From left to right, Rebecca Ayres (flute), Beth Aiken (oboe), Paul Hadley (horn), Ann Hubbard (bassoon) and Eric Van Dyke (clarinet). Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE – On Saturday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m., the lyrical woodwind ensemble “Quintessential” concludes the 2010 series of informal “Concerts with Conversation” at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

These intimate concerts, held in Riffe’s Meeting House next to the hotel, give a small audience of 40 or so the chance to listen to and interact with world class musicians at close range.

All four of the previous concerts in the series have been sellouts and received rave reviews.

Quintessential is composed of some of the most outstanding woodwind players in Northern California.

The group includes Lake County residents Beth Aiken on oboe and Ann Hubbard on bassoon, together with Becky Ayres (flute), Paul Hadley (horn) and Eric Van Dyke (clarinet) from Mendocino and Sonoma Counties. These talented individuals have a long history of playing together in the larger Lake and Ukiah Symphony Orchestras as well as the Symphony of the Redwoods.

“This is a classic woodwind ensemble is composed of truly exceptional musicians,” said Catherine Hall, an orchestral colleague of these players. “They interrelate exceptionally well, blending nicely into the whole while allowing the individual brilliance of each musician to shine through.”

Kelseyville resident Beth Aiken is the principal oboist with Lake County Symphony, Ukiah Symphony and Symphony of the Redwoods. She also performs with the Mendocino Music Festival Orchestra and has performed with various chamber groups. She has been teaching vocal and instrumental music in the Lake County public schools since 1984.

“We all enjoy the larger setting of a big orchestra,” says Aiken, “but this format allows us to perform a wider repertoire of music that truly inspires all five of us. We’re really looking forward to our appearance in the Tallman series.”

Bassoonist Ann Hubbard is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music and has performed and soloed with the Monterey Symphony, San Jose Symphony and the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra. She presently teaches at the Ukiah School of Music and performs with the three major regional symphony orchestras.

Horn virtuoso Paul Hadley has been part of most major Northern California orchestras, including the UC Berkeley Orchestra. “I like being part of a large orchestra,” said Hadley, “but I particularly enjoy playing chamber music with my brass quintet as well as the wonderful Quintessential woodwind ensemble.”

Rebecca Ayres is a native Californian who selected the flute as her instrument at an early age and studied with mentors in Sacramento, San Francisco and New York. She has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the area including the San Francisco Symphony.

Eric Van Dyke lives on the Mendocino Coast and is principal clarinet for Symphony of the Redwoods and Ukiah Symphony, and plays in various chamber groups. In February, he was featured in the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto with the Ukiah Symphony.

“We had the honor of hosting the first public performance by Quintessential at one of our Sunday Brunch sessions a while back,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher, “and they were fantastic. With their seamless renditions of chamber pieces from the Renaissance to modern composers, our guests at the May concert will be treated to a real musical experience.”

As in previous years, 10 percent of all proceeds from the concert series will be donated to the Soper-Reese Community Theatre Fund, which is converting the old single-screen movie theater in Lakeport into a state-of-the-art performing arts center.

Tickets are limited to 40 and can be obtained by calling the Tallman Hotel reception desk at 707-275-2244. The $25 ticket price entitles the holder to a 10-percent discount on a pre-concert dinner at the Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant next to the Hotel. Coffee and cookies are served at the concert venue. See www.TallmanHotel.com for further information.

Earnie Emery of Lower Lake was high bidder for the auction of the conductor's baton at the Lake County Symphony's Mothers Day concert. He used it to lead the 70-piece orchestra in playing John Phillips Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever." Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – The largest slate of musicians in the 32-year history of the Lake County Symphony crowded the stage of the Marge Alakszay auditorium at Lakeside Unified School District's Lakeport campus on Mother's Day to deliver a rousing pops concert.

Assisted by a backdrop of acoustic sound shells the 70 skilled performers at times threatened to blow the walls out of the hall.

The concert was presented under the auspices of Clear Lake Performing Arts, the county's fine-music organization.

Entitled "Curtain Up" the program featured popular contemporary music from stage and screen, with themes ranging from 1939's "Wizard of Oz" to nearly-current hits from such movies as "Spider-Man" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Music Director and Orchestra Conductor John Parkinson had divided his program into different genres opening with a medley of numbers from such Broadway hits as"Annie Get Your Gun," "Phantom of the Opera," "Mame" and others.

Another category, called "Go West," had music from westerns, featuring familiar themes from "The Magnificent Seven" and the eerie and unforgettable background music from such spaghetti westerns as Clint Eastwood's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "Hang 'em high."

The orchestra featured a full lineup of percussion instruments whose players received special acknowledgment from Parkinson for their precise participation in playing a Concert Suite from the Kevin Costner movie "Dances with Wolves" while bassoonist Ann Hubbard won a tip of the baton following her role in playing a number from "Hook."

Another music category involved pirates – specifically "Pirates of the Caribbean" – where some of the orchestra members saluted Parkinson, and won audience applause, by donning pirate hats.

Following intermission, where members of the CLPA Auxiliary provided the audience with home-baked cookies and juices, the CLPA Youth Orchestra took the stage.

Guest conductor Eleanor Cook, a former CLPA scholarship recipient and symphony member in her debut conducting performance, led her dozen young musicians in playing pleasing versions of academy award-winning tracks from the motion pictures "Pocahontas" and "Titanic," both perfect choices for Mother's Day.

Another event, which threatens to become an annual fixture at the Spring Concert, is the auction of the conductor's baton, with the winner assuming the right to ascend the podium and conduct the orchestra in playing John Phillips Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Local little theater star Bert Hutt served as auctioneer, and after spirited bidding managed to coax a bid of $1,000 from Lower Lake music lover Earnie Emery. The revenue will be used to help fund CLPA youth music activities.

Emery prepped the audience by telling them that he had marched to the Sousa music as an Army Air Corps cadet in 1942, and it had inspired him to become a better officer.

He then used his newly-won baton to lead the symphony through a rousing rendition of the great, patriotic number, which resulted in many members of the audience clapping along in rhythm.

No musical tribute to Hollywood would be complete without selections from John Williams, one of its most prolific composers and, in fact, the concert featured compositions in three of the different genres chosen by Parkinson.

First was the music from "Hook" and in the second half of the program came selections from his "Superman Returns," and "Star Wars." These were interspersed with a series of themes from the James Bond movies, "Spider Man" and movie and television tracks from "Star Trek."

Baton-winner Emery who, along with his wife Caroline, is practically a fine music groupie, having listened to orchestras in such cities as London, Berlin, Florence, Vienna and many others, said that in his opinion the Lake County Symphony matches anything he's ever seen or heard in his travels. "I only hope the people of Lake County realize what a treasure we have here" he said. "The musicians in our symphony could hold up their heads in any orchestra in any major city in the world."

The CLPA Youth Orchestra will present its Spring Concert on Sunday, June 13 at the Friendship Hall of the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The next CLPA sponsored event will be its annual Lake County Home Wine Makers Festival on Saturday, June 26, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Lakeport's Library Park.

The event is the group's major yearly fund-raiser.

LAKEPORT – If you love comedy, music and just plain fun, you will want to treat yourself to the first “Who’s Who Celebrity Lip Sync” at the Soper Reese Community Theatre this Saturday, May 15.

A cast of more than 50 local residents, retirees and business people will perform in 22 acts on the stage at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.

From Elvis, Patsy Cline, Aretha, Garth Brooks, Sonny & Cher to Boogey Woogey Bugle Boy tap dancers, it is a almost two-hour show of pure entertainment for young and old.

Emcee Tom Lincoln will lead you through a variety of musical delights beginning with his own brand of humor and song, as well as dancing the fox trot.

Jan Parkinson, past president of the Lake County Chamber, has brought this delightful experience to our communities.

Kristy Weiss and Diana Schmidt are co-directors, along with lead choreographer Sarah Dutra, are responsible for leading some admittedly starstruck, would-be performers to the stage.

The cast is comprised of young and old from all around Lake County, students and dowagers of suspect age will amaze you with their talents.

For tickets or more information, contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092. Credit cards are accepted and tickets can be held at the box office at the Soper Reese.

Tickets may be purchased through the Soper Reese box office at 707-263-0577.

LAKEPORT – Konocti Vista Casino is excited to announce the forthcoming concert featuring the renowned country artist and member of the Grand Old Opry, Pam Tillis.

This concert will take place beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 20.

Pam Tillis is country music royalty. The daughter of the legendary Mel Tillis – an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame – Pam Tillis has achieved numerous accolades and awards in her own right.

The Grammy Winning singer and songwriter has had multiple No. 1 songs and was named the 1994 Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year. She also was inducted as a member of the Grand Old Opry in 2000. You can find out more about this country music superstar at www.pamtillis.com.

Following the phenomenal success of The Lost Boys in March, Konocti Vista Casino is proud to host Pam Tillis in the same intimate venue, Club Konocti. Seating just over 400, the room gives both guests and performers a unique opportunity for personal interaction.

Tickets are available at Konocti Vista Casino or online through www.kvcasino.com at $30 for reserved seating (the front six rows) and $20 for general admission. A quick sellout is expected so get your tickets as soon as possible.