Concert remembers longtime arts advocate Woodward

Longtime area arts advocate Lewis Woodward will be honored with a memorial concert Wednesday.

The Modesto Junior College Friends of Music series will present an evening of guitar and piano music at the “Homage to Lewis Woodward Concert.” Woodward was a professor emeritus of music who taught at MJC for 23 years. He died at age 85 in March.

The concert will feature MJC Director of Guitar Studies and Fulbright Scholar David D. Chapman and Karolina Syrovatkova performing a program of music from Brazil, Spain, France and Italy, with a special focus on famous composers from the Czech Republic.

Woodward helped create the Friends of Music series. He taught voice and directed more than 40 productions at MJC during his tenure from 1974 to 1997. Woodward also performed leading roles in numerous musicals and operas.

The show starts at 7:30p.m. in the music recital hall on the east campus, 435 College Ave. Tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Proceeds from Friends of Music concerts support the MJC music department and provide student music scholarships. For more, call (209) 575-6776.

The Mike Strickland Trio

The Mike Strickland Trio returns due to popular demand to play the Modesto Community Concert Association series Sunday.

The trio mixes blues, jazz and boogie-woogie piano with bass and sax to create an improvisational sound. The group consists of Strickland on piano, Chipper Anderson on bass and vocals and David Halliday on saxophone. Strickland’s music has appeared on television, and he has recorded more than 20 CDs on his own label. He last appeared at the MCCA series in its 2009-10 season.

The show starts at 3p.m. at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20-$30. Call (209)338-2100 or visit www.galloarts.org.

Manteca Kindred Arts

The 28th annual season of the Manteca Kindred Arts Concert Association kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

Sacramento pianist Jason Sia opens the season. Sia is a frequent collaborator with musicians from the Sacramento Philharmonic and other orchestras. The season continues with the Farallon Quintet on Nov.16, Nelson & Nelson on Dec.21 and Avenue Winds on Feb.8. This season, the Manteca association has partnered with the Ripon Arts League so members of either may see one concert from the other group in the season as well.

Season tickets are $45 and include a Ripon concert. Individual tickers are $15 at the door or $5 for children and students under 18. For more information, call (209) 823-2570 or (209) 239-2194, or visit www.mantecakindredarts.com.

VMI Rocks

The Valley Music Institute returns with a show featuring 21 youth bands this Sunday. The rock ’n’ roll school works with musicians (from beginners to veterans) and places them in bands based on compatibility to rehearse, record, make videos and play shows. The VMI Rocks show is from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Fat Cat Music House & Lounge in downtown Modesto. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more, call (209) 543-2066.

The Dance Factory

The Dance Factory is holding a master-class fundraiser for its students Saturday. Classes will be offered for intermediate through advanced dancers in three-hour sessions. There will be classes in contemporary, partnering/lifts, choreography and jazz. Guest teachers for the workshops will be Alesha Rabe, a dance graduate from California State University, Long Beach; and Maggie Sniffen, a California State University, San Diego, dance graduate. Sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Classes are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The money raised will go toward upcoming dance convention costs for students. For more, call (209) 523-1032.

Bach’s Brunch

The 38th annual Sonora Bach Festival concludes with Bach’s Brunch on Sunday. The event will feature a catered brunch by chef Dave Ingram and a concert by the The Youth Strings. The group is a collection of Suzuki violin players, ages 8-17, from Tuolumne County. The event starts at 12:30p.m. at the Twain Harte Golf Club. Tickets are $35. For more, call (209)536-6330 or visit www.sonorabach.org.

This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Concert remembers longtime arts advocate Woodward."