For The Vista

The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) have secured their concert dates and venues and are excited to announce their plans for their outstanding events for their 5th Anniversary season of providing concerts in Crossville.

The 30-piece professional instrumental ensemble is coming off of a very successful 2011-12 concert series which culminated with their performance with Nashville guest artists Buddy Greene and Jeff Taylor last April which drew a record audience of nearly 800.

The 2012-13 ticketed Crossville concert season will include the following dates:  Fall concert on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7 P.M. at Stone Memorial HS Auditorium; Winter concert on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 3 P.M. at Stone Memorial Auditorium, and will conclude with their Spring concert on Saturday, April 20 at 7 P.M. at the Central Baptist Church.

Season ticket prices remain unchanged and will be $45 for the three concerts.

Pete Hullinger will perform with the SSSB in April next year.

“When you consider the cost to attend all three concerts by purchasing three individual tickets is $60, the season ticket is a outstanding bargain …it is like getting three concerts for the price of two,” said Dwight Wages, band president.

A ticket exchange policy is available for season ticket holders which allows them to exchange tickets for a concert they can not attend (eg., winter “snow-birders” who head to warmer climates) for additional tickets to one of the other concerts.

There is an EARLY BIRD SEASON TICKET campaign for those who purchase season tickets by August 18.

These early bird purchasers will be invited to a special reception and will qualify for various cash gifts which will include getting their season tickets free!

So get out and secure a season of Premium Entertainment and support the Southern Stars in their 5th Anniversary.

Season tickets for the three concerts, and tickets for the Sept. 8 concert are now on sale and will be available at the following locations: Cumberland Eye Care in Fairfield Glade, First National Bank of TN branches in Crossville and Fairfield Glade, Bed & Biscuit Kennels, and at the Cumberland County Playhouse box office and website (a small handling charge will apply at CPC).

Ticket prices for the individual concerts will be ADULTS – $20, and STUDENTS – $5.

“I trust that people will see that our ticket price is a bargain considering the quality of the performances and guest artists which appear with the Southern Stars,” said Wages.

The Sept. 8 concert is themed “Virtuoso Brass” and will feature the band’s own outstanding musicians with a variety of selections which will showcase the talented musicians that make up this ensemble.

In addition to this, the SSSB will present a variety of marches, Broadway/movie music which will please any audience member.

The Feb. 17 concert is themed “Who’s Got JR?”.   We all remember the big question from the TV hit Dallas, which was “Who Shot JR?”.

Well, the SSSB have their own bit of suspense, as they are expecting to weave a concert full of music selections from a wide variety of music genres, that will have the audience wondering what can be next!

Negotiations with a guest artist are underway, but are not concrete at this time to be able to make that public.

The April 20 concert is themed “Strings Attached!” and will feature as guest artist, Pete Huttlinger, who is recognized as a virtuoso acoustic guitar musician.

Buddy Greene, who performed last year with the SSSB, personally recommended Pete to Wages.

“Pete is another internationally known Nashville artist whose technique on the acoustic guitar will amaze our audience,” Wages noted. “He cut his guitar chops playing with the John Denver band, was the National finger-picking guitar champion, and is a composer of his own music.  Pete has a great sense of humor which he mixes into his performances.

Nashville artists such as Vince Gill, LeAnn Rimes, and John Oates (of Hall & Oates) are just a few of his admirers who recognize Pete as an extremely gifted musician, said Wages.

“We are very fortunate to be able to attract guest artists of this caliber.  It is a credit to the SSSB, and our audiences who have appreciated having talent like Buddy Greene, Jeff Taylor, and now Pete come to Crossville to share their brand of entertainment,” Wages said.

Sponsors who have signed on again to support the SSSB in the coming season are:  Season Sponsor – Bed & Biscuit Kennel, and Concert sponsors -  Farm Bureau Insurance (Gordon Atchley), Cumberland Eye Care (Dr. Stuart Galloway), and State Farm Insurance.