The Quincy Symphony Orchestra launches the return of in-person concerts with “New Beginnings” on April 17. The 3 p.m. concert will be held at Morrison Theater in Quincy Junior High. Under the direction of Dr. Bruce Briney, the orchestra will perform bright and joyful music to celebrate the occasion.

The concert opens with Haydn’s joyful “Symphony No. 6 (subtitled “The morning”) which uses individual instruments of the ensemble in an almost concerto-like fashion. Listeners will hear solos by the flute, violin, cello, bassoon, and double bass. Haydn’s original ensemble included only 10-15 musicians, so this context fits well with the QSO’s restricted forces this pandemic year.

​Each year, the Arts Quincy George M. Irwin Arts Awards recognize those who have shown exceptional dedication to increasing arts and cultural access throughout the community. Business support, volunteers, individual artist/teachers, and of course, arts organizations, keep the arts in Quincy and Adams County, Illinois alive and thriving. 

Action Brown County, in partnership with Arts Quincy, are requesting proposals for a mural to be painted in Mt. Sterling, Ill. The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, April 30 by 12 pm.
 
The location of the mural is east of the Veterans War Memorial which is located at the corner of South Capitol Ave. and East Main St. in the heart of the town’s business district. The mural would be painted on the west façade of a chiropractor’s office. The area measures approximately 120’ long by 20’ tall (representing 2,400 square feet of paintable space.) It is a huge neighborhood canvas for the installation of public art.
 
The theme for the mural is a vibrant scene representing a sense of community that enhances the downtown area. Ideas might incorporate colorful farmer's market and community themes, rural lifestyle or children's  ideas. The committee would like the mural to be a backdrop for photo opportunities for visitors and residents alike. Patriotic elements may be appropriate, but a completely patriotic mural is not requested. A playground will be built near this location, so something colorful and playful will be appreciated. 
 
The mural must be completed by September 3, 2021.
 
Click here to download the detailed description of the project and how to submit a proposal. For more information, call Arts Quincy at 217-222-3432 or email office@artsquincy.org.

​Spending a little more time at home this winter? Now is a great time to start up that YouTube channel! With so many content creators and influencers all over social media, it may feel like an uphill battle to get your particular voice heard, but theatre training can really come in handy to set your videos apart from the rest!

​There is one word to describe Mr. Dan Waggoner: inspiring. A Quincy native, Waggoner is well known in Adams County. He is as an artist, a Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and now a college student.   
At age 70, Waggoner is attending John Wood Community College and has graciously donated an oil painting portrait of Illinois Governor John Wood, the college’s namesake. He completed the portrait for a recent speech class demonstration. Michael Elbe, JWCC president said, “We are honored to receive this wonderful gift from Mr. Waggoner. Dan personifies our College’s core value of lifelong learning.”

​When you think of classical music, you might list off some famous, long-dead composers like Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, but there are many talented modern composers creating works for ensembles of all kinds, too! Arts Quincy is spotlighting one such composer, Stephanie Berg, from St. Louis, MO, and peeking behind the curtain to reveal the art and science of being a modern composer. Berg wrote a symphonic work called, “Ignite,” for the Quincy Symphony Orchestra in 2018, and the piece was rebroadcast this year on WGEM. She also recently composed a brass quintet titled, “This Uncommon,” which will be world-premiered in Quincy in 2021. She has had work performed by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the 9th Street Philharmonic, among others. Look for her SoundCloud recordings at stephaniejberg.com. 

QUINCY, ILLINOIS, January 11, 2021 – Quincy Community Theatre is excited to announce its next production, Miss Nelson is Missing! The production will be done entirely virtually and presented March 4-7, 2021. Based on the book of the same name, Miss Nelson can't catch a break from her crazy, misbehaved class. But when she mysteriously goes missing, and, worst of all, is replaced by the vile Miss Viola Swamp, this cast of colorful classmates bands together to get to the bottom of this "elementary" mystery.
 
“As educators have moved mountains to get students safely back to school last semester, it feels appropriate to kick off our 2021 season with a student theatre production that, at its heart, pays homage to the great teachers out there and reminds us never to take them for granted,” said Brenda Shea, head of education and student theatre director.
 
Auditions for Miss Nelson is Missing! will take place virtually on Sunday, January 24 and Monday, January 25. The cast calls for three female students, four male students, one female adult, and one male adult. Performers in grade 4 through 8, of all experience levels, are welcome to audition for the student roles. Adult performers 18 and up, of all experience levels, are welcome to audition for the adult roles. For more information and to sign up to audition, visit www.1qct.org.
 
This is QCT’s second fully virtual student theatre production. She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms was produced in the fall of 2020. QCT remains committed to its mission to provide quality entertainment and education opportunities in the performing arts despite the current challenges due to the pandemic. Thousands across the country have tuned in to view #QCTatHome productions which have included the Virtual Playwrights Festival, The Ghost Light Concert, A Christmas Carol, and more.
 
About Quincy Community TheatreQuincy Community Theatre (QCT) is a major theatrical resource for the Tri-State area, offering five major productions, three student productions, various touring performances, and a variety of workshops and classes each year. Showcasing local performers from the entire Tri-State Region since 1923, QCT uses the combined talents and resources of the community to celebrate, promote, and perform the dramatic arts in its first-rate facility. QCT is a member of Arts Quincy, the Illinois Theatre Association, and the American Association of Community Theatre. QCT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. QCT
programming is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. QCT’s 2020 Media Sponsors are the Herald- Whig, KHQA, STARadio, and WGEM. For information about upcoming shows and classes or to purchase tickets, please visit www.1qct.org or call the Box Office at 217.222.3209.

​The Quincy University Music Program is adapting to making music during the pandemic. While rehearsal spaces and ensembles might look different, students are still making music and performing. Fine Arts and Communication Division Chair, Dr. Christine Damm stated, “Music is a huge part of the lives and well-being of many students. We really missed performing music together last spring, so it was imperative that the music faculty research safe ways to rehearse and perform music.” The Quincy University Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Choirs are following spacing guidelines set forth in national research studies.  

It happens every year, you find yourself stuck on what to get "that person." You know, the one who already has everything? Or maybe it's someone who is working on downsizing. This year consider giving experience gifts. Not only are they naturally clutter-free but they create memories the recipient will cherish for years to come. It's time to think outside the gift box and look into the gift of experience.