Community Calendar

Ron Brooks began his jazz journey after high school in Ann Arbor. Brooks went to EMU for his undergrad and followed it up with Masters and PHD work at the University of Michigan. While in college, Brooks competed in the Notre Dame Inter-Collegiate Jazz Festival with the Bob James Trio.

After the festival, iconic producer Quincy Jones gave the trio an opportunity to record on Mercury Records. Brooks’ next step was to record with the Contemporary Jazz Quintet, a Detroit-based ensemble that released two fantastic albums on Blue Note Records, followed by one more on Strata Records, the independent jazz label founded by CJQ pianist, Detroit’s own Kenny Cox. 2020 saw the release of The Black Hole, a previously unreleased set from CJQ that had been recorded at the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival.

In between then and now, the stage was set for Brooks to enjoy great success in opening Ann Arbor’s own jazz club, The Bird of Paradise, a venue which saw wide recognition for almost 20 years. At the Bird, Brooks enjoyed playing with and listening to world-renowned jazz musicians, as did the Ann Arbor jazz-loving community.

The Ypsilanti Community Choir is excited to present its Holiday Concert, Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 7:30 pm at Towsley Auditorium, on the campus of Washtenaw Community College, 4800 East Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI. Our holiday concert pieces include: Happy Holiday/White Christmas, Brightest and Best, a carol sing-along (including the audience), and the always favorite "Hallelujah Chorus." The choir is led by director Ariel Toews-Ricotta and accompanied by Maria Cimarelli.

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor, led by Music Director, Dr. John Boonenberg, proudly presents the 38th annual performances of "A Boychoir Christmas" featuring the unique and glorious sound of this outstanding local choir singing beloved classics and beautiful modern settings of choral Christmas repertoire.

The traditional processional hymn "Once in royal David's city," with soaring boy soprano solo, and the beloved “Seven Joys of Christmas” sequence of carols by Kirke Mechem are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

“Carol of the Stranger,” by Abbie Burt Betinis, will continue the Boychoir tradition of honoring Ann Arbor’s musical history with a Burt Family Carol.

Traditional hymns with audience participation will include "Hark! the herald angels sing", and "O come, all ye faithful.” John Gardner's setting of "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day,” which has been sung at every performance of "A Boychoir Christmas" for nearly 40 years, will once again close the performance.

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization bringing together boys who like to sing and presenting beautiful choral performances for our communities.

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor is directed by Dr. John Boonenberg, in his eighth year as Music Director of this renowned non-profit community choir of boys ages 8 to 18. Award-winning organist Dr. Naki Sung Kripfgans will accompany “A Boychoir Christmas.”

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor, led by Music Director, Dr. John Boonenberg, proudly presents the 38th annual performances of "A Boychoir Christmas" featuring the unique and glorious sound of this outstanding local choir singing beloved classics and beautiful modern settings of choral Christmas repertoire.

The traditional processional hymn "Once in royal David's city," with soaring boy soprano solo, and the beloved “Seven Joys of Christmas” sequence of carols by Kirke Mechem are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.

“Carol of the Stranger,” by Abbie Burt Betinis, will continue the Boychoir tradition of honoring Ann Arbor’s musical history with a Burt Family Carol.

Traditional hymns with audience participation will include "Hark! the herald angels sing", and "O come, all ye faithful.” John Gardner's setting of "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day,” which has been sung at every performance of "A Boychoir Christmas" for nearly 40 years, will once again close the performance.

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization bringing together boys who like to sing and presenting beautiful choral performances for our communities.

The Boychoir of Ann Arbor is directed by Dr. John Boonenberg, in his eighth year as Music Director of this renowned non-profit community choir of boys ages 8 to 18. Award-winning organist Dr. Naki Sung Kripfgans will accompany “A Boychoir Christmas.”

Enjoy a fun and festive assortment of holiday music offered by the Ann Arbor Concert Band! A variety of small brass and woodwind ensembles will present holiday classics, with a grand finale featuring the pipe organ at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. For information on the Ann Arbor Concert Band’s full 2024-2025 concert season, visit www.aaband.org.

Finvarra’s Wren brings its solstice celebration back to MAMA’s Coffeehouse. One of North America's most exciting Irish quartets, this Detroit based band has an intense dedication to their instruments and to Irish music. Traditional and contemporary Irish, Scottish and Celtic-American folk songs are punctuated with wonderfully inventive arrangements of jigs, reels and hornpipes. Admission $17 / $15 student/senior No advance sales; cash or check at door only

Celebrate the season with Beyond Christmas. Traditional and familiar music contrasted with new and lesser-known choral repertoire is sure to get you and the whole family in the holiday spirit. From timeless favorites to new, inventive takes on holiday classics, this unique performance will uplift and surprise, wrapping you in the true spirit of the holidays.

Details

Price: "Pay what you can" - Suggested donation of $10 per ticket

Limited Seating - Ordering tickets in advance is highly recommended

Unplugged Concert Series at The Hawk Blackbox Award-winning Detroit based singer-songwriter Mike Ward: Psychosongs is known for his lyrically-centric, vocally-charged folk songs. Influences are the likes of Simon & Garfunkel, Dylan, Springsteen and John Prine. His intimate songwriting echoes through empty city streets, back country roads and family portraits. Mike has released four studio albums. Accolades include Honorable Mentions in the 2022 Great River Songwriting Competition and 2023 Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Competition. He performs regularly throughout Michigan, the Midwest, and the East Coast.
*Beer and wine will be available for patrons 21 years and above.

Two Ann Arbor songwriters with very different writing styles perform their own songs and interview each other about the songwriting craft, their influences and inspirations, and whatever else comes up. They’ll take some questions from the audience, then invite the audience to stay for more conversation after the concert. Bill Edwards is both a master of the songwriting craft and a seasoned and compelling performer. Mike Green’s philosophy about life may be a bit confounding. In his songs, there’s a palpable tension between tenderness and irony, profundity and slapstick, aching beauty and fierce rock & roll.

Springsteen covered by your favorite local artists. A benefit for Motor City Mitten Mission. Dedicated to helping the homeless and the needy. $10 or $5 with a donation of items like backpacks, sleeping bags, blankets, Hand & toe warmers, sweatshirts & sweatpants, tarps, long underwear. Artists include: Annie Bacon, Mike Ward, Nick Juno, Audra Kubat, Michelle Held, Jo Serrapere, Emily Rose, Jackamo, Matt DMits, John Freeman, Dave & Kristi, Mike Gentry, Kate Hinote, Steve Taylor, George Montrelle, Matt Fredericks, Ryan Dillaha, Mike Galbraith, Courtney Hurley, Alison Lewis, Dave Toennies, Ryan Trager, Patrick Deneau, Mark Jewett and more.