River Concert June 30 2017 An Evening of Americana for Our Independence Holiday

The second River Concert of the season featured the lovely voice of Kelly Balmaceda, a 2001 graduate of Leonardtown High School and the Chesapeake Orchestra plus many other soloists.  She sang some American pop favorites like a Medley from the "Sound of Music" and Burt Bacharach music.  The concert also featured Sousa's "Stars and Stripes", "Hosedown" a Morton Gould favorite including members of the Southern Maryland Fire and Rescue squad, and of course the "1812 Overture" and fireworks.  The concert was held on the Townhouse Green at St. Mary's College of Maryland on Friday night at 7 pm.

Here are my favorite photos of the many I took at the concert as the official Chesapeake Orchestra photographer.  Please feel free to share the blog with friends.

Kelly Balmaceda

 Tuajuanda Jordan, President of St. Mary's College of Maryland

 Reflection of the brass section

 Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag conducting

 Woodwinds:  Bassoons, clarinets?

 Brass section:  trombones and trumpets

 Woodwinds:  oboes, flutes

 Karen Johnson and friend on flutes

Amanda Durst, cellist and fellow musician

 Kelly Balmaceda with the Chesapeake Orchestra

 Kelly Balmaceda

 bubbles, bubbles, catch the bubbles

 Grizzly Mountain Grill vendor

 The huge crowd at sunset

 Serving pizza at the Nicolletti's truck, Yumm

The concert shell at sunset

 (L to R) Amanda, Kelly and a St. Mary's College alumna we met that night

 Trio with Jeffrey Silberschlag

 Deborah Greitzer, Executive Director and narrator for "Hosedown"

 Logan, a choir friend was one of the speakers in "Hosedown"

Local Fire and Rescue participated in "Hosedown"

 Jeffrey Silberschlag

Hats off to the crowd

 Fireworks

Fireworks

Boat reflections after the fireworks

Happy Independence Day!

Some of my favorites from the holiday displays.

      Looks like a comet!

      Sparklers

      Lanterns that float off into the sky.  Don't worry, they flew off over water.

     Fireworks favorite.

River Concert Season Opening Performance Starred Talented Marika Bournaki, Zach Silberschlag and Bryan Bourne

We enjoyed the first River concert of the season at St. Mary's College of Maryland on Friday June 23rd.  Besides the talented Chesapeake Orchestra musicians, there were special performances by pianist Marika Bournaki, trumpeter Zachary Silberschlag, and Bryan Bourne on the trombone.  

     Marisa Bournaki backlit

     Violin reflections

Admiral Heely's introduction

Zachary Silberschlag

Bryan Bourne

   Marika Bournaki

Leonardtown Fun Photo Walk

The St. Mary's County Camera Club got together to photograph Leonardtown recently at 7 pm.  The sky was quite gray and the light wasn't too interesting, but it wasn't raining and we had fun.  Here are the best shots.

      Courthouse

      Garden rose

      Balcony

      One light

     Christmas colors

     Nice entryway

      Triangle of kayaks

     Painted bricks

Westmoreland State Park

We recently spent a few hours in the Northern Neck of Virginia to pick up some special wood.  We stopped to enjoy lunch and the view on a beautiful day at Westmoreland.  I loved the crescent shaped beaches facing the cliffs.  I spotted a great blue heron close to the cliffs.

      Great Blue Heron

Recent Sunset

Some pretty clouds and reflections in St. Mary's County.

      Note the triangle shape in this photo that keeps your eye in the photo.

      Piers make nice leading lines.

     Calm Reflections of clouds