Saturday, Sunday & Monday (4/17-19)

Saturday:
One of the nicer events on the Wesleyan campus each Spring semester is the Elizabeth Verveer Tishler Piano Recital.  It takes place on this day at 2 p.m. in the Russell House, 350 High Street. The concert features the finalist and the winner, each playing a piece or short set and what's so nice is that many of the finalists are not music students but scholars who also play.  A reception follows the concert which is free and open to the public.

The Buttonwood Tree has an exciting double bill of music that combines salsa, rock, Afro-Cuban, jazz and more when singer/songwriter/guitarist Giovanni Almonte comes to town to celebrate the release of his new CD, "High and Low." Almonte's band includes, among others, the Hartford natives Luques and Zaccai Curtis (bass and piano respectively.) Opening the show at 8 p.m. is guitarist/vocalist Fernandito Ferrer, an exciting performer who has graced the performance space several times in the pats few years. For more information, go to www.buttonwood.org. 

Sunday:
Here's a welcome missive from CG&SS (Connecticut Gilbert & Sullivan: From 4 - 7 p.m. on Sunday April 18, the historic Middletown Almshouse, 53 Warwick Street, hosts a Benefit Reception for CG&SS's fall 2010 production of "The Mikado", taking place October 22-24 in the MHS Performing Arts Center.  Music Director Dr. John Dreslin will sit at the piano and lead the assembled singers through many of the British duo's greatest songs.  For more information, call 1-800-866-1606 or go to www.ctgilbertandsullivan.org. 

Monday:
In honor of Arts Advocacy Day, the Middletown Commission of the Art will celebrate by honoring the work of Middletown High Band Director Marco Gaylord and the Greater Middletown Chorale from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in First & Last Tavern, Main Street.  Gaylord, who also serves as the music director of the Middletown Symphonic Band, has worked extremely hard over the past 10 years + on "Middletown High Goes to the Symphony", the program that brings the Band, choir and selected soloists to the Bushnell Auditorium to perform alongside the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.  The GMC, in existence since 1977, has grown into one of the area's premiere vocal ensembles. Under the guidance of Joseph D'Eugenio (named 2009 Choir Director of the Year by the Connecticut chapter of the American Choral Directors), the group has created many memorable concerts and soon will present "Elijah", Mendelssohn's famed oratorio (Sunday May 2 in the MHS Performing Arts Center.)  The Arts Advocacy Award presentation is free and open to the public.  

Summer is just around the corner and registration for Kids Art 2010 is in full swing. There are still openings in the morning and afternoon Children's Circus programs as well as a few openings for 10-14 years old children in the afternoon Troubadour Program.  The Circus, now in its 22nd year, is run by Oddfellows Playhouse and is a 5-week program that culminates in a gala production on Friday August 6.  Rehearsals take place at McDonough School.  The Troubadour Program, also running for 5 weeks, not only includes working to create songs built from the experiences of the participants but also the production of a newspaper.  For more information, call the City Arts Office at 860-343-6620, ext. 201 or find the Registration packet online at www.cityofmiddletown.com/arts.