River Concert Series Summer Finale July 25, 2025

The concert  on Friday night at 7 pm called "Rhapsodies with Blues" featured George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and Maurice Ravel's "Piano Concerto in G" among others by the Chesapeake Orchestra.  It was a warm night at St. Mary's College of Maryland on the green, but there was still quite a large crowd looking forward to hearing Thomas Pandolfi playing the popular pieces on piano with much skill and finesse.  I didn't even melt, and we actually had a brief unexpected rain shower, because I left my umbrella at home.  

Mr. Pandolfi has played at the college a few times in the past and one of my photos of him with Jeffrey Silberschlag is currently on display at the Lexington Park Library (and will probably be moved to the Leonardtown Library August 1 to August 4th).  It is also featured in the concert program on page 17 and won a few small awards.  My friend, Robert Hayes also played the piano for several pieces, with Jeffrey Silberschlag (music director), also accompanied by a drummer and bass player.

Jeffrey Silberschlag and Thomas Pandolfi

Ray Wernecke, SMCM Board of Trustees

Thomas Pandolfi, pianist

Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director

Robert Hayes, pianist

The Finale

Clazzical Jazz Concert July 22, 2018

Clazzical Jazz performed at St. Mary's Hall at St. Mary's College of MD on Sunday at 3 PM as an extra concert for the River Concert Series. The group jazzes up classical pieces into a more modern style. Don Stapleson shared that he had been texting or e-mailing with such famous composers as Ravel and Chopin to discuss their performance. What fun. Some of the pieces played included "I’m Always Chasing Rainbows" by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy and "Reverie" by Claude Debussy. Clazzical Jazz also invited Dr. Mark Runkles and Robert Hayes to perform. Runkles was invited onto the stage after his cell phone went off in the middle of the performance and he was "forced" to play the oboe, rather badly at first.

Here are a few fun photos.

Don Stapleson, flutist

 Robert Hayes, pianist

 Pete Fields, guitarist

  Dr. Mark Runkles, oboist

 Fred Lieder, cellist

 Another joke.

River Concert Series with Ballet Caliente July 20, 2018

The weather was perfect on Friday night, July 20th for Dancing Under the Stars.  The performance featured a small ensemble from the Chesapeake Orchestra (led by Jeffrey Silberschlag), and the young dancers from Ballet Caliente lead by artistic director, Sheryl-Marie Dunaway.  The performance was held at 7 PM at the Townhouse Green at St. Mary's College of Maryland.  The dancers were graceful and lovely, followed by some orchestral selections.  It was such a nice evening that the crowd stayed for quite a while following the concert.

 Before the concert began, we attended an Arts Alliance party, a volunteer group which helps support the River Concert Series and many other cultural and art activities. 

Young Arts Alliance volunteers

Representatives from other concert sponsors with Jeffrey Silberschlag and Deborah Greitzer

Gail Harmon, Board of Trustees, St. Mary's College of Maryland performed introductions

 Ballet Caliente Dancers

 Sheryl-Marie Dunaway, Ballet Caliente

 Robert Hayes, pianist

 Chesapeake Orchestra ensemble

 Sunset from the back of the crowd

 Zachary Silberschlag, trumpeter

 Bryan Bourne, Trombonist and Orchestra Personnel Manager

 Tuba player

Bows

Coming Soon, Photos from the Clazzical Jazz concert on Sunday July 22nd.