The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass plans to tempt the upcoming concert audience with memories of days past of enjoying that favorite sweet snack or that box of Cracker Jacks (with the prize inside) at the movies, ballpark or the circus.
“The Lollipops and Cracker Jacks concert theme will bring the audience a wide variety of music to satisfy all attendees for this last concert of the ’24-’25 concert season,” said Dwight Wages, president and founder of Southern Stars Symphonic Brass.
The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, in the 1,200-seat Stone Memorial High School auditorium at 2800 Cook Road, Crossville. The doors open at 2:30; the concert will be presented by 30 professional instrumental musicians who hail from areas of Tennessee including Clalrksville, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Cookeville, Crossville and Knoxville, as well as Hunstville, AL.
The musicians include university instrumental music professors, secondary music educators and other professions who have significant music capabilities who will play 26 brass instruments such as cornets, flugelhorn, alto horns, baritones, euphonium, trombones, tubas, and a battery of four musicians playing symphonic percussion equipment.
Steven Sudduth of Grand Rapids, MI, is Southern Stars’ conductor, a post he has held for the past 15 seasons.
of the SSSB for the past 15 seasons.
The concert will include selections such as “Strike Up the Band;” the circus march “Barnum & Bailey’s Favorite;” “Hora Staccato,” featuring the cornet section; “Circus Bee” another rip-roaring circus march; and the original “Stars Wars” movie theme.
Other selections will include “76 Trombones (Music Man); “Born on the Fourth of July” (John Williams movie them) featuring Southern Stars principal cornetist Scott Hagarty; “The Natural” (movie of same name); the “Caravan Club” circus march; and “E.T.’s Flying Theme” from the E.T. movie.
“We have two featured vocalists for your enjoyment,” Wages said. “Lydia Sias is a 10-year-old member of the Triple Threat children’s troupe at the Playhouse, and will be presenting ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop,’ made famous by child movie actress Shirley Temple.”
He added, “Regina Pullin is our other featured vocalist, who is also a Playhouse veteran since moving back to Sparta after retiring as a USAF chief master sergeant from performing as a vocalist with the Premier Air Force Band in Washington, DC. She has a ‘wow’ voice and is comfortable with many styles and will be featured singing George Gershwin’s ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’ and ‘You Raise Me Up,’ an emotional ballad made famous by vocal artist Josh Groban.
“You will be impressed with our vocalists accompanied by the SSSB, as well as the rest of the concert by the band itself,” Wages said.
Tickets are available in advance at First National Bank of Tennessee branches at Hwy. 127 North, Crossville, and Peavine Road, Fairfield Glade; and Atlas Realty office in the Village Green Mall in Fairfield Glade. Tickets are $22 for adults; students, through university, are admitted free.
Call Wages at 931-484-6939 for more information.