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Honored Iowans, Museum Celebrations and more for August IAS

As summer winds down, tune in for a few more arts events from around the state on Iowa Public Radio’s Iowa Arts Showcase. The August showcase features:

  • Iowa-born composer, conductor, and flutist, Harvey Sollberger, sharing details about his involvement in and upcoming Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association at their Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.
  • Orchestra Iowa’s Music Director and Conductor, Tim Hankewich, celebrating and outlining his 10th season with Orchestra Iowa
  • Tim Schiffer, Executive Director of Davenport’s Figge Art Museum, discussing the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Figge and the 90th anniversary of the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery
  • Iowa Public Radio host and music legend Bob Dorr, talking about his career and recent award
  • The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Director of Marketing, John Sutter, filling us in on their current visiting show called the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
  • Internationally known music director of his own New Sousa Band, Keith Brion, sharing the inside scoop on their two upcoming free concerts in Johnston and Spirit Lake.

Harvey Sollberger, Iowa-born composer, conductor, and flutist, shares details about his upcoming Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association. He will present a masterclass, a concert, and his Silent Film Suite at the NFA’s Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.

Tim Hankewich celebrates his tenth year as Orchestra Iowa’s Music Director and Conductor with a line-up stocked with classic masterpieces. He talks about the upcoming season, which includes chamber concerts, guest artists like violinist Lara St. John and pianist Anna Polonsky, ballet productions, and a full performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

Davenport’s Figge Art Museum also celebrates a 10th anniversary this year, along with the 90th anniversary of the opening of its predecessor, the Davenport Municipal Art Gallery. Tim Schiffer, executive director of the Figge Art Museum and newly elected member of the Association of Art Museum Direcotrs, discusses the history of the museum and the fifty events it is hosting in celebration, including a special visit from the museum architect, Sir David Chipperfield.

Iowa blues legend Bob Dorr, host of Iowa Public Radio’s Backtracks, Blue Avenue, and Beatles Medley shows, was recently labeled an “Iowan Icon” in The Iowan magazine. He gives us a look into his background, his time as a public radio producer, and his work as the leader of Bob Dorr & The Blue Band for the past 40 years.

The history of the Titanic comes to Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum in the form of the largest exhibit the museum and city has ever seen. From the building of the massive ship all the way to its sinking, visitors can follow the history of the doomed vessel from start to finish. The Museum’s Director of Marketing, John Sutter, fills us in on the exciting exhibit and stories from the Titanic.

And Keith Brion, music director of the internationally acclaimed New Sousa Band, shares the history of the band and their upcoming free concerts in Johnston and Spirit Lake, presented by the Des Moines Civic Music Association. The concerts feature soprano soloist Virginia Croskery, as well as Mark Ponzo on cornet, and a duet from Tacy Edwards on piccolo and Don Harry on tuba. The band performs works by the march king, John Philipp Sousa, as well as other favorites from his time period.

You can now listen to this month's show right here. Tune in to the Iowa Arts Showcase on the first Saturday of the month, 1 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., on Iowa Public Radio Classical.

harveyweb1conventionprogramming.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about his involvement in planning the Annual Convention of the National Flute Association.

harveyweb3communitysings.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about how he'd like to see communities get together to sing.

harveyweb4libraryofcongress.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about his compositions and other works.

harveyweb5contemporarymusic.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about the Group For Contemporary Music.

harveyweb5flutefarm.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about Flute Farm, his summer music camp for flutists.

harveyweb6parkseducationsmalltowns.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about the need for parks and education in Iowa's small towns.

harveyweb7soloflute.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about New Millenium Memo, his piece for solo flute.

harveyweb8earlyyears.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about his early years and achievements.

harveyweb9jerryowenaccordion.mp3
Harvey Sollberger talks about his translation of a Gazzelloni biography, his relationship with Iowa composer Jerry Owen and his experiences with the accordion.

bobweb1howbobbecomesicon.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about exactly how he became an Iowa Icon.

bobweb2playinginbandsagain.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about how he got back into playing in bands and the founding of The Blue Band.

bobweb3hyvee0230am.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about seeing himself on a magazine cover at Hy-Vee at 2:30 in the morning.

bobweb4stillproducing.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about the shows he has produced and currently produces for Iowa Public Radio.

bobweb5earlypublicradio.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about his early years in public radio.

bobweb6halloffame.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about his membership in the Iowa Rock and Roll and Iowa Blues Halls Of Fame.

bobweb7nationalprogram.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about a nationally-syndicated radio program he used to produce.
bobweb8bobsearlyyears.mp3
Bob Dorr talks about his early years.

johnweb1maritimesafety.mp3
John Sutter talks about the history of the Titanic, class divisions aboard the ship and advances in maritime safety as a result of the tragedy.

johnweb2otherevents.mp3
John Sutter talks about other events at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.
keithweb1sousahovhaness.mp3
Keith Brion talks about his recordings of Sousa and Hovhaness.

keithweb2newsousabandmembers.mp3
Keith Brion talks about the process of selecting members for the New Sousa Band.

keithweb3earlysousa.mp3
Keith Brion talks about John Philip Sousa's early years.

keithweb4snaredrumandsaxophone.mp3
Keith Brion talks about the changes in instrumentation, and the instruments themselves, since Sousa's day.

keithweb5compositionaloutput.mp3
Keith Brion talks about Sousa's compositional output.

keithweb6sousabandforms.mp3
Keith Brion talks about the formation of the original Sousa Band.

keithweb7sousaperformances.mp3
Keith Brion talks about the Sousa Band's popularity.
keithweb8washingtonpost.mp3
Keith Brion talks about the origins of "Washington Post".

keithweb9secretarrangements.mp3
Keith Brion talks about publishing Sousa's music today, as well as Sousa's "secret arrangements".

keithweb10sophisticatedcomposer.mp3
Keith Brion talks about how Sousa got his start as a composer.

keithweb11trapshooter.mp3
Keith Brion talks about Sousa's skills as a trap shooter.

Jacqueline Halbloom is a Sr. Music Producer and Classical Music Host