Say 'I love you' with a tuba
The marketplace has been flush with "unique" ways to tell that special someone you love them on Valentine's Day. Chances are, not one of those has involved a tuba.
University of North Texas tuba and euphonium students will once again sell "tuba valentines." For just $30, lovers can recruit the Luther Vandross of the orchestra pit to serenade a sweetheart with a 15-minute concert. If the one you love is off campus, the cost is $40.
Here's what you get: a troupe of tuxedo-wearing musicians sweeping into the chosen location and letting loose with the golden tones of romantic songs.
What's on the playlist? Some oldies, including "My Girl," "My Guy," "Hey Baby," "I Can't Help Myself," "Always and Forever," "When I Fall in Love," "Earth Angel," as well as some newer songs, including Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me," Billy Ocean's "Suddenly," "Kiss the Girl" from Disney's The Little Mermaid and Bryan Adams' "Everything I Do."
Hopeless romantics needn't worry that their loved one will get an oom-pah-pah music telegram. In fact, shoppers should think of the honeyed vocals of Barry White when thinking of tuba valentines.
To order a tuba valentine, e-mail unttubavalentines@gmail.com. Proceeds will help the UNT chapter of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association bring guest artists and clinicians to the university.
Managing director chosen for UNT theater Marjorie Hayes
Marjorie Hayes, professor of acting and directing at the University of North Texas, was named to the newly created position of managing director of theater production.
Hayes will supervise productions created and staged by the artists and students in the program.
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to shape our public seasons in a major way," Hayes said in a statement. "We are exploring many new options of collaboration with professional theaters and incorporating more regional professional guest artists to create dynamic and thought-provoking productions."
Hayes' career includes years of teaching at UNT, directing Eastern European companies and, recently, studying under Broadway actress and singer Betty Buckley, who lives in North Texas. Hayes was awarded the Artslink Grant in 2005 to direct a site-specific production of the Brecht-Weill musical Happy End for Teatr Wybrzeze, a professional theater in Poland. Hayes is a Fulbright Fellow, and has directed lauded productions in North Texas.
"The title refers to a 'managing director,' but I like to think that this new position, particularly with professor Hayes in the position, will be a key leadership role," said Lorenzo Garcia, chairman of the UNT Department of Dance and Theatre.
UNT music faculty to perform in concert
Three University of North Texas College of Music professors will perform in an upcoming concert by Chamber Music International.
Susan DuBois will play viola. John Scott, the college's associate dean for admissions, will play clarinet. James Scott, dean of the college, will perform on flute.
The concert features works for piano, strings and winds by Beethoven, Honegger, Bach, Ysaye and Franck. In addition to the UNT faculty guests, pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine and violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou will perform. Ik-Hwan Bae will play violin and Jungshin Lim Lewis will play cello.
The concert will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Belt Line Road in Richardson. Tickets start at $10. To make reservations, call 972-385-7267 or visit www.cmi-now.org.
Dodd, Dee to co-host awards ceremony Deryl Dodd
North Texas country artist Deryl Dodd will join CMT reality show star Ali Dee as host of the Texas Regional Radio Music Awards, which are 4 p.m. March 25 at Arlington Music Hall.
Dodd has seen songs settle onto Texas and national charts, including "That's How I Got to Memphis," "One Ride in Vegas" and "A Bitter End. Last year, Dodd's "You're Not Lookin' For" was the eighth most played song on the Texas Regional Radio Report Chart. Dodd released a self-produced and -written full-length studio album, Random As I Am, last year.
Tickets for the award show cost $10-$25, and are available at www.arlingtonmusichall.com.
Corinth family to play 'Family Feud'
The Horn family of Corinth - Gwen, an event planner, H.B. Horn Jr., a pastor, son H.B. III, a bartender, daughter Melanie, a coach and teacher, and son-in-law James, a health manager - will face off against the Scott family from Wisconsin during an episode of Family Feud, airing at 12:30 p.m. Thursday on KDAF-TV (Channel 33).
They will compete for up to $100,000 and a new car in front of a live audience in Atlanta. Comedian Steve Harvey hosts the long-running game show.
"I have wanted to be on Family Feud for a very long time," Gwen Horn said. "And when we heard about the auditions in New Orleans, we knew it was close enough that we could travel there and try out."
If the family wins, they plan to pay tithes to their church, pay off bills and save any remaining money.
