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Easy Street preps the next generation of ‘Miracle’ makers

Sports teams regularly promote players from the minor leagues or bring in new draft picks to play alongside the veterans. The same goes for long-running events like Easy Street Productions’ “Miracle on Easy Street,” which celebrates its 36th year with three public performances this weekend at Powers Auditorium. “We’re kind of calling this a year of rebuilding,” Easy Street co-founder Maureen Collins said. “We’re just starting to bring up a lot of young people from the (Little) Rascals’ side and the dancers’ side.” James McClellan, one of the regular featured ...

Ochsner comes to his new ‘Home’ for the holidays

Expect some audience participation when the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra plays its “Home for the Holidays” concert on Monday at Stambaugh Auditorium. “We don’t have a chorus yet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra,” said Music Director and Conductor Erik Ochsner. “We’re figuring out ways how we could involve that. But I said, ‘Well, let’s just have the whole audience sing. So we’re inviting everybody to stand up and sing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus (from George Frideric Handel’s ‘Messiah’). We’re even going to be passing out music notes for people who ...

McCartney song not so wonderful

Editor’s note: I wrote this column a dozen years ago. My opinion hasn’t changed — AT ALL — about the topic, but I did make a few updates. My answer to the personality-defining question, “Beatles or Rolling Stones?” always will be The Beatles. While I’m partial to John Lennon (and more recently have decided that George Harrison’s contributions are underrated), I love Paul McCartney’s music too, even a lot of the Wings and solo material. I think he generally gets a bad rap artistically compared to his bandmate because society tends to elevate the dead and tear down ...

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Christ Episcopal presents fest of lessons, carols The annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols is scheduled at 6 p.m. Sunday at Christ Epsicopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. NW, Warren. The event weaves together scripture readings, choral music and congregational carols to celebrate the Christmas season. The Parish Choir will be joined by the Handbell Choir and a professional chamber orchestra, with Richard Konzen at the church’s Casavant pipe organ. The concert will be conducted by James W. Shiell, the church’s director of music. Admission is free. For more information, ...

Holiday concert raises funds for food bank

The Youngstown Area Community Concert Band and the Stambaugh Chorus will raise funds for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley with the 15th Holiday Concert Of Giving. Both the band and chorus are volunteer groups featuring musicians and singers from all over the Mahoning Valley. The Stambaugh Chorus, directed by Youngstown State University Professor Hae-Jong Lee, will perform first, and its program will include “O Holy Night,” “Mary Did You Know” and “Sleigh Ride.” The YACCB, conducted by Joseph Pellegrini, will then take the stage for the second portion of ...

GSO presents ‘Home Alone and Holiday Hits’

The Greenville Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the season with “Home Alone and Holiday Hits.” Joining the orchestra for the holiday concert will be the GSO Jazz Band, guest vocalists Emily Misch and Max Pivik, the SAY Children’s Chorus, directed by Julie Freeman Kerr, and the Shenango Valley Chorale, directed by Erich Lascek. According to GSO Conductor Michael Gelfand, “This holiday program is chock full of music that our audience and orchestra will really enjoy. The program includes Christmas Festival Overture, ‘Greensleeves,’ the GSO Jazz Band playing ‘Charlie Brown ...