concert

National award-winning guitarist and harp-guitarist Muriel Anderson returns to her native Downers Grove once a year to continue her beloved neighborhood tradition. Her 18th annual performance begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, in Downers Grove North High School Auditorium.

Her parents, family and friends chip in to provide the legendary homemade refreshments and hot apple cider served at intermission. Guest harp-guitarist and humorist Andy Wahlberg from Florida joins her this year.

Muriel Anderson and her harp-guitar. She also will teach a guitar workshop that weekend. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Andy Wahlberg SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra presents “A Celebration of Youth” this weekend in Lombard and Elmhurst. Twelve-year-old cello phenomenon Johannes Gray, who has been winning competitions and establishing himself as an important new talent on the instrument, will be featured in Dvorak’s Cello Concerto.

Performances begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Biester Auditorium at Glenbard East High School, 1014 S. Main St., Lombard, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at its new venue in Elmhurst, The Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 155 Brush Hill Road.

Johannes Gray SUBMITTED PHOTO

Award-winning, singer-songwriter Greg Trafidlo will perform Friday evening, Nov. 27, at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, where doors open at 7:30 p.m.

The tenor has appeared from Wrigley Field to the U.S. Capitol, from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to Cork, Ireland, and as far as Beijing, China, singing his distinctive blend of folk, country, blues and bluegrass.
 
He’s shared the stage with such artists as Bill Monroe, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Tom Paxton and John Hartford. National Public Radio airs his song “(I Got Stuck Behind) Buford” on its nationally syndicated show, “Car Talk.”

The late Mike Fleischer of WDCB-FM in Glen Ellyn said, “Greg Trafidlo’s songs tickle your fancy, tickle your funny bone, tickle your thought processes, tickle your heart, and tickle your soul.”

For ticket information, contact Two Way Street Coffee House at (630) 969-9720 or www.twowaystreet.org.
 

Head out to Silverado bar and grill in Elmhurst on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and give thanks for an evening of rock and roll kicking off at 9 p.m. with The Purebred Stems.

The Elmhurst-based musicians report that after having rocked many a person over the past year, they are triumphantly returning to Silverado equipped with their own distinct brand of stripped down, grease-gun, rock and roll in a fight against hunger.

This year, The Purebred Stems, in conjunction with the UCCA and Silverado, will collect nonperishable foods for donation. The first 100 people to enter Silverado bearing a nonperishable or canned food item will receive a limited edition Purebred Stems print by local artist Mark A. Metzger (markametzger.com).

UCCA stands for United Community Concerns Association, a local organization that provides food certificates for Elmhurst families. Last year, the group helped feed 240 families, and this year is projected to assist more than 260 families.

Silverado Grill is at 447 Spring Road. For details, call the restaurant and bar at (630) 833-1602.

Howard & The White Boys returns to the suburbs for a performace on Friday, Nov. 20, at This Must Be The Place in Lemont.

The blues band performs at 9 p.m. Friday at 206 Main St. in Lemont. Admission is $5. Call (630) 243-1500 or visit www.betheplace.com for more information.

Howard & The White Boys. SUBMITTED PHOTO

For more information on Howard & The White Boys, click here.

For more than 20 years, the Canterbury Carollers have performed authentic Victorian Christmas carols throughout Chicago and the western suburbs. Now they are teaming up with several actors to present an evening of classic Christmas tales and favorite carols. They celebrate the start of the holiday season at two Thanksgiving weekend performances in Elmhurst.
 

The Canterbury Carollers have appeared at the White House. COURTESY OF www.canterburycarollers.com

 Several local actors will translate Christmas stories written by Charles Dickens and O Henry into an interactive performance for the whole family. Popular Christmas carols will be sung by the professional carollers in period costumes.

Elmhurst resident Jeffery Panko will tickle the ivories in a concert starring him and a few of his friends on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 E. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst.

The 7:30 p.m. concert, "Jeff Panko and Friends," will feature Panko with cellist Jill Kaeding, Wagner Campos on clarinet, French hornist John Schreckengost and soprano Theresa Ludden. Schubert's Auf dem strom for Soprano and French Horn and Brahms' Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano are on the program. A reception to meet and greet the musicians will follow the performance.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $5 for students. For more information, contact Bethel United Church of Christ at (630) 279-4040.

Clarinet artist Kathryne Pirtle shares the adventuresome program for The Orion Ensemble’s next concert, featuring guest soprano Alicia Berneche, who has sung at the Lyric Opera, and Baird Dodge of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Addison resident is a founding member of the award-winning chamber group, which offers its series in Chicago, Evanston and Geneva. Just showcased on the “Live from WFMT” broadcast, Orion returns to the radio program March 22.

The Orion Ensemble musicians are Florentina Ramniceanu (from left), Kathryne Pirtle, pianist Diana Schmück, Judy Stone and Jennifer Marlas. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Voodoo Monkey Child is part of a multi-band benefit to raise money for the repair of the historic Klas Restaurant in Cicero.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. Voodoo Monkey Child is appearing in support of its album, "Under a Crescent Moon."

For more on the Voodoo Monkey Child band, visit www.myspace.com/voodoomonkeychild. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Admission costs $12 to the all-ages show. Food and drinks will be served.
 
Klas, located at 5734 W. Cermak Road, is the oldest Czech-Bohemian restaurant still in operation in the United States. Its (in)famous patrons include Al Capone; visit www.klasrestaurant.com.

Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who recently launched the new season of the Salt Creek Sinfonietta in Hinsdale, takes the chamber orchestra on the road for a holiday benefit concert by the Combined Church Choir of Itasca. A busy music director, the Downers Grove resident also conducts the Senior Suburban Orchestra and College of DuPage Chamber Orchestra.

Salt Creek Sinfonietta is one of the musical ensembles conducted by Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who grew up in Itasca and now lives in Downers Grove. SUBMITTED PHOTO