It can certainly be said that Lompoc is a city in touch with its rich cultural history. From the historical murals seen throughout the city to the various cultural institutions, the town is filled with the efforts of dedicated and creative locals.
The Lompoc Valley Master Chorale is one of several leading musical community ensembles in Lompoc that perform at the First United Methodist Church. Now the group is making good use of the newly restored historic piano for its upcoming concert.
“The focus of this concert … [is] the newly refurbished 1912 Chickering piano, which was once in the Lompoc Theatre, and the Lompoc Concert Association had it restored and they allowed the First United Methodist to house it because that’s where so many concerts happen,” Lompoc Valley Master Chorale Director Kathleen Hacker said. “Everything was replaced inside and it’s just an amazing instrument.”
The piano was the Lompoc Theatre’s house grand piano and was performed on at countless concerts during the theatre’s historic run since it opened in 1927. Hacker designed her program to highlight the instrument along with the chorale for its Spring Fling concert on May 16 and 17.
“My focus is to have all piano accompaniment for the choir,” Hacker said, “so I invited Bridget Hough, who grew up in Lompoc and recently got her doctorate at UCSB, to play with our regular accompanist.”
Hough earned her doctor of musical arts degree in collaborative keyboard music. The concert includes many opportunities for Hough to collaborate with the choir and Hacker on the historic instrument.
“I have played quite a bit with choirs, which is different because you are collaborating with the conductor,” Hough said, “but then you have this massive wall of people singing, so it’s almost like a trio.”
Hough, who has collaborated with all manner of ensembles and soloists, will also perform a few selections including chorale and piano four hands, meaning she will be performing at the same piano with the chorale’s usual accompanist Yun Murphy.
“It adds another dimension to the collaboration,” Hough explained. “Your mind has to be aware on many levels of what is going on and the various signals you get from your collaborators.”
The first half of the show includes many selections by classical composers, including Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52, which include piano four hands accompaniment with the choral.
“It’s wonderful that we have a master chorale in Lompoc. You don’t hear the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes very often,” Hough said. “I’d say it’s going to be a very fun program.”
The program will also include a solo performance by Hough of Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise, a piano four hands performance of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Hough and Yun, and a performance of Anthony Plog’s Animal Ditties, which will include Hacker’s son, Colin, playing trumpet and her husband, Tommy, narrating.
“The first half is more classically inclined, but the second half includes Rogers and Hemmerstein, Somewhere over the Rainbow,” said Hough, “and she’s bringing in the guest trumpeter Colin Hacker for this entertaining piece Animal Ditties about four different animals: the turtle, the python, the hyena, and the hog.”
“It’s going to be a smattering of all different genres of music and moods,” Hough said, “so it’s going to be a very fun program.”
Voices four
The Orthodox Church of the Annunciation presents a concert by the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble, who will perform Russian Orthodox scared music and Russian folk music on May 15 at 7 p.m. at the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 877 Francine Lane, Santa Maria. Suggested donation is $15. More info: 543-2261 or olgahowe@gmail.com.
Hear the harmony
The Coastal Voices presents its spring concert Harmony and Understanding featuring music of the 1960s on May 17 at 4 p.m. and May 19 at 7 p.m. at the St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 3945 S. Bradley Road, Santa Maria. Cost is $10, $12 presale. More info: 937-3416, coastalvoices@gmail.com, or coastalvoices.info.
Get Ziggy with it
The Chumash Casino Resort Ziggy Marley in concert on May 22 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 E. Highway 246, Santa Ynez. Cost is $25, $35, and $45. More info: 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Macaroni, cheese, and music
The Macaroni and Cheese Festival will include live music performed by The Brothers Comatose and the California Honeydrops on May 17 from noon to 4 p.m. at Mission Santa Ines, Solvang. More info: eventbrite.com.
Winning performers
The Santa Maria Arts Council holds the 2011 Grants in the Arts Competition Awards Showcase honoring Marti Fast and including performances by grants winners on May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Community Center, 313 E. Tunnell St., Santa Maria. Cost is $20. More info: 934-8383 or smartscouncil.com.
Ready to croon
The Blacklake Golf Resort presents a Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series featuring the The Mighty Croon Dogs on May 21 at the Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo. More info: 343-1214, Ext. 400, or blacklake.com.
The guitar man
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music every Wednesday night, including a performance by Manny Mestas on May 21 at the Café and Wine Bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400 or dcp@grevino.com.
Live in the tasting room
Standing Sun Winery features the Standing Sun Concert Series, including The Record Company on May 17 and The Stone Foxes on May 18 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Standing Sun Wines, 92 2nd St., Buellton. More info: 904-8072 or standingsunwines.com.
Right off the runway
The Radisson Hotel offers live music Fridays and Saturdays, including Juan Marquez performing May 16 and 17 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Country rocks
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including country rock performed by UDAC on May 16 at 8 p.m “Concert on the Deck” featuring Jerry Stickel on May 17 at 3 p.m. Dusty Jugz performs on May 17 at 8 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Suds, Song, and Sandwiches” will feature “Jammin’ with Guy and friends” on May 18 at 3 p.m. The special “Maniac Monday” features a concert by Sammysezso on May 19 at 8 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 15-22, 2014.