Photo courtesy of FWSO

Tanglewood Moms: What do you want people to know most about this year’s Concerts in the Garden?

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Team: One of the exciting changes to Concerts in the Garden in 2023 is the change of dates to place the festival earlier! We made this change to try to prevent heat-related illnesses and delayed start times due to the extreme temperatures our musicians have to contend with on stage. We opted for cooler temperatures and the hottest programs.

TWM: What is a drone fireworks show?

FWSO Team: The drone show is a safe alternative to the traditional fireworks displays that will appeal to what lies deep in the heart of every Texan who joins us at the Botanic Garden. This decision was made due to the City of Fort Worth’s ban on fireworks displays after the rampant fires surrounding the Independence Day festivities last year put undue stress on the fire department.

TWM: How did you decide on the concert themes this year?

FWSO Team: We reviewed our most popular programs from previous festivals and kept the fan favorites while adding in new themes including our finale performance headliner, Texas’ own singer/songwriter Pat Green!

Photo courtesy of FWSO

TWM: With Pat Green will be performing, will there be an area for dancing for the die-hard fans?

FWSO Team: As always, patrons are invited to dance the night away on Rock Springs Road!

Here are all the details of the 11 outdoor concerts at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden May 26 – June 11 with a drone show in place of the traditional fireworks presentation.

THE DETAILS

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107

Times: Parking lot, box office, and venue gates open at 6:30 PM and concerts begin at 8:30 PM

Tickets: Lawn tickets are $28. Children ages 10 and under are admitted free on the lawn with a ticket if accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating at round tables of 4 is $40–$79 with a 20% discount for children 10 and under in price levels B and C. Purchase tickets online at www.fwsymphony.org or by calling the FWSO Box Office at 817-655-6000.

Photo courtesy of FWSO

Parking: Parking options include the following:

• Valet Parking $37* (Limited quantities available)
• North/South Self-Park $22 in advance/$25 at the gate
• Dickies Yellow Lot Prices vary and are available at the gate.

Shuttle service from the South Lot drops off at the South Entrance. A second CITG shuttle stop is also located in the middle of the Dickies Arena Yellow Lot. All shuttle services begin at 6:30 p.m. and run continuously until 30 minutes after the concert ends. ADA-accessible shuttles are available from the South Lot only. A convenient designated Uber/Lyft Drop-Off is also available in the South Lot.

Parking may be purchased in advance at www.fwsymphony.org or by calling the FWSO Box Office at 817-665-6000.

Photo courtesy of FWSO

—FULL CONCERT SCHEDULE—

Friday, May 26 | Windborne’s The Music of Queen

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Brent Havens, conductor
MiG Ayesa, vocalist

Performed by the FWSO and amplified with a full rock band and vocals, conductor/arranger Brent Havens will capture Queen’s distinct sound while presenting some familiar and lots many new musical colors.

Saturday, May 27 | Patriotic Pops

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Taichi Fukumura, conductor
Michael Adams, baritone

In this all-American Memorial Day celebration at Concerts in the Garden, hear your favorite patriotic songs and marches in our exhilarating, first-ever, Memorial Day celebration, which offers brand new “drone” fireworks display in the area. A celebration not to be missed!

Sunday, May 28 | The Music of Harry Potter

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Taichi Fukumura, conductor

Hear the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conjure your favorite tunes from the films that took young witches and wizards to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Thursday, June 1 | Preservation Hall Jazz Band*

*This concert will be performed without orchestra

This year, the world-famous ensemble is touring to celebrate 60 years of making great music in the Crescent City and around the world. The band’s singular style is filled with unmistakable harmonies, melodies, and rhythms that are the lifeblood of saloons, riverboats, street parades, and festivals that make New Orleans a musical mecca.

Friday, June 2 | Radio Highway Performs The Music of The Eagles*

*This concert will be performed without orchestra

Radio Highway returns to the Concerts In The Garden series to perform The Music of The Eagles featuring vocalists Glenn DeLaune, H.L. Wilson, Danny Miranda, and Eldon Sully. This rock ensemble captures The Eagles’ amazing vocal harmonies in a concert rich with melodies as you’ve never heard before!

Saturday, June 3 | Chicago Nights starring Jason Scheff

Jason Scheff, vocalist/bassist for CHICAGO
Martin Herman, conductor

A tribute to this worldwide phenomenon by CHICAGO Nights starring Jason Scheff, long-time Lead Vocalist for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted band CHICAGO—“The Voice of CHICAGO across four decades.”

Sunday, June 4 | Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles*

*This concert will be performed without orchestra

The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like The Beatles, but Classical Mystery Tour is more than just a rock concert. The show presents more than two dozen Beatles tunes transcribed note-for-note and performed exactly as they were originally recorded. Hear “A Hard Day’s Night” live, experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar and string quartet, and sway the night away with “Hey Jude.”

Thursday, June 8 | The Music of Led Zeppelin

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Taichi Fukumura, conductor

The Music of Led Zeppelin lets audiences experience the music of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Led Zeppelin, like never before—with a full symphony orchestra. With a full band and orchestra playing Led Zeppelin’s hits such as “Immigrant Song,” “Kashmir” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love,” and more!

Friday, June 9 | REWIND: The Music of the 80s

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Alex Amsel, conductor

This concert will feature the greatest 80s songs with a set list including George Michael, Mister Mister, Kool & The Gang, Joan Jett, The Cure, and more!

Saturday, June 10 | Star Wars

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Taichi Fukumura, conductor

Hear selections from several of the Star Wars films that will take you to a galaxy far, far away.

Sunday, June 11 | Pat Green*

*This concert will be performed without orchestra

Credited as one of Texas country’s modern era’s founding fathers, Green has traveled many roads in the 25 years since his debut album, Dancehall Dreamer. A Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter with a restless creative spirit, his career has gone beyond the bounds of a “country star” to include the work of a painter, sculptor, philanthropist, family man and more. But one constant has remained – his vision.

The post Cooler Temperatures and the Hottest Concerts first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

As with many businesses around the world, the FWSO has canceled its live performances through at least May 17 to adhere to federal and local health and safety guidelines for COVID-19 and requirements from performance venues. However, as one of Fort Worth’s most important performing arts organizations, the FWSO is dedicated to connecting the community through music by keeping the music playing through this new innovative, digital platform.

“Challenging times require great leadership, and I am delighted that the FWSO leadership team has been able to develop a comprehensive digital strategy so quickly,” says Keith Cerny, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. “We are thrilled to partner with our Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya and the musicians in our orchestra to share a wide range of educational and musical content, for music fans of all ages.”

The Music Lab will provide patrons a unique opportunity to engage with musicians, staff and sponsors beyond the walls of Bass Performance Hall. The four pillars of the lab – listen, learn, share and give – will house content individuals can access to grow musically, discover archived, live or curated performances, and connect with other music lovers.

“The best measure of any organization’s true strength is how it responds to a time of crisis,” says Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Chairman of the Board, Mercedes T. Bass. “The Board and I are truly impressed with how the administrative staff and musicians have responded to these difficult times, and have worked together to develop an innovative approach to ‘Keep the Music Playing during this devastating time.’ The digital strategy will enable the community to enjoy listening to our brilliant orchestra in the comfort of their home until we return to the stage.”

The FWSO’s Music Lab is comprised of four distinct tracks where individuals can engage online:

• The Listening Lab: The virtual listening lab will provide weekly postings of archival recordings and curated playlists by FWSO’s musicians and other talented performers, to keep the music alive in the local community and beyond. This lab will also host a weekly discussion with Miguel Harth-Bedoya, FWSO’s Music Director.
• The Learning Lab: The FWSO Learning Lab will continue the organization’s mission of providing education content and tools for schools, students and families. Materials will be available to help introduce or enhance musical education in the home, such as weekly webinars, the national program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, Link Up, and downloadable tool kits for kids.
• The Sharing Lab: In this Music Lab track, the FWSO will showcase a wide range of musical selections and performances. This will include personal performances from FWSO musicians, as well as talented student musicians across the country. This lab will also feature a young artist competition in April, where 12 exceptional young instrumentalists and vocalists from across Texas will have the opportunity to win $5,000. Viewers will be able to watch the candidates’ audition pieces online, and the four finalists will have a live performance on the video conference platform, Zoom, on April 29. Additional competition details are available online.
• The Giving Lab: The FWSO mission would not be possible without the generous support from its foundation and community of patrons and sponsors. Donations will be collected to help keep the music playing now and for many years to come.

The FWSO’s superb musicians will be giving their time and talent to the Music Lab through special performances, recordings, webinars, and more.

“As a conductor, one of my most essential roles is to connect people to music. We are all finding our way through this new normal, and I’m certain that we can still make that connection,” says Miguel Harth-Bedoya, FWSO’s Music Director. “The manner might change, but the essence does not. I am proud to be part of the FWSO’s creative reimagining of how we might continue to serve you, and I’m excited to be able to share my thoughts, play music for you, and interact with you on a face-to-face basis that, frankly, I do not get to do from the stage! Sharing music is my joy and I can’t wait to get started with this new project.”

“The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra musicians are thrilled about the implementation of the FWSO Music Lab on our new website,” says FWSO Keyboardist Shields-Collins Bray. “The level of support we have received from the Board of Directors, administration, and the community has been humbling. Knowing that we are able to continue connecting with our community from the safety and comfort of our homes is a truly remarkable gift.”

For more information on the FWSO’s Music Lab, please visit https://fwsymphony.org/.

The post Music Lovers, Rejoice! The Music Lab Is Here first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

There is always something fun and exciting for the whole family to partake in month after month, which is why I write you today! I might also add that this is the month that represented the season of love many, MANY years ago (you can Google it.). So whether it’s Galentine’s or Valentine’s or neither for you this month, THIS GIRL has some options for you!

We are still in the throes of the best rodeo on the planet: The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo! This legendary event will keep going strong through February 8th. One of the ways YOU can be legendary is by attending the rodeo on Wednesday, February 5th. Half the cost of your ticket to the 7:30 p.m. show will benefit Cook Children’s NICU! As a Child Life Specialist in the NICU several years ago, I know firsthand the importance of this special night. The babies, their families, and staff need your support, Fort Worth. This is a fun and meaningful way to contribute! For more information and to purchase tickets for this worthy event, click here.

The Fort Worth Zoo seems to always come up with creative ways to bring kids of all ages to its wildly fun environment! This year, they will host their first Sensory-Friendly Day on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. The Zoo will open an hour early – at 9 a.m. – especially for those participating in the day. Sensory-Friendly Day is specially designed for individuals on the autism spectrum as well as others who have sensory sensitivities. Some sensory-sensitive accommodations will allow these individuals to enjoy a fun-filled day at the Zoo with their families and caregivers. You can read the schedule of events and other activities and features about this special day here.

Looking for a unique opportunity to open the musical mind of your early elementary child or family member? Then get to a Kinderconcert! Children (and adults) will get to explore the elements of a story – including setting, characters, conflict and resolution – as the Fort Worth Symphony tells an original tale through music on Wednesday, February 12th at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. at Will Rogers Auditorium! Clink link for prices and more information!

Depending on the unpredictable weather, you may want an outdoor activity for the month of February! Besides the highly anticipated Cowtown Marathon, there is an opportunity to learn about paddling the Trinity River! Paddling the Trinity? Sounds rather peaceful to me, actually. There is a free event happening on February 15th at the Fort Worth REI location where you can learn all of the secrets of the Trinity River Paddle Trail. Representatives from the Trinity Coalition will give a presentation about the 130-mile-long Trinity River Paddle trail, including how to access the trail and how to use the new website and interactive tools to make the most out of every trip. An ACA Instructor will also be on hand to answer paddling questions and share stories of our local river–the best kept secret in DFW. They will also discuss the Trinity Coalition and its goal to bring National Park Service recognition to DFW. (YASSSSS!) Check it out if you have the chance!

In addition to celebrating LOVE in February, we are celebrating Black History Month! The Fort Worth Public Library is offering several free showings of the movies “Selma,” “Betty and Coretta,” and “The Jackie Robinson Story.” Locations and times can be found here.

Sponsored by Visit Fort Worth, you explore black history touring iconic locations & sampling delicious soul food cuisine in your own backyard on the Soul of DFW: Food & Black History Bus Tour. More details  and tickets can be found here.

For the music enthusiast, head out on Saturday, February 22nd, from 2-3 p.m., to join Jonathan Walker-VanKuren and pianist Kyle Naig in an afternoon of spirituals in celebration of Black History Month, “Songs My Mother Taught Me”.

Well friends, once again, our beloved city does not disappoint in working to reach everyone of all ages in getting out and having community with one another! Hope you can take advantage of at least a few of the things Fort Worth has to offer!

I would like to close with this remarkable quote from Maya Angelou:

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Amidst the hustle and bustle, there is always an opportunity to do good. As we continue our journey in every day that is given, I encourage you to make the most of it…love deep, show grace, be kind, and make a difference that has a positive impact.

See you around The Fort!

Jennifer

Jennifer Kieta is a native Texan, born and raised in Houston. She graduated from Texas Tech University and has lived in Fort Worth since 1996. After marrying her husband, Brian in 1998, Jennifer worked as a Child Life Specialist at Cook Children’s Medical Center for 9 years before becoming a full-time mom to her two daughters. Her passion for helping people in healthcare transitioned into the fitness world in 2014. She now teaches spin and HIIT classes at Zyn22 and Pilates at Studio 180 in Pop’s Gym. December of 2017, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her journey through a double-mastectomy and being able to call herself a Survivor and Overcomer has allowed her to have an even greater passion for helping people embrace every day and take care of themselves one day at a time.

The post Fun in the Fort for February 2020 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

We chose 44BOOTLEGGER as our rendezvous point early that afternoon. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding this retail-turned-bar space, which is owned by the amiable couple Tommy and Tammy Brown. Sarah profiled the beer and wine store/bar recently. Presumably planning ahead for large crowds, several outdoor booths were set up to keep the suds and vino flowing.

I was curious how the exhibit by the hybrid gallery project Art Tooth turned out. Brandon Pederson, aka Bob the Builder, had one day to construct the project’s temporary walls. It was pretty rad seeing an impromptu gallery in a normally empty field across from The Bearded Lady. The walls were painted a light pink hue (not too Pepto Bismol as Brandon described it), and the open design allowed ArtsGogglers to freely pass through or stop in and buy an art piece. I can’t wait to frame the print I bought that day.

The next stop was fun but a little bittersweet. Musicians from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra were performing outside Avoca Coffee. As you may know, the performers are in the midst of a strike. To their credit, the classically trained musos are volunteering their time for events like the one at ArtsGoggle. As we watched, one of the members announced that the next song would be from pop music icon Justin Bieber. Having got the audience’s undivided attention, the ensemble commenced with a chamber work by Brahms instead. It was a fun performance, but we’re all looking forward to seeing our resident symphony orchestra return to Bass Performance Hall.

Cat City Grill offered a nice respite from the crowds. My friends and I ordered two delectable appetizers (the prosciutto flatbread and fried calamari) along with a few drinks at this popular New American cuisine restaurant and bar. On our way back, we stopped by a Magnolia Avenue gem. The Sleepy Panther Bottle Shop is a no frills retail space that does craft beer right. The store cohabits a building on the northeast corner of Magnolia Avenue and 5th Avenue along with several other businesses. Sleepy Panther proprietor Cristall Heisch keeps her fridge and shelves stocked with the choicest craft suds on the market, and Fort Worthians are starting to take notice. After visiting with Cristall, I made my way upstairs to meet artist Guillermo Tapia. Besides pursuing his own career, Guillermo is helping pioneer an arts group called Artluck. The group hosts sketch sessions that focus on figurative drawings and paintings in private art studios. Like a lot of great Fort Worth movements (Keep Fort Worth Funky, Art Tooth, and The Usual’s monthly cocktail classes), the idea is to support the local community as a whole.

Our evening more or less ended at Magnolia’s favorite brewpub, Chimera Brewing Company. Sure, there was an unusually long wait for our pie to arrive that busy night, but we were warned. Some people might roll their eyes at the thought of an hour wait for a late night snack, but Chimera’s fiery Rucola or buttery Brie and Speck pizza leaves its competitors in the dust. And unlike Fort Worth’s other great pizzerias, this place make equally great beer. The wait was worth it.

Like our last meal, ArtsGoggle is a slice of something bigger. The blend of music, food, art, and retail works because it’s community-driven. And what could be more authentically Fort Worth than that.

P.S., Thanks for the awesome pictures, Yoori Marti!

Edward Brown writes about music, arts and news for a variety of publications. He’s an award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Weekly and blogger for Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has published articles in Musical Opinion (U.K.), Canadian Music Educators Journal, and Clavier Companion,among others. When Brown isn’t writing about music, he’s actively involved in the local music scene as an educator, performer, lecturer, and judge for student music competitions. His professional affiliations include the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, where he volunteers as education director, and the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, where he serves on the board and artistic committee. Brown is a graduate of the University of North Texas and currently resides in Fort Worth. His favorite leisure time activities include local music concerts and perusing Fort Worth’s growing gastropub scene.

The post Purely Fort Worth: ArtsGoggle Fall 2016 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.