Pete Nowlen, whose VITA Symphony Orchestra will perform Saturday at CSUS, has two audiences to serve. First there is the classical-music audience that comes to hear and enjoy this group of emerging professional musicians. Then there is the group of artists themselves. VITA stands for Vocal and Instrumental Teaching Artists -- and Nowlen helps to guide the musicians into a successful, satisfying career. Saturday's program "all flows from (Antonin Dvorak's) New World Symphony," Nowlen said. "One of the reasons that I wanted it to flow from that piece was Dvorak's intent when he composed it. It really pointed the way for American music to come." Other pieces on the program, all from the 2

What do Septime Webre, Darrell Grand Moultrie and Edwaard Liang have in common? Each is one of the best, most in-demand contemporary choreographers in the country, and each will have a dance performed by the Sacramento Ballet this week on its "Modern Masters" program. Webre's "Fluctuating Hemlines" is among the most popular dances in the ballet company's repertory. An engaging work that begins with the dancers in fun Sixties attire, the women sporting beehive hairdos, the dance reveals surprising depth. The dancer strip to their underware to reveal their true selves, ambitious, angry, frustrated. It underscores the difference between appearances and reality. The dance will be performed to

World-renowned pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman will perform at the Crest Theatre Nov. 4 with musical guests Anne Cochran and Benjamin Utecht. Brickman, who also sings at his concerts, said he will be performing romantic melodies, a few Christmas songs, but no breakup songs – that’s just not his style. "The Gift," "Valentine” and "Love of My Life" are just some of his famous love song compositions. He has collaborated with various musical talents, including Martina McBride, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Bolton and Lady Antebellum. "You have to find your own voice, because if you sound like someone else, then there's nothing unique about you," Brickman said. His distinct style of music

Art installations are largely complete as the Sacramento International Airport’s new Terminal B readies to open Oct. 6, and they include a range of pieces from technologically advanced works to traditional painting and mosaic pieces. While not the first thing arriving passengers will see, a giant red rabbit seemingly jumping from outside the building into a waiting suitcase opening up like a vortex on the floor is one of the most-talked-about of the 12 currently installed works. More than 1,600 aluminum triangles make up the rabbit’s exposed surface. The work, entitled “Leap,” is by Denver-based artist Lawrence Argent and is suspended above the ticket hall in the “land side” portion of t

“If you missed the opportunity to see Johnny Cash perform live before he passed, seeing the Cash Prophets is the next best thing,” said Cash Prophets manager and longtime friend Michael Perry. Cash fans throughout Sacramento can soon make their own judgements, as the Cash Prophets will be returning for their fourth performance at Blue Lamp at 1400 Alhambra Blvd. Saturday The Cash Prophets is a tribute band to famed American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. The three-piece band is made of father Bobby Dickson, lead singer and rhythm guitar, and his two sons, Nate Dickson, upright bass, and Bobby Dickson Jr., guitar. Perry, a big fan of Johnny Cash, said he met the band members three years

Tuli Bistro owners Adam Pechal and Ulrike “Ulli” Lesk Petersen previewed the space and menu of their second restaurant, RESTAURANT THIR13EN, on Friday. The restaurant is located on the bottom floor of the Sterling Hotel at 1300 H St., where the restaurant Chanterelle was until it closed last January. All evening invited guests were provided teasers of THIR13EN’s menu, which included oyster shooters, sous vide quail wings, seared scallops, Kurabuta pork belly and seared sirloin with potato puree. Each guest was also provided a drink ticket to sample offerings from their full bar, such as wine from Berryessa Gap Vineyards, international beer taps and a number of signature cocktails. Peters

Portugal. The Man, as you can read, has a period placed in the middle of their band’s name. Internet legend has it that co-founder and frontman John Gourley once explained this as, “an attempt to create a demi-mythic entity bigger than the individual members.” Whether a “demi-mythic entity,” or just four humble dudes in flannel shirts and tight jeans show up, Portugal. The Man will be performing a special all ages show for their fans this Thursday night at Harlow’s. Portugal. The Man Show begins at 6:30. Harlow's Tickets are $17.50 and can be purchased through Harlow’s web site. 

Composer, arranger and pianist Pablo Ziegler will bring his "Beyond Tango" arrangements of jazz tunes infused with tango rhythms to the Mondavi Center at UC Davis Friday night. He is a 2005 Latin Grammy Award winner for “Bajo Cero,” which won Best Tango Album of the Year. Ziegler was born in Buenos Aires and said he worked with the piano first. “I started at the age of 5,” he said. He studied at the Buenos Aires Music Conservatory and graduated as a piano professor and said that he has been playing jazz music since he was 15. In 1978, Ziegler joined Astor Piazzolla’s quintet and toured with the Argentine composer. Piazzolla is famous for his tango music and bandoneón playing and intro

 What do you get when you cross an opera-trained singer with a self-taught violinist, a flamenco guitarist who formerly played drums in the L.A. rock scene and an upright slap bass player, all with a passion for unique music with Roma roots? You get Fishtank Ensemble. And on Tuesday Sacramento will get a taste of the ensemble at Firehouse 5. The group got its name from the performance space where the musicians first met. It's called the fishtank because the windows let passers-by peer in. The musicians, including singer and Sacramento native Ursula Knudson, violinist Fabrice Martinex, guitarist Doug Smolens and bassist Djordje Stijepovic, decided to do a show just for fun. “Somebody came

Image 1: Composer John Bucchino works with actor Nanci Zoppi and Musical Director Graham Sobelman at the It's Only Life masterclass Image 2: John Bucchino explains his process of writing and composing during the It's Only Life masterclass Image 3: New Helvetia Founder and Artistic Director Connor Mickiewicz sings "Playbill", accompanied by composer John Bucchino at the It's Only Life masterclass   It's Only Life After an amazing first year, which included the critically praised productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and also Tick, Tick...BOOM (so good they had to bring it back), New Helvetia Theater hosts a unique musical event tonight at the Crest Theatre.  Tonight's one-night p