Concert Schedule

Fredericksburg Music Club, Inc. Newsletter

Kay & Friends - In Concert

May 17, 2015
Concert will be held at 3:00p.m.
Fredericksburg United Methodist Church 1800 N. Llano (Hwy. 16 North) Fredericksburg, Texas
There is no charge for these concerts as all concerts are funded through grants or private and corporate donations through mail, at the door, or through our website.

  Kay & Friends - Performers Biography  
 

Kay & Friends, Ensemble

For three decades, the Kay and Friends Ensemble has delighted audiences in Texas and Europe. Choosing not to be defined by any particular style, the group plays music they love and enjoy. A fan writes, Kay & Friends easy-going style and their longtime friendships and affection for each other are palpable. Their engaging on-stage intimacy with their audience is vibrant and fun. One selection will touch your heart and evoke tender memories, and the next piece will make you laugh and tap your feet.

 
Kay Rivers Kidd - Pianist, Art Kidd - Percussion and Vocalist, James Warth - Saxaphone/Clarinet/Flute, Gerardo Ramos - Tenor, Javier Chaparro - Violin, Evan Arredondo - Bass
 

Musical director and pianist, Kay Kidd, and her gifted group of musical friends have been described by one critic as "a tour de force of popular music....a bold demonstration of just how much can be done by an experienced, talented quintet -- especially in tackling numbers that normally might have full orchestral treatment." With regulars Javier Chaparro on violin, James Warth on saxophone/clarinet/flute, and Art Kidd on percussion and vocals, the ensemble will be joined by bassist Brad Taylor. They happily welcome one of Austin ’s favorite singers, Tim Curry, as special guest at this concert.

Their unique blend and repertoire encompasses an amazing variety of styles, ranging from pop to big band, ragtime to classical, rock and roll, ethnic, and film music. You will leave a Kay and Friends concert uplifted, with a smile on your face.

Kay Kidd, piano

Kay, a native of Elgin, Texas, is musical director and pianist for her group, Kay and Friends, and performs as a soloist and in ensembles at home and abroad, in festivals, workshops and recording sessions devoted to chamber music, popular, and folk music. Solo and with her colleagues she has played for countless weddings, receptions, and special events. Kay maintains a private piano studio in her home, and is a past president of the Austin District Music Teachers Association. For many years Kay has been the sta pianist for Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin, and often does lecture/performances on various topics for organizations, schools, and at special events. She is dedicated to fostering a love of music by performing and teaching. Mother of two and grandmother of eight, Kay and her husband, Art, delight in time with family and love to travel, especially to Sweden, where they have many relatives.

Art Kidd, percussion and vocals

Art grew up in Houston (Bellaire High School) and is a veteran of many tours on which he has led bands and orchestras on cruise ships all over the world. He is much in demand for bands doing an incredible variety of styles, from singer/songwriter Christine Albert to well-known jazz groups. His natural and easy vocal style matches his talent on the drums, which he also teaches. Art is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in English. If you want to know anything about Barton Springs, Art’s your man. He’s been swimming there almost every day for over three decades, except when he’s out of town or there is lightning. He plays regularly with the Taboada Trio on Tuesdays and every other Friday at Eddie V’s Restaurant downtown. Art and Kay love making music together, traveling, and enjoying eight grandchildren, ages 11-28.

James Warth, saxophone / clarinet / flute

Jim, a Texan transplant from Columbia, South Carolina, has received degrees from the University of South Carolina and The University of Texas at Austin. He has served on the music faculty of Texas A&M University- Kingsville in South Texas since 1992, leading his college jazz bands into many award-winning performances. He has performed with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Nova Saxophone Quartet and is a regular with the Corpus Christi and Victoria symphonies. His discography includes two recordings with the Nova Quartet on the Musical Heritage Society label: Innovations and Double Image. Jim and his wife, Sara, a third grade teacher and a gifted pianist, spend as much time as possible at her family’s beautiful ranch in Prairie Mountain, Texas, between Fredericksburg and Llano.

Gerardo Ramos, tenor

Dr. Gerardo Antonio Ramos is a native of Juarez, Mexico. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance with Opera Emphasis from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with the internationally renowned tenor William Lewis. He was a recipient of the Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Opera, the Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts, and the Graduate Enrichment Fellowship. He has performed in numerous operas in the Americas and abroad. He is the Director of Music Ministries at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock, a 6,000-member congregation with 7 choirs, and also is the soloist at the 8:30 sanctuary service at Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin. He and his wife, Maricela, are the proud parents of Emilie, who just had her first birthday.

Javier Chaparro, violin

Born in Lima, Peru, Javier has lived in Texas since 1982. He has for many years served as concert master of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and has performed in the United States, Europe, and South America. In addition to his extensive concertizing as a soloist and in orchestral and chamber ensembles, he is an accomplished singer/songwriter with two CDs on the market. He leads his own group, Salúd, and the Chaparro jazz quartet, and has been the featured artist in numerous soundtracks for movies and documentaries, including The Alamo, Spy Kids, Loaves and Fishes, PBS’s Hansel Meith, and IMAX’s Ride Around the World. Father of two grown children, Javier and his wife, Carmen, live in Elgin, close to her work as a Special Education teacher in the Bastrop ISD. Javier is an avid horseman and trainer, and a kayak instructor.

Evan Arredondo, bass

Evan is a true Texan, raised in Houston, and transplanted to Austin in 1985. Since his arrival in the capital city, he has stayed busy on the local music scene and on his tours and concerts with numerous bands. He gained valuable experience and saw the world by playing on cruise ships in the late 70s and early 80s. Most of his work has been with Austin’s top jazz performers and bands such as The Atlantics, but he plays all styles of music from classical to rock. His extraordinary versatility and ability to sing pleasing harmonies and leads while playing bass keeps his calendar full. Evan is an avid cyclist and runner and can be found on the trails of Town Lake when he isn’t on tour or an Austin stage. Father of two and grandfather of two, he and his wife, Linda, live in Austin.

Source: Kay And Friends Website

 

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Fredericksburg Music Club, P.O. Box 1214, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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