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By Douglas Osborne-Coy
Critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated recording artist Red Grammer has set the gold standard for writing and performing contemporary children’s music. On Friday, Feb. 10, he will perform at 7 p.m. in Marvel Theater as part of the Kaleidoscope Family Series.
The “Red Grammer Family Concert” is part of the 2011-12 Lake Shore Savings Season. The series sponsor is the Observer and the event sponsors are Mark and Michelle Twichell. The concert features a special guest performance by the Chautauqua Children’s Chorale.
Consistently winning awards for music with uplifting themes, innovative lyrics and irresistible melodies, Red and his wife (co-lyricist Kathy Grammer) have created a treasure trove of music for families and classrooms.
His music has a universal appeal that cuts across generations, backgrounds, ethnicity and religions. The ideas and themes that permeate the Grammers’ music arise from their belief that children are intelligent, inquisitive and come into this world “pre-wired” to learn how to work together and understand each other. The Grammers believe children can “be problem-solvers, embrace diversity and live up to their highest reality… laughing and singing as they go.”
Red can be heard nourishing the hearts and souls of both young and old via his multiple award-winning recordings, his numerous appearances on television (The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Nickelodeon, Showtime, PBS and The Disney Channel) and his new video/DVD.
Beloved by children and parents around the world, his recordings are also widely used in schools to enrich conflict resolution and character education programs. One of them, Teaching Peace, was named by The All Music Guide “one of the top five children’s recordings of all time” and was given a Parent’s Choice Classic Children’s Audio Award.
Red has recorded six albums for kids and families, two for adults and tours extensively around the world.
Joining Red Grammer for the Feb. 10 concert will be special guests The Chautauqua Children’s Chorale. The Chorale was formed in 1988, by Nancy A. Krestic and Dr. Donald P. Lang. Its mission is to promote excellence in singing and musical growth and give a different dimension to the choral experience for children. The artistic director is Marjorie Bohn.
The Chorale is made up of two choirs of children ages 8 to 17: Junior Chorale and Concert Chorale. There are approximately 85 singers in the Chorale. Both choirs perform a wide variety of music, including sacred, classical, secular choral music and contemporary music written for unchanged voices and the concert stage.
This concert will feature the 25-member Junior Chorale, which will join Red for two selections. The Chorale has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Chautauqua Symphony, the Chautauqua Chamber Singers and several ensembles from the School of Music.
This show is approximately 60 minutes long and is recommended for ages 6 through 12, as well as parents and grandparents. Tickets are available through the Ticket Office in the modular complex in the Dods Hall parking lot across from the Williams Center, by phone at 716-673-3501 or online www.fredonia.edu/tickets.
