corthell Concert Hall which features USM students and guests plus the Octubafest Tuba/Euphonium Quartet and the Octubafest Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble! Tickets are $5.

On Saturday, there will be two master classes (one with Frosher and the other with Milnarik), three clinics, and a panel discussion. The fest ends Saturday at 8 p.m.with Roland Froscher in a guest artist concert. Tickets for this concert are $15. All events in Corthell Hall of the University of Southern Maine Gorham Campus (Unless otherwise noted.) Contact Michael Milnarik at his email address, octubafest@tubastudio.com, for special rates and registration deals.

Jazz is a-live at USM! Key players in the Maine jazz scene are -- the students and faculty in the School of Music at the University of Southern Maine. Check them out when a number of groups perform this November.

Friday, November 14 - USM Jazz Ensemble directed by Chris Oberholtzer performing an eclectic collection of pieces including music of historical significance as well as modern big band repertoire. New faculty member, Doug Owens, directs a new ensemble, the USM Lab Jazz Band. 8 p.m. $5/$3

Monday, November 17 - The first Jazz Combos concert will feature the Ryan Parker (piano) Quintet, followed by the Bill Street (saxophone) Septet, and concludes with the Ryan Parker Combo. 7:30 p.m. $5/$3.
Thursday, November 20 - The second Jazz Combo's concert will feature the Trent Austin (trumpet) Combo followed by the Jazz Fusion Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. $5/$3.

Monday, November 24 - The third Jazz Combo's concert will feature Gary Wittner (guitar) Quintet, followed by the Gary Wittner Combo, and ends with the Bill Street Combo. 7:30 p.m. $5/$3.

Thursday, December 4: Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Students perform under the direction of Chris Humphrey. 7:30 p.m. $5/$3.

USM Vocal events for November: The University of Southern Maine vocal students and faculty will be busy this November with a number of upcoming concerts. All take place in Corthell Concert Hall on the USM Gorham campus, unless otherwise noted. Tickets are $5/$3. Call the Music Box Office at 780-555 for more information.

Sunday, November 2, the School of Music Residency Series presents Bel Canto specialist, Richard Conrad, in a voice master class on vocal ornamentation. His performances of "The Age of Bel Canto" include a seriesfor the National Education Network in Boston and a cycle of programs on florid song, which he wrote and performed for Radio-Televisione Italiana in Rome. His European debut took place in Geneva when he was soloist with L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande. Since then he has performed in concert and opera, and in plays, operettas, and musicals all over the world. The master class begins at 2 p.m. and costs $5 to observe. Our residencies are generously sponsored by PIP Printing.

On Friday, November 7, at 8 p.m., students of tenor Bruce Fithian will perform, the operetta, "Face on the Ballroom Floor." Free and open to the public.

On Sunday, November 16, at 5 p.m., students in Opera Workshop, directed byEllen Chickering, will perform funny and entertaining selections by Gilbert and Sullivan. Tickets are $5 / $3.

On Tuesday, November 18, the USM Chorale, conducted by Robert Russell - thelargest vocal ensemble at USM - will sing classical and popular songs in its fall concert at Immanuel Baptist Church, 156 High Street, Portland This concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Call 775-2301 for tickets - $10/ $5/ $3.
Watch for details on Bruce Fithian's Faculty Concert to be held Nov. 21; and on the annual "Joyous Sounds for a Festive Season" concert in December. People who need special accommodations to participate fully in this Program can contact Emmanuelle Chaulet at 780-5146.